The Home Savings and Loan Company has partnered with Kenton Middle/High School to bring a new digital Wall of Fame to the school.
The touchscreen Wall of Fame preserves the legacy of Kenton Wildcats by showcasing archived yearbooks dating back to 1916, athletic records, and achievements in the arts and student organizations. The display has already drawn interest from students and alumni alike.
Wall of Fame
Kenton City Schools Honored Alumni
John Jester
May 2025
John Jester graduated from Kenton High School in 1935, which was before the current Middle School was built. He was a veteran of World War II and ended up becoming the director of the Home Savings and Loan Company here in Kenton. However, it was his commitment to this community that we are recognizing today. He served on our school board of education, advisory council for the juvenile court, chamber of commerce, museum contributor, masonic and elks lodges, Boy Scouts, St. Johns United Church of Christ, and founded the Hardin County Community Foundation. He was the president of the foundation from 1991-2007 and that organization just gave away over $220,000 in grants to improve our community. Yet, the most visible impact Mr. Jester had on our community can be seen each Christmas time around the square. He designed the strands of lights coming off each corner of the courthouse, window displays, and other beautification projects around the square. The point is that Mr. John Jester gave back to this community throughout his entire life and we feel that is worth remembering and celebrating.
He has received the International Award for Research in Agrochemicals from the American Chemical Society Agrochemical Division, and he is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America and the Agrochemicals Division of ACS. In October 2013 he received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Tom has honorably served as a Kenton City Schools Board of Education member for a total of 14 years. He was committed to Ensuring 100% transparency to the public of school operations. He was instrumental in safeguarding KCS’s fiscal stability. His door was always open to the public’s questions and concerns.
Tom is a “quick” philanthropist. We will never really know how many people his generosity has touched. He will always donate to a deserving cause never expecting recognition or a thank you. Recognition and thanks aren’t important to Tom. Serving others is, and always will be his focus.
Tom has reached many of his lifetime goals, but I’m sure he isn’t don’t yet. He has achieved these goals through leadership, hard work, honesty, and integrity. His biggest achievement has been serving others. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
David Sturgeon
May 2025
Mr. David Sturgeon graduated from KHS in 1959 and pursued a degree in both teaching and administration. He then came back to Kenton, where he served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and superintendent of our school district for a combined 37 years. Throughout those years, Mr. Sturgeon also gave back to our community through service in the Lion’s club, United Way, our Sheriff’s office, and assisted many other organizations. When Mr. Sturgeon saw a need, he got involved in an effort to meet that need. He truly worked tirelessly to serve the people in our community. Dave had an incredible ability to talk to anyone about anything, and he was great at bringing people together. He also strongly believed in paying it forward as co-founder of the Excellence for Education Foundation. This class received over $100,000 in scholarships this year from that foundation. Lastly, Mr. Sturgeon believed you should respect and show kindness to everyone and do the right things for the right reasons….not for recognition. Mr. Sturgeon passed away in April 2023.
Mark Ehlen
May 2025
Mark Ehlen graduated from KHS and is a member of the class of 1971. He loved basketball growing up spending lots of time at Cherry Street park and playing for the Wildcats, which eventually led to walking on The Ohio State University basketball team. He then started his teaching and coaching career at Bluffton High School and then Cincinnati Forest Park where he took the Lady Chargers to their first State Championship. He was twice named the Ohio High School Coach of the Year. His first head college coaching opportunity was at Xavier University where their women’s program won 122 games and led the Musketeers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history. His players held above a 3.0 grade point average during his nine-year tenure and achieved a 100 percent graduation rate. Coach Ehlen went on to coach the Toledo women’s basketball team for 13 seasons and was one of the winningest coaches in Mid-American Conference history. He was named MAC Coach of the Year 4 times and led the Rockets to eight MAC titles and six-postseason berths. During that time, his Rockets players were selected first team Academic All-MAC eight times including one Academic All-America pick. It is evident that Coach Ehlen stressed excellence both on and off the court. He has now had over 40 years of high school and Division 1 women’s basketball coaching experience.
Joel R. Coats
May 2024
Joel Coats is Distinguished Professor of Entomology and Toxicology in the Department of Entomology at Iowa State University. He is originally from Ohio and received his B.S. in Zoology (Chemistry minor) from Arizona State University. His graduate training was at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, receiving his M.S. and Ph.D. in Entomology (Chemistry minor), with specialization in insecticide toxicology an.t environmental toxicology. Professor Robert L. Metcalf served as his major professor there. He was a Visiting Professor for two years in the Department of Environmental Biology at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. He has been on the faculty at Iowa State University since 1978 and served as Department Chairman for seven years. He teaches in five graduate courses: Insecticide Toxicology, Pesticides in the Environment, Special Topics in Insect Toxicology, and portions of Principles of Toxicology, and Laboratory Methods in Toxicology. Joel has served as major professor for 44 graduate students who graduated from his lab, plus 3 current ones, and served as adviser for 13 postdocs. Joel’s research program includes two main areas: (1) insect toxicology and (2) environmental toxicology and environmental chemistry of agrochemicals. His research in the insect toxicology area is focused primarily on natural products as insecticides and insect repellents, including investigations of their spectrum of activity, mechanisms of action, metabolism, synthesis of biorational derivatives and analogs, quantitative structure-activity relationships. His scientific publications include 10 books, 7 review articles, 41 book chapters, and 142 peer-reviewed journal articles, and he holds 9 patents,
He has received the International Award for Research in Agrochemicals from the American Chemical Society Agrochemical Division, and he is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and a Fellow of the Entomological Society of America and the Agrochemicals Division of ACS. In October 2013 he received the Alumni Achievement Award from the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Tom has honorably served as a Kenton City Schools Board of Education member for a total of 14 years. He was committed to Ensuring 100% transparency to the public of school operations. He was instrumental in safeguarding KCS’s fiscal stability. His door was always open to the public’s questions and concerns.
