Hazel Purcell Rodman, circa 1962. (source: Rodman family)
Hazel Purcell Rodman – Graduated 1910; Inducted 1968
Hazel Purcell Rodman was a leader in the establishment of the Alliance Chapter of the American Red Cross and served as the first secretary and director from 1919 to 1925. She is now an Honorary Member of the Red Cross Board. In 1921, she was the first woman to be appointed to the Board of Trustees of Mount Union College and she presently serves as its vice president. She gives selflessly to civic activities for the good of the community.
Mrs. Rodman graduated from Mount Union College in 1914 with a B.A. degree in Education. She also studied at Syracuse University and Western Reserve University. She married Clarence J. Rodman from Wisconsin on November 19, 1925 who became an Alliance industrialist and together, the Alliance community was the benefactor of their philanthropic activities. They have two sons.
Painting by Hazel Purcell Rodman. (source: Rodman family)
Distinguished nationally as a watercolor artist, Mrs. Rodman has had her work exhibited in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore art exhibits. She was listed as an artist in the 1935-36 edition of American Women: The Official Who’s Who Among the Women of the Nation. She was also active in the First Presbyterian Church and served as director and vice president of the Alliance Women’s Club.
Mrs. Rodman held a patent for a combined washing machine and wringer dated December 22, 1936 when she and her husband, Clarence J. Rodman, owned and operated the Alliance Porcelain Products Company, which went on to become the Alliance Ware, Inc.
Mrs. Rodman held a patent for a combined washing machine and wringer dated December 22, 1936 when she and her husband, Clarence J. Rodman, owned and operated the Alliance Porcelain Products Company, which went on to become the Alliance Ware, Inc.
Painting by Hazel Purcell Rodman. (source: Rodman family)
C.J. and Hazel Rodman were also instrumental in funding the Rodman Playhouse on Mount Union College’s campus, Rodman Public Library, Butler-Rodman Park, Camp Rodman, a Boy Scout camp just outside of Alliance and Camp LiMRod, a First Presbyterian Church camp named after his mother Lilly M. Rodman.
Biographical update: Clarence Rodman passed away on January 30, 1972 at the age of 81 and Hazel Rodman passed away on April 8, 1974 at the age of 82. They are buried in Alliance City Cemetery. Their son Robert passed away on January 26, 1997. Their other son James, a dearly beloved professor at the University of Mount Union who possessed extraordinary capabilities and expertise in many fields, passed away on January 2, 2015.
Hazel and Clarence Rodman are survived by eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. They had one grandchild graduate from AHS, Gretchen Rodman Zawaski ’76; and 5 great-grandchildren graduate from AHS: Steven Zawaski ’03, Molly Rodman ’04, Maggie Zawaski ’05, Callie Zawaski ’09 and Sam Rodman ’13.
Biographical update: Clarence Rodman passed away on January 30, 1972 at the age of 81 and Hazel Rodman passed away on April 8, 1974 at the age of 82. They are buried in Alliance City Cemetery. Their son Robert passed away on January 26, 1997. Their other son James, a dearly beloved professor at the University of Mount Union who possessed extraordinary capabilities and expertise in many fields, passed away on January 2, 2015.
Hazel and Clarence Rodman are survived by eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. They had one grandchild graduate from AHS, Gretchen Rodman Zawaski ’76; and 5 great-grandchildren graduate from AHS: Steven Zawaski ’03, Molly Rodman ’04, Maggie Zawaski ’05, Callie Zawaski ’09 and Sam Rodman ’13.
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Two views of Hazel Purcell Rodman's 'Combined Washing Machine and Wringer', Patent No. USD102445S granted to H. P. Rodman of the Alliance Porcelain Products Company on December 22, 1936.
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