David Edward Railsback

Railsback David Edward Railsback, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, July 26, 2015 after a courageous four month battle with cancer. David Edward Railsback was born April 27, 1942, to Donald R. and Martha Price Railsback in Richmond, Indiana, was the senior member of the law firm of Zelkowitz, Barry & Cullers, Ltd, Mount Vernon, Ohio. Railsback was a graduate of Eaton High School, a 1964 graduate of Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana (B. A. Political Science), where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, participated in the Washington Semester Program at American University in Washington, D.C. for the spring semester in 1963. After earning his baccalaureate degree and before admission to law school, Railsback served on the Washington, D.C. staff of the Honorable William M. McCulloch (R-Piqua), Representative to Congress from the Fourth District of Ohio. Railsback earned the degree of Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University College of Law in December of 1969. Railsback joined Zelkowitz, Barry & Cullers as an associate in December of 1969. Railsback was appointed and then elected to the office of Law Director of the City of Mount Vernon, Ohio and served as Village Solicitor of the Village of Fredericktown and the Village of Danville in Knox County, Ohio. He served as Secretary and Trustee of the Mount Vernon Area Development Foundation, Inc. since 1972 and the Mount Vernon Community Improvement Corporation. Railsback served for six years as a Trustee of The Freedom Center. He formerly served on the Board of Trustees of the Mount Vernon YMCA, and was Trustee of the Mount Vernon YMCA Endowment Fund and Trustee and President of the Mount Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce. In January 1999, Railsback was honored by the Mount Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce as its Volunteer of the Year. Railsback served on the Committee on Legal Ethics and Professional Conduct of the Ohio State Bar Association, appointed to the Committee in 1972 and served the Committee as Secretary and Vice Chairman before serving as Chairman on July 1, 1990 through June 30, 1992. In 1999, Railsback served on the Special Committee for Multi-Disciplinary Practice of Law of the Ohio State Bar Association and was a member of the Selection Committee for the prestigious Eugene R. Weir Award for Professionalism given annually by the Ohio State Bar Association. Railsback, a former member and Chairman of the Law Libraries Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association. Railsback was elected to the Council of Delegates of the Ohio State Bar Association, one of the two governing bodies for the OSBA in 2002. In 2004, Railsback was elected to the Board of Governors of the Ohio State Bar Association serving as Chairman of Budget and Headquarters Committee. Railsback was one of 23 Ohio lawyers responsible for advancing the professional interests of the members of the Ohio State Bar Association. Railsback has served as the legal advisor for the Danville (Ohio) High School Mock Trial Team in school years since 1997. Railsback had served as a member of the Board of Directors of Ariel Corporation, Mount Vernon, Ohio since 1985. Railsback was appointed to the Board of Trustees of The Ohio State University, Newark Campus in July of 1997, serving as Secretary to the Board of Trustees in 1999 and was elected Treasurer and appointed chairman of the finance committee for 2000. In 2002 he was elected to and served as Chairman of the Board from 2002-2003. Railsback had been a registered high school football official (Ohio High School Athletic Association) since 1966 and completed over 39 years of service. He also served as Secretary and Rules Interpreter of the Kokosing Valley Football Officials Association. He was a member of the Mount Vernon Country Club, The Old Homestead Club, The Ohio State University Buckeye Club and President's Club. For the last 44 years, on Ohio State Football Saturdays, Railsback could be found working in the press box at "The Shoe." He is survived by his loving wife, Sue (Stamm); son, David E. Railsback, IV of Dublin, Ohio; daughter, Blythe Flesher of Lewis Center, Ohio; and adored grandchildren, Olivia and Elizabeth Railsback and Joshua and Alexander Flesher. He was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Martha Railsback and brother Thomas. There will be no calling hours. The family will observe private services. The LASATER FUNERAL HOME in Mount Vernon is handling the arrangements for the Railsback family. Memorial contributions may be made to Knox County Hospice and The Bill Jones Memorial Scholarship Fund 643473, Ohio State Athletics, the Fawcett Center 8th Floor, 2400 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210. To express a condolence or to share a memory with the Railsback family, please visit www.lasaterfuneralhomes.com