Tom is a “quick” philanthropist. We will never really know how many people his generosity has touched. He will always donate to a deserving cause never expecting recognition or a thank you. Recognition and thanks aren’t important to Tom. Serving others is, and always will be his focus.
Tom has reached many of his lifetime goals, but I’m sure he isn’t don’t yet. He has achieved these goals through leadership, hard work, honesty, and integrity. His biggest achievement has been serving others. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
Denny Higgins
May 2024
If you said the names “Gary and Denny” to any Kenton resident, they would immediately smile and say, “I loved those guys”. Denny Higgins and Gary Lowe were the “Voices of the Kenton Wildcats” for many years on 95.3 WKTN. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Kenton community would listen to these two gentlemen as they would broadcast Wildcat football and basketball games. They became local celebrities and were known throughout the state for their loyalty to the Wildcats, their sense of humor, and the passion that they had for the athletes of Kenton Senior High School. Denny and Gary were were a broadcast team for over 20 years, up until Denny passed away in July of 2002. Prior to his death, Denny was able to call state championship games for Kenton and Upper Scioto Valley.
He graduated in 1968, stayed in the community, and worked for the United States Postal Service. He married his wife Patricia, and they had a daughter, Stephanie, who also graduated from KHS. Denny also coached youth basketball and football teams and was able to share his passion for sports with those younger generations of Wildcat athletes. Denny served on the KHS athletic boosters, and was a member of the Elks. Denny was not wealthy, nor famous outside of his community. He did not invent anything, nor was he a great leader of men. However, through his voice and passion for Kenton High School and Hardin County athletics, Denny brought great joy to Hardin County for many years and his legacy continues today.
Barbara Winzenried
May 2024
Barbara is an exemplary citizen, professional therapist and roll model for the members of our community. After graduating from KCS in 1953, Barb earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Pathology at The Ohio State University in 1957, a Master of Arts in Speech Pathology at Bowling Green State University in 1975, and obtained her Supervisory Certificate from University of Dayton in 1990. Barbara started her work life in Cuyahoga County. She returned to Kenton and taught a speech course at Ohio Northern University. She practiced Speech Therapy for Kenton City Schools and part time for Hardin Home Health working with Clara Radway. She was the Consultant for Handicapped children for Head Start, and then practiced therapy for The Hardin County Schools. In 1981, Barb was the supervisor for six counties. From 1989-1993, she was the coordinator for the West Central Ohio Special Ed Regional Resource Center (SERRC). She was the Director of SERRC from 1993-2001. After her retirement, Barb consulted and did substitute work. Her favorite job was for the Hardin Co MRDD early childhood language development. She also coordinated the Ohio Education Interpreter Grant to provide professional development services for students who were deaf, blind, and hard of hearing. Barbara and her husband, Bud, lived in Kenton, raised three children, Kristen, Katrina and Eric. They tragically lost Kristan in an accident.
Katrina and Eric grew up here and graduated from KHS.
As a contributing member of this community, Barb served on the Mary Lou Johnson-Hardin County Library Board of Trustees for 14 years. She was a charter member University Club II, and an active member of the United Methodist Church, serving as chair of Circle and on Parish Relations and the Pre-school committees. Bud and Barb established a scholarship at OSU in memory of their daughter. Barb served as the first vice-president and president of Hardin County Ohio State University Alumni Association. Barbara supports Hardin County Community Foundation, KCS Excellence in Education, United Way of Hardin County, and Hardin County Family YMCA. Barbara’s favorite award was in 2016 from the Ebonettes organization as a Phenomenal Woman. So rightly deserved.
Tom Brim
May 2023
Tom Brim always had a vision of how he wanted to accomplish his life goals. Through his leadership, handwork, and perseverance he has successfully built and expanded his business over the past 50 years. He has faithfully served the customers of Brim’s Imports/Brim’s Salvage yard by providing his customers with exceptional, honest, and fair service. Their needs as well as their satisfaction have always been Tom’s priority. He also had the vision with his business to include a vintage motorcycle collection. His “museum” draws customers and motorcycle enthusiasts domestically and internationally. He shares his love and knowledge of motorcycles with various clubs and individuals who visit Brim’s. He also lends some of his collection to more prestigious museums in the country. They also owned and donated a vintage bicycle, ridden by Major Taylor, the first person of color professional cyclist, to the Wilbur Force Museum. Finding a meaningful home for this bicycle was his way of educating others on cycling history, as well as commemorating bicycle racing among people of color. Tom has literally sold cars, parts, motorcycles, or bicycles to customers on six of the seven continents. In spite of his global outreach and success, his heart lives with his local customers at Brim’s Imports. They have become his Brim Imports Family. They are the fundamental core of his business.
Tom has honorably served as a Kenton City Schools Board of Education member for a total of 14 years. He was committed to Ensuring 100% transparency to the public of school operations. He was instrumental in safeguarding KCS’s fiscal stability. His door was always open to the public’s questions and concerns.
Tom is a “quick” philanthropist. We will never really know how many people his generosity has touched. He will always donate to a deserving cause never expecting recognition or a thank you. Recognition and thanks aren’t important to Tom. Serving others is, and always will be his focus.
