Hamel called his grandmother “a tough woman, very disciplined and very firm.”

Dobbins, who said Bonnie Vance lived two doors down from him, remembers her in much the same way, while her grandson was “just like any other kid.”

Since those childhood years, Hamel graduated from Middletown High School in 2003, served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Iraq War, graduated from Ohio State University, received his law degree from Yale Law School, wrote a a 2016 memoir and best-selling book, “Hillbilly Elegy,” co-founded Narya, a venture capital firm in Cincinnati, was elected to the U.S. Senate and will be sworn in Monday afternoon as vice president of the United States.

You probably know this kid from Middletown better as JD Vance.

Vance was born in Middletown in 1984 as James Donald Bowman, the son of Donald Bowman and Bev Vance. After his parents divorced, he was adopted by his mother’s third husband.

Throughout his years in Middletown, Vance went by James Hamel, his stepfather’s surname, until changing to Vance in honor of his grandparents.

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

A different route to the White House

Butler County Treasurer Nancy Nix, a close friend of Vance’s who hosted a fundraiser when he ran successfully for senate, once called him “a rags to riches” story.

He took the indirect route to the White House. Most prominent politicians are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Vance’s spoon was plastic.

After his family moved to Middletown from eastern Kentucky, Vance’s mother, Beverly Aikins, struggled with her drug addiction, which was well documented in his best-selling book and in the Netflix movie directed by Ron Howard with several scenes shot in Middletown.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Vance’s father left home when JD was a young boy, and he credits his “Mamaw” for raising him and being his role model.

“Her discipline kept me on a pretty good path myself,” Vance once told this news agency. “Some kids from a troubled family don’t have a guiding hand. She was a saving grace and kept me from the other chaos.”

Vance’s grandmother died of a collapsed lung at Middletown Regional Hospital in 2005, while Vance was serving in the Marines.

His mother worked at Middletown Regional Hospital, but lost her nursing license in the mid 1990s, after developing a drug problem and rollerblading through its emergency room.

At the Republican National Convention, with his mother backstage, Vance said she’s nearing 10 years sober, an accomplishment he hopes to celebrate in the White House.

Vance’s family lived in the Olde Towne Apartments and on McKinley Street, places that are a long way from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

In less than two years, there have been at least two police shootings in the apartment complex, including a recent fatal officer-involved shooting of a man who allegedly opened the door holding a gun, according to police records and officials.

Many of the homes on McKinley, including where Vance’s grandmother lived, are being rented.

Some of Vance’s supporters are hoping after he serves four years as vice president under President Trump, he’s elected as the 48th president in 2028.

High school friend: Vance never showed ‘rough times’

After attending Fenwick High School through his junior year, Chris Combs transferred to Middletown High for his senior year. That’s when he met Vance since they shared some mutual friends.

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

“He was a great guy,” Combs said while sitting in Combs BBQ Central, a restaurant he owns on Central Avenue and a few blocks from Vance’s childhood home. “If he ran into me right now, he’d be like, ‘Hey, Chris, how have you been?’ It would be like I saw him yesterday. I know him that well.”

It wasn’t until Combs read Vance’s memoir and watched his movie that he knew about Vance’s difficult upbringing.

In high school, he never showed those “rough times,” said Combs, 41, who graduated from Middletown High School in 2002.

Combs called Vance’s meteoric climb from political newcomer to vice president “absolutely amazing. I’m so proud of him. He deserves it.”

Former neighbor: ‘He can’t focus on one place’

Dobbins, who has lived on McKinley Street periodically since 1979, said he saw when Vance’s parents brought him home from the hospital after he was born on Aug. 2, 1984.

He never could have imagined that Vance, or anyone else with his childhood baggage, could overcome those hurdles and become vice president.

“His grandma pushed him to do his best,” said Dobbins, 68. “How he grew up gave him his determination. I see a lot of his grandma there.”

Vance’s story shows “it doesn’t matter where you come from, but it matters what you become.”

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

A registered Democrat, Dobbins said he voted for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

“I’m voting for the person I think is best,” he said.

Dobbins said local residents shouldn’t expect special attention from Vance the next four years. He’s vice president, not a city council member.

“He can’t focus on one place,” Dobbins said. “He has to focus on everybody. If it’s better for everybody, it’s better for Middletown.”

Pastor: ‘It’s time to bridge the gap’

Jake Ferguson, Life Care Pastor at Berachah Church in Middletown, graduated from Middletown High in 2003 with Vance. But it was during their junior high days at Vail Middle School when they formed their friendship.

Ferguson’s family lived at Olde Towne Apartments, and since Vance’s grandmother lived there, he spent a lot of time there.

He called Vance “a good kid” who liked to play in the creek and climb trees.

The two drifted apart in high school, but one day when their paths crossed in the hallway, Vance told him: “One day you will vote for me.”

He was elected vice president of his senior class, and now, 22 years, he was voted the vice president of the United States.

Ferguson said Vance’s upbringing in Middletown shaped him into the leader he’s today because he refused to “let that excuse keep him from success.”

He hopes President-elect Trump and Vance can end the divisions in this country regarding race, politics and religion.

“It‘s time to bridge the gap,” said Ferguson, 40. “Time for unity.”

Inauguration attendee: ‘We are so proud of him’

Jeri Lewis, community projects coordinator for the city of Middletown, is traveling to Washington, D.C. with her husband, Scott, to watch the inauguration at noon Monday.

The city of Middletown, first by Berachah Pastor Lamar Ferrell at a city council meeting, then by Vance’s mother, has been criticized for not celebrating a Middletown native being elected vice president.

Ferrell said at the Nov. 19 meeting the city celebrates many accomplishments from musicians to entrepreneurs to athletes, “but we just have witnessed the election and no matter what side of the political party you sit on the reality is we have heard crickets from the city.”

Without any visible response from the city since Ferrell’s comments, Aikins addressed council at the next meeting to ask for recognition.

Since then, the city has announced it’s going to recognize Vice President-elect Vance with street entrance signs at seven locations following Monday’s inauguration.

Lewis said she’s excited about being in Washington to witness the inauguration.

“It’s important,” she said. “We are so proud of him.”

Outside of work, Lewis spends countless hours mentoring children about their choices and how they impact their lives. She now can use Vance’s story as an example.

“Sometimes you can stay the path or do better,” she said about people’s decisions. “”I tell every kid I interact with they could be in the same boat."

Vance and his wife, Usha, have three young children, Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel. They live in Cincinnati, but it’s unclear where they will live the next four years.

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

Credit: AP