Hall of Honor

Keith Kigins

This 2010 Hall of Honor inductee is a graduate of the 1953 class and had numerous nominations from within the Delphos Community.  He was born and raised in Delphos and is a third generation graduate of Delphos Jefferson.  One Delphos St. John’s graduate wrote: “I am very proud to nominate this man to the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor.  I have known him for 50 years as he was my first football coach.  He was a very kind and considerate coach who influenced me into a passion for sports.  Beyond the early influence, I have so much respect for what he has meant to so many people in Delphos.  The time and dedication he has given to Delphos Jefferson is beyond words.  Even after a terrible accident, he wanted to give more to Jefferson.  When I think of all the young people that he has touched in so many ways, I feel fortunate to be his friend and former player.  He stands for so much more than all his wins and losses as a coach.  And just think about how many wins he has.  The biggest win is knowing him and being able to call him my friend.  He is an icon in Delphos Jefferson history and deserves to be inducted into the Hall of Honor.”  His daughter wrote that he stressed scholarship as well as sportsmanship and hard work and excellence both on and off the field.  She wrote that she saw his contributions to the school and to the community as something special, and it’s like the pebble in the pond…sending a ripple that expands to touch the edges of the pond.  She said her dad has touched and influenced so many people’s lives throughout the years.

This recipient coached Delphos Midget Football for 30 years, from 1959 to 1989, was the Delphos City Schools treasurer from 1967 to 1994 and the Junior High and/or Freshman Football coach from 1989 to 1999.  Almost nine years ago, he was involved in a very serious accident, injuring both his legs.  He battled back with the encouragement, prayers, support and caring of his players, family, friends, and community, to be back on the coaching field less than a year later.  His disability eventually caused him to give up his coaching, but he has and always will remain an avid Wildcat fan.  He remains actively involved with the school helping with many different booster projects, and is chairman of the Delphos Jefferson Alumni Association.  He endeavors to give back to his community through his activities with the school, his church, and as a hospital volunteer.

It is with great pleasure, pride and respect that I introduce to you, Mr. Keith Kiggins, our third 2010 Hall of Honor inductee. 

David J Morgan

This 2010 Hall of Honor inductee was a 1938 Delphos Jefferson graduate.  In 1942, WWII had broken out and he was drafted into the army, where he spent the next three years serving his country, receiving a Silver Star for Gallantry in Action among various other medals.  After the war, he took advantage of the college GI Bill and graduated from Wittenberg College in Springfield.  He landed a teaching/coaching position at New Lexington, located in southeast Ohio.  That was the beginning of an outstanding coaching career that stretched from Ohio, the Buckeye State, to California, the Golden State.  He was a man who dedicated his life to youth and to the game he loved.  He was named Coach of the Year in 1985, 86, and 87, 1989 and 1990.  He led his team to the final 4 in the state tournament in the 1989-90 season and also coached at the North-South All-Star game.  His teams were league champions numerous times, and on August 29, 2000, he received a Resolution of Commendation from the County of Santa Clara, California that read:  Due to Dave’s record of 842 victories against 420 defeats, he will be inducted in the Coaches Hall of Fame with a Lifetime Achievement Award as the second winningest coach in the history of California high school basketball.  Coach Morgan taught his players to push for excellence through the virtues of honesty, teamwork and hard work, and pride of accomplishment and perseverance. 

This 2010 Hall of Honor recipient died in 2003, his wife Irma, who submitted his name and his credentials, wanted Dave’s message of “yes it can be done” passed along to all students and others connected to our school.  It is with great honor that we are able to recognize the late David Jackson Morgan as a recipient of the 2010 Hall of Honor award.  