Tom has reached many of his lifetime goals, but I’m sure he isn’t don’t yet. He has achieved these goals through leadership, hard work, honesty, and integrity. His biggest achievement has been serving others. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
William Rosenthall
May 2023
William Abraham Rosenthall was born in Kenton, Ohio on March 8, 1927, to Gordon Leopold and Florence Amster Rosenthall. His grandparents were Abraham and Jeanette Moss Rosenthall. Abraham, the grandfather, owned a clothing store in Kenton located on the west side of the square.
William graduated from Kenton High School in 1945. He was the editor of the Echo, the school yearbook, the vice president of the senior class, and participated in other activities such as the boy’s choir and the dramatic club. In 1957 he married Irene Ostrower in Manhattan, New York.
The following information was taken from his obituary published by the Charleston Post & Courier on May 2, 2005.
“Rosenthall, William Rabbi Emeritus, K. K. Beth Elohim, Charleston, SC –
Before being called to the pulpit of Congregation Beth Elohim in 1976, Rabbi William A. Rosenthall had been Executive Director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism in New York. He served in the U.S. Air Corps, and studied literature, modern languages, and art at Syracuse University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1950. After a brief business endeavor he earned BHL and MHL degrees at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, where, as president of the senior class, he was ordained in 1956. Rabbi Rosenthall became assistant rabbi of Washington Hebrew Congregation in the nation’s capital, from which position he resigned to pursue studies in Israel and Europe. He was rabbi of the Woodsdale Temple in Wheeling, West Virginia from 1958 to 1962, when he was appointed to the directorship of the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPI), the international organization of the Reform and Liberal religious movement. As director of the WUPI for more than a decade, Rabbi Rosenthall coordinated the activities of congregations in two dozen countries and administered the organization’s rabbinate, programs, publications, and international conferences. He was instrumental in establishing new congregations in Latin America, Israel, and Europe, and has preached in many parts of the world. After resigning his post on the transfer overseas of WUPI headquarters, he was engaged as interim rabbi at synagogues in the New York metropolitan area. Rabbi Rosenthall was long a member of the Governing Body of the World Union, of which he is an Honorary Life Member, and of its North American Board. He was active in the International and Latin American commissions of the American Jewish Committee and the Latin American Committee of the ADL. Deeply interested in interfaith cooperation, he is the past president of the Christian-Jewish Council of Charleston and also the past president of the Ministerial Association of Greater Charleston. He was awarded the Doctor of Divinity degree in 1981. He frequently lectured on Jewish graphic arts and had become widely known in this community, throughout the country, and abroad. Selective exhibitions of his prints have been much acclaimed in Washington, DC, Cincinnati, Charleston, and Savannah. For many years he was on the boards of the Carolina Art Association, the Collections Committee of the Gibbes Art Museum, and the Charleston Museum. Dr. Rosenthall retired from Beth Elohim in June 1992 and served as the Temple’s Rabbi Emeritus until his death on April 30, 2005. He is survived by his wife, Irene, son Gordon, of Columbia, SC, and daughter, Marcia, of Washington, DC.”
Carl Russell
May 2022
Carl Russell graduated from Kenton High School in 1917. A veteran of both World Wars, he received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree from The Ohio State University where he spent some time as an instructor. He spent a brief time teaching at Kenton High School and at the American Book Co. Russell remained in the Air Force Reserve until 1957 when he was honorably discharged with the title of Major.
He served as principal of Kenton High School. from1953-1959. He was always very actively involved with the students and became a mentor to many.
Russell was active in reviewing the use of one-room schools in the county and ultimately led the charge to build Hardin Central School which united all rural students in the district in one building.
In addition to his education duty, Russell served on Kenton City Council.
Russell was selected Hardin County Citizen of the year in 1986.
Helen Nash Saulisberry
May 2022
Helen Nash Saulisberry was born and reared on a farm located in the McGuffey area. She graduated from Kenton High School in 1914 and earned a degree in education from Bowling Green State University in 1939. She taught school for ten years, six of those years in Hardin County.
During WWI she worked for the War Risk Insurance Department in Washington DC. After the war, Helen returned to Kenton and successfully managed a Sears Roebuck Mail Order store. As a result of her success, Sears Roebuck & Co. promoted her to the position of District Manager for the Telephone and Sales Department. For twenty years Mrs. Saulisberry worked in this capacity, traveling extensively in seven mid-western states. In 1961 she retired and returned to Kenton.
In 1961 Helen became a Kenton mayoral candidate. She promised devoted service to the community and pledged to be a “full time” mayor. Mrs. Salisberry, was elected to two terms and made good her promise by working eight to ten hours a day for the betterment of her city. She was Ohio’s first female to be elected mayor.
During the Saulisberry administration, Kenton grew and prospered, and many important changes took place. During her two terms, a master plan of the city was drawn, zoning was implemented, city income tax was passed, a no-burning ordinance was started, a new water tower was constructed, the new water treatment plant was started and beautification of the downtown area took place. The neglected Pioneer Cemetery, which was long abandoned, was planted with flowers and shrubbery. Fountains and picnic areas were added along with a historical marker to perpetuate the memory of the pioneers of Hardin County.
Through the efforts of Mayor Salisberry, Kenton secured a valuable piece of property. Two hundred acres of land, including a large lake was donated by the France Stone Quarry Company. It was overgrown, and with help from public and private organizations, transformed into a beautiful recreation center. Picnic areas, fishing facilities, restrooms, and the restoration of the natural beauty of the park are directly attributed to the mayor’s hard work. The Kenton City Council appropriately named this tract of land “Salisberry Park.”
