Seasonal & Holidays
Watch Former Avon Lake Mayor John Picken Discuss His Career, Life
Picken passed away this month at the age of 96. His administration oversaw the building of the city's first municipal swimming pool.
AVON LAKE, OH — Before his passing on December 20, former Avon Lake Mayor John Picken joined Avon Lake TV and discussed his accomplishments, the city's sesquicentennial, and the acquisition of land that would become Miller Road Park and Weiss Field. Picken also oversaw the building of Avon Lake's first municipal swimming pool.
Picken was mayor from 1961 through 1969. He chatted with current Mayor Greg Zilka in a televised interview on Avon Lake Community Television.
Picken was 96 at the time of his passing. He lived an extraordinary life. He was born in Northern Ireland before emigrating to the United States at age 7. During World War II, Picken served the U.S. Army in the Panama Canal Zone and then met his wife, Ellanore Thomas, when he returned stateside, according to his obituary on Legacy.com.
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Much of Picken's working life was spent at the Illuminating Company and BF Goodrich. He was elected to Avon Lake City Council and then, eventually, became the city's mayor in 1961. Watch his interview with Zilka below.
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The interview with Picken was conducted on Avon Lake Community TV (ALC-TV). Segments like this one could be on the chopping block thanks to a proposed rule change from the FCC, which would slice funding for local access television.
Photo from Google Earth
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