Lloyd B Smith

Delphos is pretty much known as a farming community… blessed with rich, fertile farm ground, and good, faith-filled, hard-working, proud farm families.  This 2010 Hall of Honor inductee was not a Delphos Jefferson graduate, but he saw the need for a Vocational Agriculture program for the students in the Delphos City School District.  In 1951, literally from nothing, this gentleman started the first ever Vo-Ag program at Delphos Jefferson.  He was an excellent, admired, and respected agriculture teacher who taught harmony and cooperation not only between the farmer and the soil, but also between his students who were from both Jefferson and St. John’s—uniting them all in the name of education.  He saw the need to teach respect for the soil—teaching his students about chemicals, fertilizers, the values of soil testing and crop rotation.  He also taught Parliamentary Procedure, drove the school bus to the Ag field trips, and helped many of our local FFA members to earn their State Farmer degrees.  This gentleman has been recognized by the Ohio State Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association and has a place in their Hall of Fame as being one of the finest teachers ever.  One former student who nominated this 2010 Hall of Honor inductee stated that he doesn’t know of any former student who did not like or respect this man and that many farmers in the Delphos area owe this gentleman a great deal for the knowledge and common sense he taught them about life and about agriculture. 

On behalf of the 2010 Hall of Honor Committee, I am extremely proud to present to you, Mr. Lloyd Smith, selected as one of our 2010 Hall of Honor recipients.
 

Dr. Scott Wolery

This inductee was a 1973 graduate from Delphos Jefferson.  Some of his accolades while at Delphos Jefferson include being a two-year member of the National Honor Society, serving as its president in his senior year.  He was a member of the Varsity D-Club all four years, serving as president as a senior.  He was a member of the Spanish and Science Clubs for two years, and Class play for two years.  He played football for four years, earning the Christy Award in 1972; played basketball all four years, and ran track all four years, being named the most valuable player his senior year, which was the year Jefferson finally got a new cinder track!  In his senior year, he was named a Merit Commended Student with the National Merit Scholar Program.  This inductee is a 1980 graduate of the Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health.  He did his internship at Riverside Methodist Hospital in 1981 and completed his residency there in 1983.  His fellowship at Good Samaritan Hospital was completed in 1993.  This doctor is a Health Grades Honor Roll Recognized doctor who is currently affiliated with St. Rita’s Medical Center, Lima Memorial Hospital, and Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton.  He is Board Certified in Cardiology, in Critical Care Medicine, in Interventional Cardiology, and in Internal Medicine.  Some of his most common procedures include coronary artery catherization and x-ray, coronary artery x-ray using contrast, coronary artery angioplasty, and stent insertions.  His patients have re-iterated time and again that he takes the time to really listen and answer any questions you might have.  The person nominating our first inductee this evening wrote that he didn’t know the doctor until it was necessary to have a stent put into one of his heart valves.  He said, “The doctor made me feel comfortable during this scary time in my life by first playing peek-a-boo with my hospital curtain.  Entering the operating room, he calmly and thoroughly explained the procedure that he was about to perform.  Not being completely out for the procedure, I was able to view his professional manor.  Afterwards, I remembered that during the procedure, I heard him comment on how much trouble he was having getting the stent inserted; then when successful, he looked up and said, ‘thank you Lord, thank you Lord, thank you Lord’.  The nominator finished by saying “it is my understanding from talking to others that this kind of wonderful faith, beside manor and professionalism is the way this doctor treats all of his patients.”  . . .   

It is with great pleasure and Wildcat pride to introduce 2011 Hall of Honor inductee this evening.  Dr. Scott Wolery.

Gary V Mack

This Hall of Honor inductee is a gentleman that has lived and worked here in Delphos all of his life.  After reading the nomination form that was sent in for our consideration, it’s hard to condense everything that he’s done for the Delphos City Schools, and just Delphos in general, into a brief synopsis.  This gentleman has made continuous effort over the years to insure that the district continues to grow and succeed, and he has done much of this work through volunteering and donating his time.  This inductee has taken care of the windbreak of trees that surround the track and field at the high school.  He also has taken care of the grass and turf on the practice fields, the baseball and softball diamonds, and the soccer fields, making sure the grass is green and healthy, free of weeds, and that there are no rough patches that could potentially cause a safety hazard to anyone using the fields.  He has also taken on the same duties for our newly reseeded field at Stadium Park.  He’s been a major supporter to school clubs and organizations such as the state ranked FFA program—both financial as well as inviting students out for the Freshman Ag Experience.  He served as an officer of the Choir Boosters for many years, even after his children had graduated.  He also served as an officer of the Athletic Boosters, helping to raise the funds to build the new track and field facilities, selling Wildcat Special tickets, Jefferson Spirit cards, and organizing numerous Meet the Team functions.  He’s also a former Board of Education member.  Besides being active within the school boundaries, he’s also very active out in our community as well.  He and his employees have spent time helping get our downtown community decorated for Christmas; he’s spent hours assisting backstage for the Canal Day’s Queen’s Pageants; and he’s currently a trustee for the Delphos Stadium Club.   His nominator writes, “he is very deserving of this honor, and I believe it would touch him greatly to finally feel like a Wildcat in every aspect of the word.  He has given up much of his own time and energy to being sure that our school district is successful and continues to be an excellent district that families can feel confident in sending their children to.  His love for our school and for our town is unwavering.”  She continued with, “I immediately knew that my father would make the perfect inductee, even though he is not a graduate of Delphos Jefferson, because he has made continuous effort over the years to insure that the district continues to grow and succeed.”  