Mrs. Salisberry was recognized by Bowling Green State University Alumni Association with the 1965 Alumni Community Award. The BGSU President, William T. Jerome III, presented Helen with this award at the testimonial dinner. Helen was the first woman graduate of the university to be so honored.
Helen Salisberry organized the Hardin County Republican Women’s Federation in 1961 and served in all capacities. In 1983, she was chosen to represent the Hardin County Republican Women’s Federation to be their honoree at the “Tribute to Women” event co-sponsored by the National Federation and the Ohio Federation of Republican Women. In 1982, she received an award from Anthony Celebrezze, Secretary of State, for her contributions to the GOP.
Mrs. Salisberry was an active member of the Ohio Municipal League, the Ohio Mayors’ Association, regent of the Fort McArthur chapter DAR, Business and Professional Women, Minerva Club, Hardin County Historical Society, San Antonio Hospital Guild, Chamber of Commerce and her church. She was also an honorary member of the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association.
Col. Robert James, Jr.
May 2022
Colonel Robert B. James, Jr., U.S. Army (Retired) is a native of Kenton, Ohio, a graduate of Ohio Northern University and Bowling Green State University (Ohio). His educational career began as a Sixth-Grade teacher in Marion, Ohio where he also served as an elementary building principal. He was recalled to Active duty from the Ohio National Guard and served as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.
Numerous assignments followed including Ft. Eustis, Virginia, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas and the Pentagon where he served as the Executive Officer to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.
A graduate of the United States Army Command And General Staff course and the United States Army War College, he was selected, in 1994, as one of six military officers to attend the United States Department of State Senior Executive Seminar, where he worked with senior executives of several branches of government on a yearlong study of the social, political and moral fabric of the United States.
His military career culminated as the Director of International Affairs and Chief of Foreign Liaison for the National Guard of the United States. In that capacity he had daily interface with the foreign embassies assigned to Washington, DC. Upon retirement in 2000 and 31 years of service, he was selected as the civilian director of the Office of Education and Professional Education for the National Guard.
He holds the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit (2OLC}, the Legion of Honor from the Kingdom of Norway, the Medal of Merit from the Mayor of Moscow, Russia, and the honorary rank of Brigadier General from the State of West Virginia.
In 2004 he left government service to become the Vice President and Director of Programs at the George C. Marsha!! Foundation in Lexington, Virginia and after that he accepted a teaching position in the Department of International Studies and Political Science at the Virginia Military Institute. In 2017, was named the Mary Moody Northen Distinguished Professor in International Studies, a position he still holds. At VMI he teaches Politics and the Media, where he focuses on the relationship between the political arena and the media to include film, electronic, print and social media, as well as courses on Multinational Peacekeeping and American Government.
He offers a unique perspective in his work based on his own life experiences in educational and leadership development as well as the international community. Colonel James resides in Lexington, Virginia with his wife Cathy, a retired elementary school teacher. They have two grown children and five grandchildren.
Mary Lou Johnson
May 2021
Mary Lou Johnson was born in Kenton in 1909 to Dr. Burke L. and Edna D. (Sullivan) Johnson and was a lifelong resident of Hardin County. Johnson graduated from KEnton High School in 1926 and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Wells College in Aurora, New York and her Master’s Degree in social administration from the Ohio State University. She served 21 years as a member and officer of the Hardin County District Library Board and was the leading force behind the construction of the present library building. Following her death in 1977, the Hardin County District Library was named in her honor. She was named citizen of the year in 1969.
She donated to several funds including:
- Who’s Who of America for (Library) Philanthropy in 1968
- Hardin Memorial Hospital Guild
- Donated to Hardin Memorial Hospital expansion in 1969
- Donated to KCS for the construction of the KHS tennis courts
- Supervised 3 college scholarship funds given by her family
- President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Kenton National Bank
- Hardin County Heart Association; helped develop the Central Ohio Chapter of the American Heart Association in 1977
- Citizen of the year in 1969
- Fort Nightly Literary Club
- University Club
- Organized the Newcomer’s Club which welcomed new residents to the community
Fred Machetanz
May 2021
Renowned Alaskan artist Fred Machetanz was born in Kenton, Ohio in 1908 and graduated from Kenton High School in 1926. Educated to be an artist, he received his B.A. and M.A. from Ohio State University, and studied art at the American Academy of Art in Chicago during the early years of the depression. After completing his formal education, Machetanz received an invitation from his uncle, Charles Traegar, a trader in the Eskimo village of Unalakleet, to visit Alaska. His visit proved so interesting that the intended six weeks visit stretched into two years.
When he finally did return to the States, it was with material to write and illustrate a book for children, Panuck, Eskimo Sled Dog and a strong desire to head back North.
Early in 1940, after the publishing of a second juvenile book On Arctic Ice he set out as a civilian on a Coast Guard cutter making the run along the west coast of Alaska as far north as Point Barrow. While on this trip, he gathered material and photographs for still another book, and at the same time made a record in color movies of the Eskimo villages along the way. These movies were previewed at Columbia University in 1941 and booked on the spot for their lecture series. But before this took place, the U.S. entered World War II. The movies were put in storage, and the photographs and what material had been gathered were turned over to Evelyn Stefansson who incorporated them into a book Here is Alaska.
