Community service important to Jauert

WAPAKONETA - Doug Jauert believes in giving back to the community.

He grew up in a home where community service was a byword. His mother, Helen Jauert, served dozens of organizations over the course of her long life, but the real reason Doug Jauert serves is he likes people.

"The groups I belong to are good for the community," said Jauert, 63. "Everybody contributes to the community in some way. These are the ones I happen to enjoy participating in. I've lived here most of my life. I've enjoyed living in a small town, and I like the camaraderie."

Jauert is the president and co-founder of the Wapakoneta Area Community Foundation.

"Bud Fisher and I started it in 1989, and it's grown to have $1.5 million in 60 to 70 different funds ranging from scholarships to parks," Jauert said. "The idea of a community foundation is to have a vehicle for local residents to give donations. It's something that can really benefit people locally. When people give to the Salvation Army, which is a good group, they don't know where the money goes. The foundation gives local citizens a place to make charitable donations and actually see the results of the expenditure of the money.

"I'm proud to see that it's been successful and has accomplished its goals."

Jauert is a member of the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AmVets, American Legion, Eagles, Hauss-Helms Foundation, Wapakoneta Rotary, St. Paul's United Church of Christ and the Auglaize, Ohio and American bar associations. He is also a founding member of the Wapakoneta YMCA's Board of Trustees.

"I was among a group of four or five people that got the Y going," Jauert said. "I helped set up the not-for-profit corporation and was involved in the initial fundraising. I also participated in the recent addition drive. The Y is also something to be proud of. We started with nothing and have 4,300 members and just put on a million-dollar addition. I'm just amazed at the programs they have. It's neat to participate in the creation of something you know will last a long time."

Jauert is a 1963 graduate of Wapakoneta High School and a 1967 graduate of Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 during the Vietnam War and earned his law degree in 1972 from Ohio State.

He and his wife, Myra, have been married for 37 years and have two children, Kurt and Nicholas.

Jauert's hobbies include traveling and golf.

"(Golf) is a challenge," Jauert said. "It's relaxing. Once you're out there chasing that ball, you're not thinking about anything else. If you are, it's harder to find the ball. I like the game because it's outside and because I get to play with guys from 18 to 80."

Jauert has traveled to several places in the United States, including Hawaii, the British Isles and the Mediterranean.