A TRIBUTE TO FRANK J.
BARTHEN
“The
donkeys bought the farm; they built my house; and they fed my eight kids. I owe
it all to a bunch of jackasses,” the 73-year-old Barthen said from his living
room, not even pausing to acknowledge the sound of braying burros in the
distance.
His
Bittersweet Burro Farm covers 45 beautiful rolling acres in Darby Township near
Orient in Ohio’s rural Pickaway County, south of Columbus.
In
the 1960s, 150 head of donkey roamed the picturesque family farm.
That
is, the “donks” roamed the fields when they weren’t on the road, playing
basketball.
Until
he retired a few years ago, Barthen was the driving force behind Buckeye Donkey
Ball Co.
Founded
in 1934, Buckeye has always been based in central Ohio.
Barthen
and his original partner, John C. Spicer of Columbus, took donkey basketball to
all 48 continental states and parts of Canada.
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