Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

1923 –

Charles Stanley Mechem Jr. served as president of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber in 1977 and co-chaired the Chamber’s Blue Chip Campaign from 1979-86. Other business leadership roles: national chairman, Miami University Goals for Enrichment Campaign; co-chair, Cincinnati Business Committee; and founder/president of the Greater Cincinnati Sports & Events Commission.

Among the hundreds of headlines and news stories Charles Mechem Jr. has generated during his distinguished career, one stands out most vividly: A front-page story in The Wall Street Journal describing him as a “roller-coaster nut.”

Mr. Mechem’s passion for roller-coasters, especially The Beast, was all part of his job, spearheading the vision for Kings Island while chairman and CEO of Taft Broadcasting, later Great American Broadcasting. Known as the “Father of Kings Island,” Mr. Mechem’s handiwork has touched the lives of countless Cincinnati residents and visitors–from his vision of the popular amusement park to early support for Riverbend, from the birth of the Cincinnati Bengals and the ATP tournament to world-class golf in Cincinnati.

Mr. Mechem, likes to say he has enjoyed four careers: as a partner at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister; as CEO at Taft Broadcasting, later Great American; as commissioner of the LPGA; and “life after that”–which includes serving as chairman of the board at Convergys and as the personal business advisor to Arnold Palmer.

“I have always been a kid at heart, and have enjoyed being part of fun things,” he says. “There are many days that I have thought, ‘How could you be so lucky?’ “