Fred volunteered for military duty in the Aleutians and was assigned there for three out of his four years of service during WW II. During this time, he was commissioned to write the History of the North Pacific Command. At war’s end, he was a Lt. Cmdr. responsible for intelligence for the North Pacific Command.
Upon discharge, he visited the States just long enough to get together art materials and camera equipment and then he was off to Alaska again.
Machetanz married writer and Tennessee native Sara Dunn in January, 1947 after meeting her in Skagway, Alaska.
From then on, Fred’s career of painting, filming and writing about Alaska became a joint effort with Sara taking over the writing and much of the still photography. Together they drove their own dog team, hunted seal and lived the rugged and often dangerous life of the Eskimos. When they went “outside” the next fall, it was with a color movie documentary of the village of Unalakleet and this started Fred on yet another career, that of lecturing nationally on Alaska.
A pattern was established for the Machetanzes, six months traveling in Alaska obtaining new material for painting, writing and movies, and six months lecturing in the States.
They shot footage for Encyclopedia Britannica Films, Walt Disney Productions and made a movie for the Territory of Alaskan Government.
Barney Hits the Trail, a juvenile book written by Sara and illustrated by Fred, and also two more lecture movies were released. It was a busy period, but still the Machetanzes never lost sight of their main objective, which was to search out the most beautiful scene in Alaska, center it in a picture window, and build a studio home around the window.
In the summer of 1950, they found their “view” in the heart of 3,000 acres of forest in scenic Matanuska Valley. Not only were they delighted with their view, but below the high ridge which they had chosen for a home site, lay an unnamed lake, a situation they corrected by calling it “High Ridge Lake”. Their home “High Ridge” they built themselves, with logs from their own land, and this experience, furnished the background for a fourth juvenile book, Rick of High Ridge.
With a home for a base of operations in Alaska, the Machetanzes were busier than ever. Photography continued, one exciting expedition being the photographing of a miracle lake which completely disappears each year, a phenomenon witnessed by less than a dozen people in the half century it has been known to exist.
Their book Where Else but Alaska published by Scribner’s in 1954, is an account of their life and travels in Alaska, with Fred’s lithographs used as illustrations.
Machetanz was a strong colorist. He most often painted on hardboard, which was prepared with layers of an ultramarine blue base using a large brush. He then applied a transparent oil glazing technique to build up layers from there, emphasizing areas of color and form. This gave his works a cool, luminous quality that he felt reflected the environment of the Arctic. During his career, he produced fifty stone lithographs of scenes of Alaska.
He was named Alaskan of the Year in 1977, and American Artist of the Year in 1981 by American Artist magazine. Machetanz was also awarded honorary doctorates by the University of Alaska and The Ohio State University. As a result of their philanthropic activities, several facilities are named for the Machetanz’s including: the football field at Palmer High School, a building at Mat-Su College, a theatre in Wasilla, and Fred & Sara Machetanz Elementary School in Wasilla.
Scott Barrett
May 2021
Judge Scott N. Barrett is a 1969 graduate of Kenton High School. He earned his Batchelor’s and Juris Doctor Degrees from the Ohio Northern University. He served the community as a trial attorney in Kenton from 1976-2013. He was elected to Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 2013 and serves in that capacity currently. He is the administrator of the Hardin County Drug Recovery Court, one of the first in Ohio.
Judge Barrett is an accomplished musician, studying piano and organ. He has served as the Director of Music at First United Methodist Church, and led choirs, children’s choir, and bell choir.
Dr. Lauren Wolfe
May 2020
Dr. Lauren Wolfe was born and reared on a farm east of Kenton, which he still
owns along with other Hardin County farm land . He began his education at
Hardin Central School and graduated from Kenton High School with the Class of
1957 as one of three co-valedictorians that year with a 4.0 grade point average.
Dr. Wolfe possesses fond memories of his student days at both Hardin Central
and Kenton High. To that end he established The Lauren Wolfe Fund in the
Kenton City Schools Excellence for Education Foundation – his purpose being to
support scholarships and/or programmatic needs in the areas of medical,
biological or agricultural sciences.
Dr. Wolfe attended The Ohio State University where he earned DVM, MS and PhD
degrees in the College of Veterinary Medicine. In 2000 he received the
Distinguished Alumnus Award from The OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Wolfe’s professional career was spent in academia, first at Rush University
Medical Center, Chicago (13 years) in research and administration (Professor,
Department Chair of Microbiology) and then at Auburn University as academic
Department Head of Pathobiology (25 years) and University Veterinarian (6
years). Throughout his career, he was a strong advocate for research and
graduate education; his research interests over the years centered on a variety of
virus diseases and cancers of humans and/or animals, resulting in over 100
authored or co-authored research publications. The first publication that he
authored, in 1966 while a graduate student in pathology, was the description of a
newly recognized disease of cats that he named feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).
Included in his professional activities was service on a number of scientific
advisory boards and committees and on research site visit teams coordinated by
the National Institutes of Health.
After his retirement from Auburn University, Dr. Wolfe continues to reside in
Auburn, Alabama with his wife, Virginia.
Dr. Wolfe has had a distinguished and successful career and is a fine example for
present and future generations. Thus I feel he is very worthy of entering Kenton
City Schools’ Alumni Hall of Fame.
Jesse Feiring Williams
May 2020
Born in Kenton, Ohio on February 12, 1886
o Son of Ora Williams and Ida (Feiring) Williams
► The Census of 1900 shows him living on Columbus St. and a student, age 14.
He would have been a freshman at Kenton High School in the Fall of 1900.
