Hall of Fame Auctioneer Dannie Hess passes away at 81

Hall of Fame Auctioneer and longtime real estate businessman Dannie Hess passed away Saturday, Jan. 2 at Clermont Mercy Hospital.

He was 81.

Mr. Hess was inducted into the Highland County Fair Hall of Fame in 2006 and in the Ohio Auctioneers Hall of Fame in 2008. He gave of his time to do fair auctions and benefits for years and was willing to lend a hand to help anyone at any time. He always tried to be fair and honest with people treating them as he would want to be treated.

Mr. Hess founded the Dannie Hess and Associates Auctioneers Company in his hometown of Buford. Today, the company, now in its third generation, remains a family business, the Hess Auction Company. It is led by Dannie's son, Glenn, and grandson, Brad, in addition to other family members.

Mr. Hess also sold real estate for many years with Bates and Liming Realtors and Donald E. Fender Inc. Realtors. In addition, Mr. Hess was an auctioneer for Producers Livestock Yards in Hillsboro for 20 years and also for the livestock yards in Olive Hill and Maysville, Ky., for several years.

He was a member of the Union Church of Christ.

"After Dannie left Martin Bates and Adrian Liming in Brown County, I was very fortunate that he came to work with me," said Don Fender of Hillsboro, who worked with three generations of the Hess company.
"It was always a pleasure working with Dannie. He was very conscientious, with a real attention for detail and a very positive attitude. He was one of the most conscientious people I've ever known.

"Dannie was one of the world's great storytellers. It's a great loss," Mr. Fender said. "They say if you can make the world a little better place, then you've had a good life. He certainly made this world a better place."

"Dannie was always there for his family. He was the backbone of the family and would always help anyone he could," said his niece, Carol Roberts, who worked auctions with her uncle when she was younger. "The thing I'll always remember is that he was there for the family, for his sisters, and for my brother and me."  

Mr. Hess is survived by his wife, Lela Mae Hess; one son, Glenn (Joyce) Hess; a grandson, Brad (Kim) Hess; a granddaughter, Janna (Jon) Holbrook; and two great-grandchildren, Bricen and Caden Hess; and many other friends and family members. 

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5 at the Union Church of Christ near Taylorsville, 3021 North Taylorsville Road, Hillsboro.

Services will be held at the church on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 2 p.m., with Pastors Andrew Johnson and Hugh Hurley officiating.

Contributions may be made to the Union Church of Christ Missions Fund or the Union Church of Christ Memorial Fund, 3021 N. Taylorsville Road, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133.

The Rhoads-Edgington Funeral Home is serving the family.