Charles Grove – Graduated 1947; Inducted 2004
A 1947 graduate of Alliance High School, Mr. Grove went on to earn a degree in mechanical engineering from Duke University in 1951. He served on active duty during the Korean War as a 2nd Lieutenant and safety engineer at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. He also worked with General Chuck Yeager at Edwards Air Force Base in Washington D.C. He was discharged from the Air Force in 1955.
Charles joined Grove Refrigeration and Electronics, Inc. after his discharge. In 1963 he became owner and president of Grove Refrigeration and Electronics.
From 1955 to 1977 Mr. Grove served as Director and Vice President of the National Appliance Dealers Association. From 1955 to the present he has been a Director of the Appliance Business/Real Estate Development Company and served on the board of the First American Savings Bank since 1962.
From 1977 to 1989 he was a member of the Alliance Community Hospital Board and chairman of two expansion programs for new surgical and birthing units totaling 20 million dollars.
He is a past president of the Alliance Y.M.C.A. board of directors, past president of the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Alliance Area Youth Center Board from 1970 to 1979. He was a co-founder of the Greater Alliance Foundation, a member of the Rotary Club and actively involved in the Stuckey Interfaith Child Development Center. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Abiding Savior Lutheran Church.
Mr. Grove established the Grove Family Community Trust Fund, “for the betterment of the City of Alliance”. He has been a member of the Mount Union College Board of Trustees since 1993 and was awarded the Mount Union College McKinley Award for Outstanding Board Service.
In 1961 he was named Alliance Citizen of the Year. He was chairman of the Naval A-7 Aircraft Committee that in 1991 brought the Alliance A-7 Corsair attack aircraft to Alliance High School.
Mr. Grove married the former Carol Unger on June 21, 1952 and they have two daughters.
Biographical update: Charles Grove passed away on January 30, 2011 at the age of 82. He is survived by his spouse, Carol, two daughters, Carrie (Reggie) Givens, and Beth (David) Mitchell, both of Alliance, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Carrie Givens subsequently passed away on January 31, 2015.
Mr. Grove established the Grove Family Community Trust Fund, “for the betterment of the City of Alliance”. He has been a member of the Mount Union College Board of Trustees since 1993 and was awarded the Mount Union College McKinley Award for Outstanding Board Service.
In 1961 he was named Alliance Citizen of the Year. He was chairman of the Naval A-7 Aircraft Committee that in 1991 brought the Alliance A-7 Corsair attack aircraft to Alliance High School.
Mr. Grove married the former Carol Unger on June 21, 1952 and they have two daughters.
Biographical update: Charles Grove passed away on January 30, 2011 at the age of 82. He is survived by his spouse, Carol, two daughters, Carrie (Reggie) Givens, and Beth (David) Mitchell, both of Alliance, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Carrie Givens subsequently passed away on January 31, 2015.