Hall of Fame
Defiance City Hall of Fame Class of 2023
The nomination period for the 2023 Defiance Hall of Fame is closed and the selection process has begun. An announcement of the 2023 class will be made in April 2023.
City Historian Randy Buchman and Mayor Fred Schultz created the Defiance City Hall of Fame in 2003. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize the individuals throughout the history of the city of Defiance who have made an impact on the community and beyond.
In order to qualify, a Hall of Fame candidate must be deceased for 10 years and meet two of the following criteria: born in the city of Defiance; lived in Defiance for at least eight years; died a resident of the city; or buried in the city. In addition, the nominee must have brought recognition to Defiance and been associated with a significant activity in the areas of history, culture, humanitarian service, community service, science, education, business or philanthropy. Anyone wishing to nominate a person is asked to provide detailed biographical information, as well as newspaper articles, testimonials, letters, commendations if available, and a photo.
Those chosen by the Hall of Fame committee to be inducted will be honored on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the Stroede Center for the Arts, 319 Wayne Avenue, Defiance, Ohio. Defiance High School students, under the supervision of social studies educator Hans Zipfel, prepare biographical presentations on those chosen for the upcoming Defiance City Hall of Fame induction. The ceremony is held in conjunction with the annual Lilac Festival Saturday, May 14, 2023
Defiance City Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Nominations
City Historian Randy Buchman and Mayor Fred Schultz created the Defiance City Hall of Fame in 2003. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize the individuals throughout the history of the city of Defiance who have made an impact on the community and beyond.
In order to qualify, a Hall of Fame candidate must be deceased for 10 years and meet two of the following criteria: born in the city of Defiance; lived in Defiance for at least eight years; died a resident of the city; or buried in the city. In addition, the nominee must have brought recognition to Defiance and been associated with a significant activity in the areas of history, culture, humanitarian service, community service, science, education, business or philanthropy. Anyone wishing to nominate a person is asked to provide detailed biographical information, as well as newspaper articles, testimonials, letters, commendations if available, and a photo.
Those chosen by the Hall of Fame committee to be inducted will be honored on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the Stroede Center for the Arts, 319 Wayne Avenue, Defiance, Ohio. Defiance High School students, under the supervision of social studies educator Hans Zipfel, prepare biographical presentations on those chosen for the upcoming Defiance City Hall of Fame induction. The ceremony is held in conjunction with the annual Lilac Festival Saturday, May 14, 2023.
2022 Class Defiance City Hall of Fame
Vincent J. Polce
1944 to 2011
Instrumental Music Educator, Director/Conductor, Musician
Vincent Polce, Defiance's own John Phillip Sousa, enriched the lives of his students and instilled in them a sense of pride through music and by extension the Defiance community.