ELYRIA TWP. — From his earliest days, Billy S. Rowland recalls working hard — and knowing how to give back to his family, friends and community.

That’s why the founder of Rowland Enterprises and Buckeye Community Bank was all smiles Wednesday as he turned over 58 acres of land — including a 12-acre lake — to Elyria Township for use as a park and nature reserve.

“I thank God every day for a Christian mother who taught me how to give,” Rowland said.

The gift to the township is a valuable one. The county auditor values the nine parcels containing 58.3 acres at $442,600.

The land is adjacent to 25 acres the township purchased several years ago for $250,000 at the southeast corner of Murray Ridge Road and the Ohio Turnpike.

Eventually, township trustees plan to build a new fire station/township hall on its land, and a roadway will lead into the park area.

“I grew up behind a team of mules,” Rowland joked.

Rowland made the decision to turn over the property after trustees approached him several months ago about an easement to the property.

At 79, Rowland described himself as “very comfortable,” but he said he is not a multimillionaire.

He said it will be nice to imagine people using the land, which includes the lake created when earth was dug up to build the nearby turnpike overpass.

View Elyria Township park donation in a larger map

“I let people hunt and fish there,” Rowland said.

Trustees said they plan to continue to allow people to fish beginning in the spring, but will likely prohibit hunting because of liability issues.

Rowland Enterprises, which owns, develops, acquires and manages commercial, residential, office, retail and industrial properties, is headquartered in Elyria Township. The company also has a container repair service.

Rowland is a father of six and grandfather of 13 whose ancestors settled in Washington County, Ohio, in 1820.

After serving in the Air Force after World War II, Rowland earned about $4 an hour at B.F. Goodrich, but left in 1957 after he failed to get a promotion he thought he deserved. He got his start as a general contractor and began acquiring and building residential and commercial properties in 1965, according to the company Web site.

The mood was jubilant as Rowland turned over the land to trustees Rob Scheithauer, Richard Hutman and William Holtzman.

“Our land with this 58 acres plus will be a nice piece of property,” said Bob Repas, the township’s fiscal officer.

As for Rowland, he said the donation is just something he wanted to do to help his childhood home grow and prosper. His family moved to Elyria Township when he was 12 and he graduated from Clearview High School at age 16.

Repas, who attended school with Rowland, said his boyhood friend “has always been honest and giving throughout his career.”

“If he shook your hand on a deal, it was done,” Repas said.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

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