Meet the Speaker: John J. Zimkus

John J. Zimkus has lectured and written about the history of Lebanon and Warren County, Ohio for over 30 years.

He has been the historian of the Warren County Historical Society since 1990, and in 2008 was named the education director of the society’s Harmon Museum. He has also been the house historian of The Golden Lamb, Ohio's oldest inn, since 2007.

Holding degrees from both, Miami University and Wright State University, John was a teacher in the Lebanon City School District for 35 years. He was a recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Foundation Award from the Area Progress Council of Warren County, Inc. in both 1990 and 1998.

In 2006, he was honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution as Ohio’s Outstanding Teacher of American History, and was inducted into the Lebanon City Schools Hall of Fame in 2008.

John is the author of Historical Footnotes of Lebanon, Ohio, which is composed of 29 stories that cover over 200 years of the vivid history of the city of Lebanon.

In April 2012, John was recognized by the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce as its “2012 - Citizen of the Year”.

In 2015, John received the Robert and Virginia Jones Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lebanon Conservancy Foundation Inc. in appreciation for his efforts “toward preserving, improving and enhancing the historic fabric and quality of life in the community of greater Lebanon.”

​A two-time recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Foundation Award from the Area Progress Council of Warren County, Inc.,