At 79, Korean war veteran gets high school diploma in Oregon

It's taken a long time, but Philip Shinaver, 79, finally has his diploma from Clay High School.

The Oregon Board of Education awarded the sheepskin to Mr. Shinaver at its meeting last week.

Mr. Shinaver dropped out of school and joined the Navy when he was 17, after the Korean War broke out. He would have been in the class of 1950.

While handing him his diploma, Superintendent Mike Zalar expressed appreciation for Mr. Shinaver's military service.

"Sir, I want to thank you for making it possible to enjoy what we have in this country," he said. "It's heroes like Philip who make possible the freedoms we have."

Mr. Shinaver, who turns 80 on Aug. 30, lives in Maumee. He is a retired Libbey-Owens-Ford glass worker.

In other business, the board:

•Approved an easement for the city of Oregon in front of the old Coy Elementary building on Pickle Road for $5,100 and another at Clay High School for the bike trail, for no consideration.

•Appointed board member Diana Gadus its delegate at the annual business meeting of the Ohio School Boards Association.

•Approved providing a signing interpreter for a deaf student at Eisenhower Middle School at the rate of $180 per day up to a maximum of $32,400 per year.