Bill Croskey will be forever remembered as an outstanding teacher and a man who loved history and his community.
Croskey died a week ago at the age of 83.
Croskey taught generations of children through his 36-year career at Steubenville High School. He taught history, social studies and government. Students he taught grew up to become fellow teachers. He influenced countless children in the classroom.
Croskey helped start the Key Club at the high school and the Honor America program. He arranged to have President Jimmy Carter address students at the first Honor America assembly.
He and others teachers would routinely take students to Washington, D.C., to view government in action.
Croskey was a member of the Kiwanis Club, and hundreds of Key Club members were introduced at the weekly Kiwanis meetings over the years.
Croskey was a teacher who took the time to get to know every student, whether that child was in his classes or not.
If a student had a problem, Croskey was there to help. He was a friend and mentor to so many.
Anyone who knew Croskey knew of his love of the theater.
When he was a child, Croskey joined the Singing Boys of America. That group would sing at Oglebay Park in Wheeling and later at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. He later performed with a USO group during World War II at the Penn Railroad station in Pittsburgh. Croskey also was known for his jitter bugging at the Swing Haven in the basement of the former YMCA on North Fourth Street. He performed in every stage production at Grant Junior High School and then at Steubenville High School.
Croskey also loved American history and local history.
He was a longtime member of the board operating the federal land office. He would often dress in period clothes to explain to visitors the importance of the federal land office.
When the federal land office merged with the Old Fort Steuben Project, Croskey finally took a step back.
He also was known for his involvement with the restoration efforts of the Grand Theater.
Croskey was never afraid to speak his mind. Council and commission members in the city were lectured by Croskey over various issues.
Croskey provided valuable life lessons to his students. Those life lessons are still practiced today as a legacy to the man.
