By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON - Stanley B. Dezarn was a transplanted Kentuckian who honored his heritage.

An educator, historian and founder of the O'Tucks - an organization devoted to keeping Appalachian heritage alive in Butler County - he died Saturday of complications of pneumonia at Westover Retirement Center here. He was 81.

Mr. Dezarn retired in 1980 from Fairfield North Elementary, capping 28 years as the principal there and in Lebanon.

He also operated Stanley Dezarn Bluegrass Tours.

Born in a log cabin on Crane Creek in Clay County in 1922, Mr. Dezarn delivered mail on a mule while in the seventh grade to help support his large family.

Mr. Dezarn went on to earn a bachelor's degree from Union College in Barbourville, Ky., and, later, a master's degree from Xavier University.

He began his career teaching all eight grades in a one-room school in Clay County in 1946.

Around that time, he met Icea Cornett - a fellow teacher - and married her in 1947 in Corbin, Ky. After they moved to Hamilton in 1955, Mr. Dezarn was dismayed by stereotypes of Kentuckians. That's why he founded the O'Tucks - short for Ohioans from Kentucky. Today, the Butler County institution promotes a proud heritage and endows a Miami University scholarship.

A lifelong history buff, Mr. Dezarn organized bus tours into Kentucky. Over the years, he conducted audio and video interviews of many Kentucky natives.

"He would sit down in a restaurant or a rest area and strike up a conversation with somebody," said his son-in-law, Dan Acton of Hamilton.

Berea College maintains his collection today. It also purchased the cabin Mr. Dezarn was born in and had it moved to the campus, where it houses a museum.

Mr. Dezarn's wife died in 1985.

Survivors include: two daughters, Tanya Acton and Deanna Barker, both of Hamilton; a brother, Raleigh Dezarn; three sisters, Delphia Lindsay, Annabell Cupp and Jessie Koch; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation is 3 p.m. today at First Baptist Church of Hamilton, 1501 Hamilton-Cleves Road, followed by the service at 7 p.m. Burial will be private.

Memorials: O'Tucks Scholarship Fund, c/o Joyce Thall, 1740 Cleveland Ave., Hamilton, OH 45013.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com