Great Living Cincinnatians: Honorees

Louis Nippert began a career in Westwood that would eventually touch the lives of individuals and organizations throughout the county. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law, his early life was touched by tragedy when his brother died a few months before graduation from college. Nippert then made a firm commitment to work with double effort to serve the community.

For over 40 years Nippert has been one of the community’s leading philanthropists. As director of the Elizabeth Gamble Deaconess Home Association, he has seen this organization expand its activities through the development of additional United Appeal agencies and thereby make possible greater service to many sections of the city.

A member of the board of trustees of The Christ Hospital since 1929, he was president and chairman of the board. He often spent more hours at the hospital than at the law office where he practiced for his entire career.

In 1968 Nippert directed a campaign which made possible a new 1,000 acre park in the southwest part of the county. Over $100,000 was collected for the purchase of the property which was to become Shawnee Lookout Park. He was also responsible for the development of Winton Woods and for the acquisition of Miami White Water Parks.

In 1966, Nippert was part of a syndicate that bought the Reds from William O. DeWitt to assure that the team stayed here. Six years later, he assumed majority control. In four of the next five seasons, the Reds were in post-season play, winning consecutive World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.

He served as president of the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Chapters of the YMCA, and was a founding member and past president of the Hospital Care Corporation. He also served as a member of the board of directors of the Cincinnati Bengals and as chairman of the board for the Cincinnati Reds.