Community service is nothing new to Dan Wigton. 

Before he turned 10, Dan was helping his mom in the kitchen, mowing three yards, delivering the Oberlin Review as a paperboy, slowly filling up his dime bank, 10 cents at a time. When he moved to Marion with his family in 1969, his father had to start over building his dental practice. It was Dan who drove with his dad to Xenia to pick up his uncle’s used dental chair and equipment, out of the basement – and yes, out of love, dedication, and service. 

As you may know, golf was – and still is – an important part of Dan’s life. At age 6, he’d walk to the Oberlin Golf Course with his dad, 2 brothers and sister many nights competing at a very young age. Did you know that Dan, along with his brother Dave, Dr. Gary Burton and Jim Conkle still hold the record at Harding High School for the four-man total, recording a score of 308 at Marion Country Club while playing in the Buckeye Conference Championship Tournament in May of 1973 – a record that still stands after 53 years! Dan was a three-sport athlete in football, basketball and golf, and always had a strong competitive spirit, a true Wigton trait. 

Golf has always played an important role in Dan’s life, as he met many of his future clients on the golf course, combining business and pleasure. In years past, Dan managed the Chamber of Commerce’s B-I-G (Business & Industrial Golf) Day, bringing golf legends Corey Pavin, Curtis Strange, and Bruce Lietzke to Marion for the Chamber’s annual fundraiser – which was always a huge sellout. Dan continues to support the Club in any way he can today.  

A 1979 graduate of The Ohio State University, Dan proudly recalls shaking hands with Coaching Legend Woody Hayes when he and future Senator John Glenn “dropped in” to the Beta Theta Pi house where, in the spirit of community service, Dan joined the two legends in drinking a beer! And his Beta brothers will always remember Dan’s spirit of “community service” -- he gladly shared class notes to help them get through those tough finance courses. 

After graduating from Ohio State, Dan made the decision to return to his adopted hometown of Marion “because that’s where my parents lived, and I wanted to be able to help them out.” Professionally, Dan joined Wayne Kuhn at Marion’s office of McDonald Investments serving as an associate in the Public Finance Department. While there, Dan managed the municipal notes of 77 political subdivisions throughout Ohio. He also did his share of community service serving as Wayne’s chauffeur, driving hundreds of miles every day around the State. 

Dan’s first apartment in Marion was on the second floor of a home owned by an elderly landlord who “fell in love” with Dan because whenever she asked him to pick up a few groceries, he always said yes – delivering bread, milk and eggs with a smile – and promising not to play his music too loud… 

After three years in public finance, Dan moved into the Private Client Group of the 
investment industry, starting with a TOTAL of ZERO assets under management, building his career that now spans 50 years. He currently serves as manager and senior vice president for the Marion office of Stifel (STEE-full) Investments, building lifelong relationships – and friendships – with clients. In his own words, Dan considers his greatest professional accomplishment helping clients create their “forever legacy” through the Marion Community Foundation, helping to direct client assets there to empower the Marion community FOREVER. Not to boast, but Dan has brought over $33 million in client assets to the Foundation through decades-long personal and professional relationships with individuals, earning their trust, helping their estate grow, then encouraging them to help the Marion community FOREVER through Marion Community Foundation. Today, those monies he brought to the Foundation have created an ANNUAL disbursement of over $1.2 million awarded to charitable nonprofit organizations throughout Marion County – and that number will continue to grow FOREVER benefitting Marion. Now, THAT’S community service!  

Dan’s heart of service is evident each and every day. He firmly believes in paying it forward. Dan has served many “repeat” terms on the boards of the Marion Country Club, Marion Rotary Club, Marion Area Chamber of Commerce, The Ohio State University Alumni Advisory Council at the Marion Campus, the Marion Chapter of Symposiarchs, the Marion Family YMCA Finance Committee, the United Way of Marion County, the Boy Scouts—and more. As the grandson of former missionaries, Dan has served numerous terms as deacon, elder and trustee in the faith community. 

Valerie says she can’t remember Dan saying ‘no’ when a request for community support came knocking – from local schools, sports teams, churches, 4-H’ers, and a VERY long list of local nonprofits. Because as Dan says, ‘It’s just the right things to do.’ 

There’s more. Like encouraging City officials to add the pedestrian safety guard rails in front of the Jer-Zee, because, as Dan says, “someone standing in line is going to get hit!” Urging ODOT officials to reduce the speed limit on various roadways. Adding a stoplight at 423 South and Marion-Cardington Road. Improving the sight-lines on State Route 423 and Owens Road. Painting speed bumps so they’re visible. Cutting back overgrown weeds at intersections. And yes, planting geraniums right outside of the Block O here on campus, which honors Wayne & Geraldine Kuhn, “because they deserve to be recognized, it beautifies the campus, and it’s the right thing to do.” 

A couple of years ago, Dan and Valerie took the lead in organizing the NO SOLAR community effort in Pleasant Township to preserve and protect a large portion of beautiful farmland in our county. He worked to remove overgrown arborvitaes at the entrance to Southern Estates, led a campaign to restore the entrance sign and to plant flowers “so people have something pretty to look at” yes, but also, to improve safety at a critical intersection. Township trustees know him by name. Dan suggested installing security lights throughout the Township, enhancing safety. And right now, he’s overseeing a community of volunteers to secure passage of the Pleasant Township Fire & EMS levy – because “it’s important – and someone has to do it.” 

The list goes on… Not because anyone ASKED him to do ANY of it, but because he saw a need and wanted to provide a solution. It was simply the right thing to do. 

Dan did all of this while overcoming Stage IV cancer, AND by being the world’s BEST DAD to daughter Stephanie and son Eric, while building a beautiful 43-year marriage with his wife Valerie. 

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So, here’s to Dan Wigton, 16 years cancer-free, a longtime community advocate, successful financial advisor, husband, father and grandfather, a man who has always believed in leaving the community you live in, in a better position than the way you found it. Identifying solutions, not just complaining about problems, and always looking at the glass “half-full.” Although he only got as far as a Cub Scout, Dan truly exemplifies the Scout Law in his personal, professional and civic life. Congratulations to Dan Wigton, the 2026 Good Scout Award Winner. 

Past honorees include Merle Hamilton, Oliver Hamilton, J. Ronald Scharer, George Brown, Gerald Davis, John Keggan, Lowell Thurston, Daryl Gates, Nick Chilton, Gary Sims, Dean Jacob, John W. Scharer, Ronald J. Scharer, Ted Graham, Howard Smith, Lois Fisher, and Lars & Brooke Olson. Please join us on October 29 to demonstrate your support of Dan Wigton and Scouting.