The selection committee agreed with this and has selected this 1974 Delphos St. John’s graduate to be inducted as a 2011 member of the Hall of Honor.  His attitude of doing whatever it takes for the betterment of the students, the schools, and the community makes him deserving of this honor.  Gary Mack

David W Hoffman

The other selection for the 2012 Hall of Honor was a 1969 Delphos Jefferson graduate.   He has been employed by the Delphos City Schools since 1974.  It was that same year that the DECA program, which existed for the next 20 years, was established and headed by this employee.  It gave many students, some of which who would not have otherwise stayed in school, an alternative in their education.  This inductee has worn many hats at Delphos Jefferson over the years.  Some of his credits, besides his many years as a teacher, include Channel 13 Coordinator, D-Club Advisor, Senior Class Advisor, girl’s softball coach, and athletic director.  It was in the 1982-83 season that he began his girl’s varsity basketball coaching career.  He’s won several Coach of the Year awards, numerous Northwest Conference Championships, Sectional, District, and Regional Championships, and coached to his way to a State Semi-Final berth in 2011.  He has compiled 401 basketball wins over the span of his 30 year basketball coaching career, which I am proud to say will continue this fall, and is a friend, coach, and mentor to many.    His nominator wrote that, “he has always been around to help anyone in the family or elsewhere wherever there was a need.”  
 

It is with great pleasure that we announce Mr. David Hoffman as a 2012 Hall of Honor Inductee.

Dr. Walter Wolery

This 2012 Hall of Honor inductee did not graduate from Delphos Jefferson, but his 36 years of selfless dedication to the sports programs at the Delphos City Schools while never taking a dime for it, made him a unanimous choice for this year’s award.   His care and concern for the many hundreds of student-athletes over the span of those years touched not only the students but the parents and coaches as well, making him a true credit to his life-long profession.

The gentleman who submitted his name for consideration wrote:  “He was there for all of us when we needed him, no matter what the weather conditions were or what our record was.  It was always comforting to know he was there and many athletes and parents breathed a sigh of relief to see him on the sidelines.”  

Rick A Miller

This 2013 Hall of Honor recipient exemplifies the kind of person that Delphos Jefferson is proud to have educated and graduated from its school system. As well as being a respected business professional, he is a person who cares about the community he lives in; cares about all of the youth as well as the senior citizens in our community; and he cares about preserving all the rich history our community offers.  He has given selflessly in various capacities to charitable organizations and events, as well as to the church he attends, the qualities that Delphos Jefferson strives to instill in its students to help them to become productive, valued citizens in the communities they choose to live in.  The nominator stated that “making Delphos a great place to live and raise kids in is a passion of his.  He is a humble, Christian man, and is a great example to youth and adults.”