► 1904 graduate of Kenton High School (per the attachment from the Teacher’s
College of Columbia University)
► 1904 enrolled at Oberlin College (OH)
► 1907 attended the Chautauqua (NY) Summer School of Physical Education
► 1909 Graduated from Oberlin with an A. B. degree
o While at Oberlin, he served as a tutor, student director of athletics,
coach at the Oberlin Academy ( a prep school connected to the
University), and a member of the student yearbook (photo attached)
► After graduation he continued a year or so at Oberlin as an instructor
► Instructor at the New York School for the Blind (1911-?)
► Became an instructor in the newly formed Health and Physical Education
Department at the Teacher’s College of Columbia University in 1912 and
promoted to assistant professor by 1913 (only 9 years after graduating high
school in Kenton)
► Enrolled at Columbia University in the College of Physicians and Surgeons,
receiving his M. D. in 1915. (Note; many of the early leaders in health &
physical education, were medical doctors)
► 1915-Immediately upon receiving his doctorate, he was hired as a full
professor at Teachers College of Columbia; taught and served as coach of the
women’s teams (thus making him an early pioneer of women’s athletics).
► 1916-Moved to University of Cincinnati to become Professor and Director of
Hygiene and Physical Education ( a newly created program)
► 1917-1919-called up to serve in the military, US Army Medical Corps during
WWI. In previous research which I did years ago, I believe he was in charge
of developing a physical fitness program for recruits, though I cannot verify
that with any recent research
► 1919-Discharged from the army and returned to the Teachers College of
Columbia University where he spent the rest of his long and prolific career as
a coach, educator, researcher and author ( of over 41 books and numerous
professional articles between 1916 and 1964, many of his textbooks still
relevant today). Somewhere in there, he also found time to serve as head of
Recreational Hospitals for the American Red Cross and be involved in international education (some research shows him lecturing in both South
America & Germany during the 1930s).
► 1927-Williams authors his landmark textbook, The Principles of Physical
Education. This textbook, which I personally used in college as a student and
also referred to when teaching undergrad courses in the 1980s & 90s, has
endured for eight editions (last in 1964) and is still relevant today, 93 years
after its initial publication.
► Dr. Jesse Feiring Williams has received virtually every major award given in
the field of Physical Education. ( many are noted in the attachments)
► In the field of service, he served on numerous committees of various
professional organizations, President of many of those same organizations;
including but not limited to: The American Physical Education Association
(APEA) in 1932-33, The College Physical Education Association-1928 and
the Eastern District of APEA in 1929-31.
► August 5, 1966-Jesse Feiring Williams dies at the home of his daughter in
Monterey, California, age 80. I have documentation that he was active professionally at least until age 78.
Dr. Bruce McPheron
May 2020
It is my hon
Dr. McPheron earned his B.S. in Entomology (with honors) from The Ohio
State University, his M.S. in Biology and his Ph.D. in Entomology from the
University of Illinois.
A professor of entomology, he has taught undergraduate and graduate
courses, including courses in international agriculture. His research has
focused on the use of genetic tools to examine population structure in
pest insects of global quarantine significance and resulted in extensive
field-work on multiple continents. His work is widely published in peer-
reviewed publications. Bruce is an elected Fellow of the American
Association for the Advancement of Science. As an academic leader he has
been instrumental in connecting faculty and other researchers in
innovative collaborations across disciplines.
Dr. McPheron has served at various levels of higher education beginning as
a teaching assistant; a 4-H County Extension Agent; Postdoctoral
Researcher, Louisiana State University; Professor in the Department of
Entomology, Penn State University; and Dean, Penn State University College
of Agricultural Sciences.
McPheron has served as Vice President for Agricultural Administration and
Dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, The Ohio
State University. He currently holds the title of Professor, Department
of Entomology and Executive Vice President and Provost at Ohio State. As
executive vice president and provost, Bruce is OSU’s chief academic
officer. In this role, he is responsible for the administration and
strategic planning, development and review processes for the university’s
academic mission.
Dr. McPheron’s leadership as Chief Academic Officer at OSU specifically
includes oversight of 15 colleges, five campuses and more than 7,000
tenure-, clinical-, research-track and associated faculty. In addition, he
oversees academic programs for 66,046 undergraduate, graduate and
professional students, more than 200 majors and almost 13,000 courses,
along with the support of a library system with 5.8 million volumes in its
collection and electronic access to 48 million books and journals.
McPheron is the Chief Operating Officer for a total campus headcount of
>100,000 individuals and $7 billion annual budget.
Dr. McPheron has accomplished significant institutional achievements at
The Ohio State University by leading the following: Framework Master
Plan, Energy Partnership, Time and Change Strategic Plan, Digital Flagship
University Initiative, Buckeye Opportunity Program, and Teaching Support
Program at Ohio State. At Ohio State, he is the convener and chair of the
Council of Deans and the Senior Management Council, two university
councils that lead and work with both academic and academic-support units
to align strategies with resources.
His extensive national academic leadership service currently includes the
Big Ten Academic Alliance Provosts Council and the Association of Public
and Land Grant Universities (APLU) Council on Academic Affairs executive
committee. In addition, his community engagement includes the Experience
Columbus, the Columbus Council on World Affairs, and the Feeding America
Boards of Directors.
