After 24 years of service, a local school board member cast his final vote during East Muskingum’s December board meeting.

Ken Blood, who was first elected in 1995, has served continuously over the near quarter-century and was recently recognized by the Ohio School Boards Association as an All-Ohio School Board member, the organization’s most prestigious award.

East Muskingum’s Superintendent David Adams and Treasurer Lottie Fisher also recognized Blood by presenting him with a ceremonial clock during his final board meeting.

Blood first ran for school board 27 years ago when he moved to the community after accepting an athletic position at, then, Muskingum College.

“My children were of an age where they were in elementary school, and that’s a time when I think parents have different levels of interest in the education of their children,” remarked Blood as he reminisced on his first run at public service.

Having previously been a school teacher, Blood recalled attending school board meetings in his hometown and that he recognized the public service aspect of serving on a local school board.

For many, a defeat would end their aspirations of public service, but for Blood, he took those two years to develop himself as a more viable candidate by attending school board meetings and staying versed as to the actions of the board.

“Two years later, I was blessed enough to win,” Blood grinned as he took a second to look at his fellow board members and administrators.

Gail Requardt has served with Blood throughout his 24 years of service, creating a bond that few school board members ever have the opportunity to experience that developed into a close friendship.

“Literally, we have gone over the river and through the woods as a board together, and it has been so interesting,” Requardt began as she looked towards Blood and described their time together.

Requardt mentioned how she and Blood are often considered the mom and dad of the board, to which Blood laughed and said, “grandma and grandpa,” causing their fellow board members, administrators, and audience members to chuckle.

“And we’ve shared grief of our East Muskingum family,” Requardt added as tears ran down her face. “It won’t be the same.”

Blood smiled, tilting his head slightly at Requardt, and said, “first of all, I’m humbled and incredibly honored by all the outpouring that’s occurred tonight and the last several months.”

“I didn’t join a board to make a district great, I joined a board of a great school district and committed myself to not messing that up,” Blood continued.

While addressing the audience, Blood stressed that no one wins an election unanimously, emphasizing that there will be those who won’t vote for you or won’t vote at all.

“The challenge is to not just represent the people who did vote for you but to know that every time you sit at a board meeting you represent everyone in the community,” Blood remarked.

“We are blessed that we live in a community that values education, and I’ve loved the 24 years of being a part of this school board,” said Blood. “I’ve cherished every moment, but boy did it go by fast.”

As Blood finished his final interview as a school board member, he referenced the Book of Jude, smiled and said “a baton is passed onto us, and we pass the baton onto others. It’s time to pass the baton.”