Former Career Center student, William Grizer, was honored at the May Board of Education meeting as an inductee into the prestigious Washington County Career Center Alumni Hall of Fame. He is a 1983 Marietta High School graduate from The Career Center’s Masonry Trades program.
For the past 33 years, Grizer has owned and operated two local businesses, which caters to the construction and extermination fields, Modern Solutions and Modern Pest Control respectively. In 2000, he opened Grizer Arms, designing and building fully automatic machine guns for the United States military, through the Department of Justice. In addition, he is a preacher for the Bible Missionary Church, located in Marietta.
For the past five years, Grizer has been busy building his second Norman-style castle in Washington County, Ohio. Located on Scotts Ridge Road, in Whipple, Grizer Castle boasts over 46,000 blocks and interior/exterior stone, along with concrete floors throughout. With the grand opening set for August of this year, bookings may be scheduled in advance for medieval-themed events, birthdays, weddings, etc.
When asked how the Career Center influenced his childhood goal to build a castle, Grizer openly commented, “When I was about eight- or nine-years old, I watched the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and told my parents I wanted to build a castle just like the one in the movie. Instructors, Mr. Frank Davis and Mr. Richard Hockenberry, taught me the skills needed to fulfill my childhood dream.” He further lamented, “Earning a high school diploma was great, but the 1569-hour masonry certificate I earned at the Career Center, which is framed and hanging in my home, is priceless to me. I am truly grateful and humbled for the honor of becoming an Alumni Hall of Fame recipient.”
Grizer resides in Whipple with his wife, Barbara. They have six grown children: Brenda of the home, Benjamin of Marietta, Brad (Jaclyn) of Marietta, Billy (Rebecca) of Whipple, Bethy of Queens, NY, Barbie of New York, NY, and one grandchild, Lance.
Photo: William Grizer standing outside of Grizer Castle
Photo: Aerial view of Grizer Castle