Russel Kaufman, MD
May 2019
Russ has been an
academic leader in biomedicine for 35 years, serving as Chief of
Hematology/ Oncology, Vice Dean, and Associate Vice Chancellor at
Duke University in Durham, NC, where he is currently an emeritus
professor of Medicine and Biochemistry. He left Duke in 2002 to
become President and CEO of The Wistar Institute in Philadelphia (first
biomedical research institute in the US), from which he retired in March
2015 and is president emeritus. He now is Executive-in Residence for
Pappas-Capital in North Carolina and founder of Kaufman Life Sciences,
his current consulting business.
But where was the beginning of his journey? Russ is from a workingclass
family with deep roots in Hardin County. Curiosity about his
surroundings spurned him to question everything from taking apart
motors to reading the World Book Encyclopedia entirely from A to Z to a
life of studying the inner workings of the body via a career in internal
medicine. For much of his youth he was sidelined from officially playing
sports due to a congenital heart defect. However, he persisted, and his
cardiologist approved his playing golf. KHS had a new golf team, and he
borrowed clubs from his uncle to play. He had no formal lessons, but
with the patient help from his mother who viewed a Ben Hogan “how
to” book and critiqued Russ, he learned the game of golf and was a
leader on the team, earning a letter and winning the Memorial Club
championship. He was also active in the Biology Club and National Honor Society.
During his youth his industry was exemplified by always having jobs,
including a Kenton Times paper route. With his savings, he negotiated
with the local hardware store to buy a lawn mower and created a yard
mowing service and even washed windows. He never asked his parents
for money … times were tough for them. During his senior year in high
school he had open heart surgery, which had not been perfected.
Complications ensued, but he persisted with KHS studies. He then
enrolled himself at The Ohio State University, found a rooming house for
lodging and started his great learning adventure despite daily chest
dressing changes during that freshman year. He also worked a variety of
jobs during the college years, from inventory of grocery stores to
delivering school buses from the Lima factory to Wisconsin on weekends
to parking cars at Mershon Auditorium.
Russ earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology and biochemistry from The
Ohio State University in four years, worked for a year in a lab while
taking biochemistry classes and then applied to medical school where he
earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University College of
Medicine graduating cum laude in 1973. He received the Alumnae
Achievement Award in 1993 from The Ohio State University School of
Medicine and the Professional Achievement Award in 2009 from The
Ohio State University Alumni Association. In 2002 he was designated a
Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP).
Russ had a distinguished career at Duke, where he was an outstanding
and recognized teacher, clinician, and researcher. In his last position, he
led the medical school as interim dean and created a new, novel
curriculum that is now a model for other medical schools in the US and
throughout the world, including in Asia and the Middle East.
In addition to his administrative leadership positions, Russ maintained
an active research program investigating the genetics of blood diseases
and cancer over his career. He is considered a pioneer in human gene
cloning, being among the first to clone human genes while he was at the
National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD in 1979. He has published
over 100 scientific papers and written numerous chapters in texts. While
at Duke, he had a medical practice in internal medicine and
hematology/oncology and developed one of the first molecular
diagnostic laboratories. This technology is now leading the development
of personalized medicine.
Russ has been a pace-setter for the growing life sciences industry in the
greater Philadelphia region, having served on the board of directors for
the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; Select Greater
Philadelphia’s CEO Council for Growth; the Greater Philadelphia Life
Sciences Congress; the University City Science Center; BioAdvance –
Biotechnology Greenhouse Corporation of Southeastern Pennsylvania;
The University of the Arts; Newland Pharmaceuticals in Hyderabad,
India; and Osage Ventures II before joining Pappas-Capital. In 2012 Russ
received the Life Sciences CEO of the year award from the Philadelphia
Business Journal and Pennsylvania Bio.
With long-standing interests in both basic and applied cancer research,
Russ has held leadership positions in national acaciemic organizations in
internal medicine and on committees within the National Institutes of
Health, the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Association
of Medical Colleges. He was the founding member of the National
Subspecialty Professors which supports academic leaders of internal
medicine. A fellow of the American College of Physicians, he has
received honors and awards for his work from the March of Dimes, the
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of America, the Arthritis Foundation,
and others. For many years Russ was an adviser to the American cancer society, leading committees that awarded grants to researchers. In 2008 he received the Cancer Control Award from the American Cancer Society
for his “exemplary individual achievements in the field of cancer
control. 11 Russ was also named one of the first Searle Scholars, a
prestigious national program that supports top-flight academic research
in biomedicine and chemistry.
Despite his impressive accomplishments in medicine, Russ continues to
be a very approachable human. In the neighborhood he is the “fix-it 11
person who willingly gives advice, from plumbing to carpentry, skills
which stemmed from his youth in Kenton where he was employed in a
plethora of venues and worked alongside his dad. He is equally
comfortable determining why the furnace doesn’t work as he is working
in his genetics lab or heading a national committee. He has raised (with
my help!) two children, now successful adults in the investment banking
and health care law worlds. He is a “silly UhOh” to his grandchildren.
(UhOh=his grandfather’s name dubbed by the four grandchildren).
As his wife, I have shared this journey, including its bumps and sacrifices.
But this narrative focuses on his extraordinary achievements and
leadership which were developed from his hard-working parents and the
excellent educational foundation of the KCS. Thus, KCS should be proud
to have him receive the 2019 Alumni Award and inspire the current
generation to reach their potential with hard work and the support of
the Kenton educational system.
