Tennill vision
Posted: 7/7/2009

By James Mulcahy

On the surface, this contractor doesn't appear to be a sucker for cute and cuddly, but Randy Tennill loves watching his four cats romp across the floor in his Equity Street office. He claims those four felines -- they keep him company -- but the softhearted electrician regularly puts food out for the neighborhood cats.

"They all come and eat," said the man with a perpetual grin. "Probably a thousand."

One would also expect the owner of Randy Tennill Heating and Air Conditioning Service to escape to some island when he takes his summer vacation. But expect the unexpected from Tennill. He'll spend his two-week vacation at the Shelby County Fairgrounds, repairing broken faucets, painting fences -- whatever needs to be done to ensure that the Shelby County Fair goes off without a hitch.

His volunteer work doesn't stop at the fair gate. More recently, Tennill was instrumental in forming and completing the Ben Medley Build a House Project. The project was started to build an accessible home for Ben Medley, who was paralyzed a few years ago in a swimming pool accident. Despite being confined to a wheelchair, Medley owns and operates Medley's Lawn Care Service.

"The Medley family and I were good friends," Tennill said. "He was living in a little old house, and didn't have room to maneuver around. They decided to build him a place and asked me if I was interested in putting in a little time. Immediately, I said I'd be glad to do that."

Tennill was the general contractor for the job, and helped with the electrical, as well as the heating and air conditioning, through his business. But he's quick to note that the project was completed "with the help of a lot of other community members, too." The project started in June 2008 -- "when the fair was over" -- and was finished the week before Thanksgiving.

"I spent most of my summer out there, which was OK," he said. "It was well worth it."

It was worth it for the Medley and Langley families, too. Ben's grandmother, Ann Langley, was so moved she nominated Tennill for a Governor's Volunteer Service Award. He didn't win the big prize, but Tennill's efforts got him a Governor's Citation of Excellence, just one of seven issued from 28 nominations in his category.

In her letter of nomination, Langley said Tennill was an inspiration to many.

"Randy is a small business owner and serves as president of the Shelby County Fair Board," she told the nominating committee. "In addition to these substantial time-consuming activities, Randy spearheaded a commitment in excess of 1,000 hours toward making a dream a reality for a young man and his family. His efforts activated and motivated hundreds of volunteers and contributors, of which some had never given of their time as a volunteer. Randy gave them purpose."

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Tennill was inspired to do volunteer work after another local man saw potential in him.

"When I was a junior in high school, I started working at the park, with Bobby Stratton," Tennill said. "He's the one who gave me the initiative to help other people. I was a very poor child, and Mr. Stratton gave me a job umpiring at the ballpark. He helped so many kids in this community; people don't realize all he did. I always said if I ever have the opportunity to help the community or other kids, I would. That's from just watching him."

The week before the fair, that volunteer mode kicks in. Tennill and 10 or so other people are at the fairgrounds "from 6 o'clock in the morning to 1 o'clock the next morning," he said. "We've got good people. They work to the bone for nothing.

"It's work, but it's fun," he continued. "You meet a lot of nice people. When you sit down at the end of the day and see what all has gone on that day ... it's a good feeling. We're all quite proud of that place."

The fairgrounds have seen a lot of changes under Tennill's watch, including the replacement of two barns that were leveled by fire. "We've upgraded the place so much in the last four years."

Other non-cosmetic changes have taken place, too. To stay legal, stockholders with the Shelby County A&M (Agriculture & Machinery) Association had to change their status to "members" because the association is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation. That change was not popular, but "I had to do it," Tennill said. "We can't own stock in a 501c3."

Despite those issues and the constant threat of a washout, the fair provides a summer break for Shelby Countians.

"We struggle from year to year, but it seems like we always manage," Tennill said; then he looked skyward: "We've had four good years in a row -- without a lot of rain."

Tennill is certainly no newcomer to the fairgrounds. He began working there when he was 18.

"I started there when the old grandstand was there, selling Coca-Colas at the horse show," he said. "I went to work for the fairgrounds in '73 as a paid employee, doing electrical work. During the fair, I worked all the fair nights, being an electrician on call."

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Tennill has been a member of the Shelby County Fair Board for eight years -- president for four. He's about to step down from that position, but he won't step away.

"I'm ready to resign as president," he said. "I want to stay on the board, of course; I'm a lifetime member now. But after a person has been there so long, they start getting stale. I think I've done as much for the fairgrounds that I can do at this point. A new person can bring some new ideas and continue what we've got going, and probably do more with the board than I think I can."