(PHOTO BY JESSE DAVIS / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
SHS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI RECOGNIZED … University of Nebraska professor Associate Professor Dr. Rebecca Nelson (left) and Roof Ohio Owner Gene Wilson (right) stand with their plaques after being inducted into the Swanton High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on Friday.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Swanton High School inducted a doctor and a business owner in its 2025 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame on Friday. This year, Dr. Rebecca Nelson and Roof Ohio owner Gene Wilson were recognized.
Nelson graduated in 1994 before earning her Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of Toledo, a master’s in education, and a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction she earned in 2018.
She was given the opportunity to present her dissertation at the American Educational Resource Association, which has an acceptance rate of less than 10 percent.
In her career, Nelson has designed and updated teacher education curricula and published manuscripts in professional journals.
She serves as assistant department chair for the Teacher Education Department, the interim Studies Abroad director in the Czech Republic, and director of the Transitional Certification Program at the University of Nebraska.
“I was honored to know that somebody was paying attention to my career,” Nelson said. “Coming back and being able to reflect on my time here and how that has changed me, and it’s developed me as a person and for my career, it means a lot.”
Nelson said her favorite memories of the school were the friendships she built and “learning how to exist in a world that isn’t always kind to everyone and knowing you have people around you who care and want to see you succeed.”
It is currently the first week of the semester at the University of Nebraska, but Nelson chose to attend the ceremony anyway as her classes are all taught remotely. So, she has been visiting friends and family and being recognized while simultaneously teaching from Swanton.
After graduating from Swanton High School, Wilson completed the Northwest Ohio Carpenters Apprenticeship Program, eventually earning his journeyman’s card. He then started a small subcontracting remodeling company called GA Wilson builders, which he eventually renamed Roof Ohio Inc., focusing primarily on roofs.
Wilson has been recognized by Owens Corning as a Platinum Preferred Contractor, opening up the opportunity to partner with the company on some of his community outreach efforts.
Wilson, through Roof Ohio, is involved with charitable organizations such as Purple Hearts Homes and Fulton County Habitat for Humanity.
He said he was excited and little bit surprised when he found out he had been selected for recognition. According to Wilson, his fondest memories of Swanton High School were the teachers, his friends, the people he met, and all the things he got to do.
“It was just a good time, probably the best time of my life was high school at our school here,” Wilson said.
That positive experience extended beyond the school into the community at large, he said. “If it wasn’t for this community, I wouldn’t have been able to do or accomplish the things that I’ve done.”
“They’ve been staunch supporters of me and my business and the things that I tried doing over the years. I owe the community more than they know. They’ve been more helpful to me than I’ve been help to them,” Wilson said.
Wilson encouraged kids still in school to pursue the career they wanted regardless of what path was necessary to get there.
“You can make anything out of what you want to do, you don’t necessarily need to go to college to do whatever you want to do. But college shouldn’t be off the table either. You can do anything you put your mind to,” he said.
Both inductees were initially nominated by staff before being selected for the honor.