Rodney Rogers
May 2019
A 1976 graduate of Kenton High School, Dr. Rodney Rogers is a great candidate for Kenton City School’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Education has always been of utmost importance for him, as he’s been working in the field of higher education for most of his life. He has served as professor at various universities including Portland State, Case Western Reserve, Thunderbird: The American Graduate School of Management, and the École de Management at EuroMed-Marseille, in France. Dr. Rogers was named the 12th President of Bowling Green State University on February 23, 2018 after serving as Provost and Senior Vice President since 2012 and previously holding the post of Dean of Bowling Green State University’s Business School in 2006. Dr. Rogers has also served as a financial consultant for multiple businesses such as Nike Inc., Wendy’s International, Starwood Resorts, The Standard, Vestas-America, Schnitzer Steel, Waggner-Edstrom, and Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in addition to his academic posts. Rogers also serves on several committees and boards in around the Wood County Area to help encourage economic growth in the community.
Jay Pfeiffer, MD
May 2019
Dr. Jay Pfeiffer graduated from Kenton High school in 1956. He was active in the Vocational Agriculture Program. With an interest in the biological sciences, Pfeifer entered the pre-medicine program at The Ohio State University. He was accepted to medical school at Ohio State and graduated in 1967 before further medical training in June 1967.
Pfeiffer returned to Hardin County to operate a Family Practice for over45 years. Pfeifer delivered over 1,000 babies while operating the practice.
Dr. Peiffer served on various committees and community activities including the Kenton City Schools Board of Education, Hardin Memorial Hospital Chief of Staff, Chief of Family Practice, Chairman of the Medical Ethics Committee, and more.
Pfeiffer is a lifetime Jersey Breeder and served on the board of the Ohio Jersey Breeders Association for 18 years.
LTG. John Michael Murray
May 2018
Lieutenant General Murray’s current assignment is to serve as the G-8 of the United States Army. The G-8’s responsibility is to plan, develop, and resource programs to support Soldiers by balancing Current Force needs with Future Force capabilities.
Lieutenant General Murray was commissioned as an Infantry officer in the U.S. Army upon graduation from the Ohio State University in 1982. Currently, he is Ohio State’s highest ranking Army officer on active duty. Throughout his career, of 36 years, Lieutenant General Murray has served in leadership positions and commanded from Company through Division, with various staff assignments at the highest levels of the Army.
Lieutenant General Murray has held numerous command positions both stateside and deployed. His command assignments include: Commanding General Joint Task Force-3; Deputy Commanding General – Support for U.S. Forces Afghanistan; Commander Bagram Airfield; Commanding General 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia; Commander, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, Texas while serving in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM; Commander, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Commander, C Company, 1-12th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized), Fort Carson, Colorado.
Previously, he was the Director, Force Management, the Pentagon; Assistant Deputy Director for Joint Training, J-7, Joint Staff, Suffolk, Virginia; Director, Joint Center for Operational Analysis, United States Joint Forces Command, Suffolk, Virginia; Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver), 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Deputy Commanding General (Maneuver), Multi-National Division-Baghdad OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq; G-3 (Operations), III Corps, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief of Staff, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas; C-3, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM, Iraq; G-3 (Operations), 1st Infantry Division, United States Army Europe and Seventh Army, Germany; Chief, Space Control Protection Section, J-33, United States Space Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; S-3(Operations), later Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas; Chief, Plans, G-1, III Corps and Fort Hood, Fort Hood, Texas.
Lieutenant General Murray’s awards and decorations include: the Distinguished Service Medal w/ Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Ranger Tab, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.
W. Alan Wentz
May 2018
A 1965 graduate of Kenton High School, Dr. Wentz then pursued a career in wildlife conservation. He began his career preparation close to home, at The Ohio State University, and then earned graduate degrees at Oregon State University (M.S.) and the University of Michigan (Ph.D.). He had nearly 30 professional publications, served on more than a dozen boards and in elected professional positions, testified as a wildlife and conservation expert numerous times before the U.S. Congress, is a member of three professional organizations, and has received more than a dozen awards and recognitions.
Dr. Wentz’s 30-year career in conservation advocacy included high-level leadership positions at the National Wildlife Federation (Washington, D.C.), Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, and Ducks Unlimited (Memphis, Tennessee). Never boisterous, impolite, seeking the limelight, nor reticent to do the right thing even in the face of opposition, it was his quiet leadership that lead to so much innovation and progress in conserving our nation’s precious wildlife resources.
Criteria for Membership in the Kenton City Schools Alumni Hall of Fame
- Must be a Kenton High School Graduate
- Must have been out of high school a minimum of ten years
- Demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following areas:
- Achievement
- Character
- Citizenship
- Community
- Humanity
- Leadership
- Philanthropy
Nomination of Membership in the Kenton City Schools Alumni Hall of Fame
Nominations may be submitted by completing the online nomination form or downloading and completing the form on paper. Forms may also be picked up at the Kenton City Schools’ Administrative Offices located at 222 W. Carrol St. Members of the KCS-AHF may be honored posthumously.
Kenton City Schools Alumni Hall of Fame Committee Membership
Members of the Kenton City Schools Alumni Hall of Fame (KCS-AHF) are recognized through a nomination process with the KCS-AHF committee. There are 9 members of the committee, which include at least one of the following:
- Superintendent of Kenton City Schools – Committee Chair and Secretary
- Board of Education Member of Kenton City Schools
- Current Kenton City Schools Employee*
- Retired Kenton City Schools Employee*
- Kenton High School Alumni
Current committee
- Chad Thrush
- Russ Blue
- Brandon Ledley
- Jane Baker
- Lynn Webb
- Leah Moore
- Robyn Sturgeon
- Cheryl Hiller
- Cindy Muray
- Dianna Smith
*Employee defined as Certified, Classified, and/or Administrative (including Board of Education Members