Elevating the Post-Acute and
Long Term Care Profession

Pioneer Award 2008 - James D. Glass

James D. Glass Pioneer awards The OHCA Pioneer Award is designed to recognize Ohioans influential in the development and advancement of long-term care programs, education, professionalism or ideals. The Awards honor the commitment of these individuals to excellence in long-term care services.





JAMES D. GLASS

James D. Glass was a pioneer in Ohio’s long-term care community. Among the state’s first licensed nursing home administrators, he operated several facilities in Ohio and Kentucky. In 1970, Governor James A. Rhodes appointed Mr. Glass to the Ohio Board of Examiners of Nursing Home Administrators, the governing body for administrators in the state. As a member of the Board, Mr. Glass helped set licensure standards for Ohio’s skilled nursing facilities.

But he was most proud of the James D. Glass Premier Scholarship offered by the Educational Foundation of the Ohio Healthcare Association. The first scholarship donated through the foundation, the James D. Glass Scholarship has been offered since 1990, and has benefitted 18 students in their pursuit of a long-term care career.

“I believe in education because with just a little encouragement many people can become part of the solution instead of part of the problem,” he once said.

Born in Cincinnati in 1928, Mr. Glass grew up during the Depression. His family benefitted from charitable institutions, most notably St. Vincent DePaul. Along with his mother and siblings, Mr. Glass began operating board and care homes in Ohio in 1948. The family owned and operated several facilities that provided more than 1,200 beds for the elderly. They included Kenwood Terrace Care Center, Madeira Health Care, Wilmington Nursing and Rehabilitation, Oxford View Nursing Center, Hillebrand Nursing Center, Maysville Extended Care Facility, Lebanon Healthcare Center, and Willows Health Care.

Mr. Glass also enjoyed farming and owned a farm along the Ohio River in Neville in Clermont County on which he raised cattle, horses, and tobacco.

The Glass family continues to provide long-term care services and home health care to Ohioans. Joan R. Glass, Jim’s wife, was his spouse of 55 years and continues to work and stay active in the family business. His daughter Michelle Glass Schneider, a licensed nursing facility administrator and a former member of the OHCA Board of Directors, served in the Ohio House of Representatives from the 35th House District (Madeira). James’ daughter Deborah Glass Ridgley is a successful portrait artist. His son James G. Glass is a successful business owner and entrepreneur.


See Other Lifetime Achievement/Pioneer Award Winners
 


With Support from OHCA Champion Partners