I was 24, working for the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office. He was 56, running a small chain of hardware stores. I met him when I showed a film to the Retail Merchants Association and the Chamber of Commerce. When he called and invited me to lunch the next day, I thought he might be offering me a job.
“I’m looking for a preservationist,” he said, chuckling.
“Sure,” I said. I was…
