Lions Club names Obert as Citizen of the Year

By Mary Ann Mook

For Larry Obert, his life comes down to two things – he is lucky enough to have Rosemary for a wife,
and lucky enough to work with the many the people he has worked with in various businesses and
organizations over the years.

“Very seldom do you do anything by yourself,” Obert said. “It’s the people around you.”

Those people, then, have helped Obert become a longtime husband, father and grandfather, as well as a
businessman, business owner, committee member, community volunteer and church member.

Mark Webb, a member of the Union City Lions Club, believes that Obert is deserving of recognition as
the Union City Lions Club’s 2025 Citizen of the Year.

“He’s deserving because of all the things he’s done over the years,” Webb said.

Obert, 85, and the former Rosemary Dennis have been married for 62 years. They are the parents of
two daughters, Esther and her husband, Tom McElhinney, who have two daughters; Hallie and her
husband, Scott Johncox, who have two sons and a daughter; and Ralph and his wife, Bailey, who have
a blended family of two boys and three girls.

Obert, a Union City native, was born in the former Union City Memorial Hospital. He graduated from
Union City High School in 1958 and then graduated from Penn State University in 1962 with a degree
in engineering.

“I came to Union City to work at Snap-tite, as an engineer when I graduated from Penn State,” Obert
said.

At Snap-tite, he designed and helped form Snap-tite Hose.

After Snap-tite, he formed Obert Fire Equipment and worked at a fire truck manufacturing company.
He worked at Viking Plastics in Corry and a baby crib factory called Hopkins in Lake City. Obert was
then part owner of a plastics factory in Girard named Backyard Products.

“I also started several businesses that I ran and owned,” Obert said.

He then retired – but didn’t slow down or stop working.

“After retirement, I bought a complex of 36 apartments in Erie and also sold real estate,” Obert said.

By honoring Obert as the 2025 Citizen of the Year, the Lions Club is honoring one of its own.

“I have been a Lions Club member for 40 years. I’ve been King Lion once,” Obert said.

Obert joined the Union City Volunteer Fire Department at the age of 17 and has been an active member
for 65 years. He was not active while he was in college.

“I have held every position except fire chief, but I was deputy chief,” Obert said.

He served as chairman of the Union City Municipal Authority for 30 years. He was also on the board of
the former Union City Memorial Hospital, where he served as treasurer.

“When they closed the hospital, we (previous hospital board members) founded the Union City
Community Foundation,” Obert said. “I was treasurer of the Union City Community Foundation for
years. Now I am just a member.”

Obert also was one of the founding members of the Union City Sportsmen’s Club in the 1950s. He also
was a member of the former Union City Young Republicans.
He has been a lifelong member of the Union City Global Methodist Church, where he has served as a
lay speaker and where he still sings in the choir, which is directed by his wife.

Obert said he is “humbled by the choice” of him as the Citizen of the Year.

He will be honored by the Lions Club, family and friends at a dinner on Wednesday, March 25, from 6
to 8 p.m. at the American Legion LeBaron Post 237, 9225 Route 6.
Reservations are due by March 22.

Advertisement

The cost of the dinner is $16, payable at the door. To make a reservation, contact Cathy Krall at 814-
464-4032 or by email at cathykrall@gmail.com or Stacey Willison at 814-450-1880 or by email at
rfarm3@gmail.com.