Photo: Calvin Czeschin’s painting in the Baxter Health main lobby
He was born December 8, 1935, outside of Warrensburg, Missouri. The family moved to Arkansas in the early 1950’s and Czeschin graduated from high school at Blytheville. Czeschin then received a degree in geology from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
In 1958 his family purchased the Mountain Home Telephone Company and Yelcot Telephone Company. Czeschin was named general manager of both firms at age 23.
When he took the helm at the telephone companies, Czeschin launched a career marked with continual improvements to the telephone and internet service in this area.
In 1975, Mountain Home Telephone merged with Century Telephone Enterprises headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana where Czeschin was named to the company’s board of directors.
He held that position when, in 1978, Century Telephone was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Czeschin helped ring the opening bell at the exchange several years after Century was listed.
The Home Cable Television was acquired in 1975.
In early 2007, the Czeschin family purchased the Mountain View Telephone Company and launched a more than 150-mile fiber optic project.
During the years, Czeschin’s business endeavors expanded to banking and the ownership of car dealerships now operating as Ultimate Auto Group.
He is also one of the original members of the Mountain Home Land Group. The group owns Big Creek Golf and Country Club.
While his businesses have grown and thrived, Czeschin has also found time to be a major community booster.
He served as chairman of the board at what is now Baxter Health for 15 years and served on the board for 20. He was a past board member of the state chamber of commerce, Mountain Home School Board, MHS Band Boosters and Arkansas Telephone Association.
He was named Citizen of the Year by the Mountain Home Lions Club and is also the recipient of the Vada Sheid Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2021, the Mountain Home City Council proclaimed December 8th as Calvin Czeschin Day. His day came as he celebrated his 86th birthday.
In mid-September this year, the Arkansas State University System Board of Trustees voted to name the ASUMH technical center for Calvin Czeschin, his wife Sissy and Kenny and Laura Newth.
In the resolution passed by the trustees, the Czeschins are recognized, “for their numerous contributions to ASU-Mountain Home of a magnitude worthy of special gratitude . most recently evidenced by a significant gift to enable the purchase of the ASU-Mountain Home Technical Center.”
The ASU-Mountain Home Technical Center is now known as the Czeschin-Newth Workforce Development Center.
On Tuesday, Nov. 7, Calvin Czeschin visited with KTLO’s Heather Loftis at the 70th anniversary celebration held at the Vada Sheid Community Development Center on the campus of ASU – Mountain Home.
Listen:
A visitation for 88-year-old Calvin Czeschin of Mountain Home will be held Friday afternoon from 4 until 7 at First United Methodist Church. A funeral service will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 at First United Methodist Church. Burial is at Mountain Home Cemetery. Czeschin died Wednesday in Mountain Home.
Photo: Calvin Czeschin and Heather Loftis at KTLO’s 70th Birthday Celebration on the campus of ASU — Mountain Home
Photo: Calvin Czeschin with his son Clint Czeschin (left) and Sara Zimmerman (right). Photo provided by the Mountain Home Education Foundation
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