 Some of the activities that this inductee has volunteered for include the Delphos Postal Museum, the Delphos Institute of Music, the Delphos Canal Museum, Delphos Youth Center, the Senior Citizens Center where he has served the last 10 years on its Board of Directors as President and was instrumental in helping to find funding to keep the Center up and running.  He is a member of Rotary and works to bring us the Music in the Park each summer; and through Rotary, helps with educating the high school seniors about points of interest and the history of Delphos.  He has emceed the Canal Days Queen’s pageant for years.  He is on the Board of Directors for the Arnold C. Dienstberger Foundation, which annually funnels thousands of dollars to our schools and other worthy programs in the Delphos community. He has volunteered to emcee the Annual Relay for Life Trivia Contest; and he is an advocate of the Up to the Challenge and the Families United campaigns, which work with special needs individuals.  He is also a very active member of Trinity United Methodist Church.  Probably most all of you know him by his play by play commentary on Friday and Saturday night sports broadcasts on WDOH.  Truly, no one does it better!  People who can’t get to the game have stated that they feel like they’re sitting there in the stands because of his color commentary.  

When God commanded all of us to go and serve, this gentleman stepped up to the plate.  
 

Unfortunately, our recipient is not able to attend this evening due to a prior commitment, but it is with great pride and pleasure that we announce that this 2013 Hall of Honor award goes to Mr. Rick Miller, a graduate of the Class of 1970.
Accepting the award tonight on Rick’s behalf is his daughter, Angela Miller Eickholt, Jefferson graduate, of 1998 and Son, Kory Noftz Jefferson graduate of 2003

Jimmie C Stockwell

This Hall of Honor inductee has lived in Delphos for more than 55 years.  His wife, his children, and many grandchildren are graduates of or are currently attending Delphos Jefferson and he even has three great grandchildren currently enrolled in our school system!  The nominator of this inductee says, “he has been a dedicated volunteer in the Delphos City Schools and to the community over the years since coming to Delphos.”  

This 2013 Hall of Honor inductee has been an active member of the Jefferson Booster Club, serving as an officer for a number of years, and was one of the first members to bring us the Wildcat Special that still remains the main fundraising event.  He helped co-chair the PTO Carnival and was responsible for ordering, picking up, and distributing the prizes to each of the games during the carnival.  In 2001, he received the OHSAA award from Jefferson Schools for his exemplary contribution and service to the school.  This inductee was one of the first founders of the Optimist Club, and in 1970, he helped bring the Junior Achievement program to Delphos, working with kids in the community to teach them how to form and run business companies.  He has coached midget football for forty-five years, won the division 19 times and is one of the few coaches with four championships and continues to coach the game he loves.  In 2007, he received the Van Wert Voice Honorary Certificate for his time and dedication to coaching and teaching the kids of Delphos the game of football along with life skills.  “This person has always been right there to help the students, the community, and the school system in whatever capacity he could.”  He’s still a member of the Delphos Jefferson Athletic Boosters, still attends the sporting events, and his volunteer service and dedication to Delphos Jefferson over the years is the reason for his nomination to the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor” says his nominator.

With great pride I present this 2013 Hall of Honor award to Mr. Jim Stockwell, a true Wildcat through and through!

Lee B Himmeger

This Hall of Honor inductee was a 1952 graduate of Delphos Jefferson high school.  After becoming the school’s first ever 1000 point scorer for his basketball career he pursued a career in education from Findlay College.  While at Findlay he continued playing basketball and had a remarkable career earning him the honor of being elected to the college’s Hall of Fame in 1972.  After graduation he began teaching, served as a principal for 12 years, and athletic director for 23 years.

He loved to teach the importance of teamwork and share his philosophy of the 4 D’s – Discipline, Dedication, Determination, and Desire as a coach of baseball, track, tennis, and golf for a number of years, but it was during the 33 years he spent coaching basketball when he really left his mark.  527 victories, 58 of which were consecutive during a period when he had three undefeated regular seasons, a 70.4% winning percentage, two state championships in three appearances, back to back State Class A Coach of the year awards, named a member of the Hancock County Hall of Fame, and the Ohio High School Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.

A former assistant of his stated “I was able to see the positive results and influence that Coach had upon young people he worked closely with.  Every young man who had that opportunity to participate in a program run by him was provided the opportunity to grow and develop into a productive citizen through the lessons taught on and off the court”.  This father of 2 boys and 2 girls retired with his wife right back here in Delphos where they were members of the Trinity United Methodist Church, and he was often seen peeking in the local gyms right up until the time of his death in 2003.

