Ed Humphrey, the Clermont County Public Library board member who pushed for accessible parking at the Miami Township branch in Milford and championed a program that puts free books in the hands of local preschoolers, died Aug. 15. He was 82.

The library's trustees and staff published a tribute Sunday, calling Humphrey an esteemed board member whose work on multiple improvement projects left a lasting mark. His most recent effort added handicap-accessible parking spaces at the Miami Township branch at 1099 State Route 131 in Milford.

Humphrey had served on the board since 2020 and was a key supporter of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library of Clermont County, a partnership with United Way of Greater Cincinnati that mails one free book each month to enrolled children from birth through age 5. The program launched locally around 2020 and aims to reach more than 2,000 preschoolers across the county.

The library said Humphrey's unwavering dedication to library literacy adds to the legacy he left in the community.

A life rooted in Miamiville

Born in Miamiville, Humphrey started his education in a one-room schoolhouse before attending Milford High School and earning both a bachelor's degree and an M.B.A. from the University of Cincinnati. He spent 28 years at Procter & Gamble.

Public service defined his later decades.

He co-founded Miamiville Fire and EMS Services and rose to become both fire chief and EMS chief. He then served 20 years as an elected official, first as a Miami Township trustee and later as a Clermont County commissioner.

The County Commissioners Association of Ohio, where Humphrey served as president, noted in a Facebook tribute that his leadership left a lasting impact on county government and public service across the state. He was sworn in as CCAO president in December 2016 by State Senator Joe Uecker.

Humphrey was married to Janice (Black) Humphrey for 59 years. He is survived by Janice, three children and seven grandchildren. He was a member of Milford Lodge No. 54 F&AM for more than 60 years.

Services and donations

Visitation is Aug. 18, from 6–8 p.m. at Milford First United Methodist Church, 541 Main St., Milford, with Masonic services at 7:45 p.m. Funeral services are Aug. 19 at 11 a.m. at the same church, followed by burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Miamiville. A celebration of life will follow at Miamiville Trailyard.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Milford First United Methodist Church or Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Clermont County.