It is with great pride that we induct Lee Himmeger as a 2014 member of the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor.  Here to accept Mr. Himmeger’s award is his wife, Billie Joe.

Edna Jane Leininger Sadler

This 2014 inductee in the Hall of Honor was a graduate in 1932.  It is quite fitting that this recipient is the first female member of the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor, because through the years she was first at just about everything she did.

She was a charter member and President of the Women’s Society of Christian Services through the Trinity United Methodist Church.  She helped organize and served as president of the group Church Women United of Delphos. She was a charter member of the Child Conservation League of Delphos and she was the first women appointed to the Delphos City Recreation Board.

She was also a member and president of the Phi Delta Sorority, a member of the Delphos chapter of the eastern star where she was appointed grand Martha in 1956, a Sunday school teacher, an officer in  the Delphos Republican club, and she was a poll worker on election day for over 50 years.

She was an avid supporter of both Delphos Jefferson and Delphos St. John’s schools and served on the Arnold C. Dienstberger Foundation for 42 years until her death in 2010.

It is my pleasure to announce the first woman member of the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor, Edna Jane Leininger Sadler.  Here to accept Edna’s award is her son, Paul Sadler.

Laura Schmelzer-Clenvenger

This new inductee into the Hall of Honor was a 1990 graduate of Delphos Jefferson High School.  She graduated in the top ten in her class and was very involved with extra-curriculars.  She was a member of the National Honor Society, lead the student government and excelled in sports by going to state in track as part of a relay team in 1988 & 1989, and in 1990 went to state as part of a relay and as an individual in both the long jump and the high jump.  At graduation she held at least 6 school track records.  She was also one of the main players on the basketball team that 17-5 in 1990 and was one of two Jefferson girls named 1st team N.W.C. and was selected to play for the District 8 All-star team as they competed at St. John arena in Columbus.

It was basketball that took her to Capital University in Columbus, where she led the Crusaders to a Division III national championship in 1994, and she shined on the biggest stage by scoring 21 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in the championship game defeating Washington, Mo. University 82-63.  She was honored as national player of the year, naming her the number one division III player for 1994 in the entire United States. 

Educationally she went on from Capital and got a Master’s degree from Chatham College and a PHD from Nova Southeastern University and is currently an Associate professor at the University of Findlay in the Occupational Therapy department.  It is with great pride I present to you the newest member of our Hall of Honor, Laura Marie Schmelzer-Clevenger.

Robert D Kiracofe

This inductee into the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor did not graduate from Jefferson but he did dedicate 27 years of his career to our students.  He came to us with a degree from Bluffton College in 1975. His first stint with us was 11 years as high school English teacher.  After a few years away he returned the Delphos as a middle school reading and elementary physical education teacher in 1989.  In January of 1995 he took over as the High school Principal and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2005. 

Along the journey he not only led students from his positions of teacher and principal, he coached track, basketball, and football, at all levels, he coached both boys and girls programs and he was an advisor for student council.  This allowed him to touch the lives of so many of our students for almost three decades. 
He served the community in many ways also.  His nominator pointed out that he served on the board of trustees to select “Mark Youngpeter” scholarship recipients for both Jefferson and St. John’s.  He began a summer track and fun run program to give the kids of Delphos positive and healthy activities to do when they were away from school.  Another example of this was his instrumental involvement of bringing the national program of upward basketball to Delphos and later he and the Methodist church in Delphos partnered with the Hartford church of Spencerville to expand the program into what it is today.  Children of all denominations began chanting the slogan with him “GOD IS GREAT, ALL THE TIME!!” 

But our students were not the only people whose lives were touched by this man’s dedication.  He was on the original committee of the Delphos Relay for Life and supervised the event being held at the high school for several years.  It is with great honor and pleasure that I introduce 2015 inductee into the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor Robert Kiracofe.

Melvin E Hoover

This 2016 Honoree was a 1954 Graduate of Delphos Jefferson High School.  While in school he was a very busy young man.  He played on the undefeated 1953 Northwest Conference Champion football team, served as class treasurer, National Honor Society vice-president, was one of the leads and won the Arion award as “Buffalo Bill” in the class play “Annie Get Your Gun”, won top honors in the county scholarship test…and that was just his senior year!!  He was a member of the varsity “D” club, played baseball and basketball, won a table tennis championship, won science awards, was an artist for the “Re-echo”, tutored younger students and somehow found the time to help construct the Delphos-Lima electrical towers.

All of this help made him into the adult he was who loved art of all media, tutored the unemployed and elderly in computer and job skills, and worked with gifted children to expand their talents.   He went to Ohio Wesleyan University to play football and then transferred to the Ohio State University where he earned a chemical engineering degree.  While pursuing his degree he worked full time for the gas company then spent a majority of his career with Marbon and then Borg chemical companies starting on the line then working his way to a position as associate technical director.

Though this wonderful man passed away on October 9, 2014, he continues to serve not only his community but through the help of his lovely wife of 55 years, his giving has come full circle with a generous donation of $50,000, of which the interest is to go to two scholarships for each of a student showing great leadership, Scholarship, Character, & Service as well as a scholar-athlete.  This year the first scholarships were presented to two seniors in the amount of $1260.00.  Ladies and gentlemen tonight I would like to present this award to his wife Valentine, 2016 hall of honor, Melvin E. Hoover.

Donald E Allemeier

This 2016 Honoree is a Delphos Jefferson graduate of 1946.  He came to Delphos in 1940, was a Wildcat and has been an avid Wildcat fan through generations of Children and Grand-children who were graduates as well. 

After high school he served for two years as an Army paratrooper, but then he returned to his roots in Delphos to support this school and community, and support he did!  In 1963 he purchased Delphos Tent & Awning and was very successful at not only business but helping many young men learn the value of hard work and responsibility while working their summers putting up tents all across the area.  Not only did he serve the community and schools through his business but also his free time.
He was president and carnival chairman for the Parent-Teachers Organization for many years, Alumni president for a time, and continues as a booster of the Delphos Jefferson athletics.  He ran the chains at the football games, after he helped run the wire to connect the sideline telephones to the pressbox.  He put up tents for the track team, helped with stage props for musicals and transportation of band equipment to competitions.  If you saw a canvas floor or bench covering or tent at any school event back in the day it would be a safe bet that he was behind getting it done.

As with all our honorees, their contributions go far beyond just the school.  He is a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church where he was leader of the Youth Fellowship from 1965 to 1973 and most recently served on the Church’s board of Trustees.  He is a strong supporter of the churches dedication to the upward programs and anything else he could get involved with in the Delphos community.  It is with great pride that I present to you 2016 Hall of Honor awardee, Donald E Allemeier.

Betty L. Werner Schmelzer

This honoree was a 1946 graduate of Delphos Jefferson High School.  While in school, she showed a lot of Wildcat pride and spirit as she participated in band, choir, and as a cheerleader.  She transformed that positive social attitude into a career as a bank teller for two of our local banks. 

Her passion for her beloved school sparked more inspiration in her retirement years while beginning to volunteer at the elementary school.  She became somewhat of our resident historian, starting with tracking down the names of the students in all of the class pictures and leading many other projects, collecting pictures and facts about our school.  She would do great detective work starting with a name, make a few calls, then a few more, and next thing you knew she had a picture complete, sometimes with friends and relatives leading to a connection to the next picture.  She spent over ten years gathering information and names and created so many binders that they took over a guest bedroom in her home.

After all those years working on the school’s history, she has turned her attention to the City of Delphos.  She is currently on, along with other local historians, a committee that is working to write a book on the history of Delphos.
It is my pleasure to present this Hall of Honor award to Betty Louise Werner Schmelzer.

Jon "Jack" A Leeth

This honoree is a graduate of 1957, here reminiscing with his classmates.  60 years ago he served as Senior class president, editor of the Delphi, and was the class Salutatorian.  His education continued at Ohio University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in political science in 1961, he started a Masters’ degree program then at the University of North Carolina which he completed in 1987 at the University of Southern California.

 In between those degrees and since this man has experienced just about everything you can imagine public service is about.  He started with two years as a volunteer in the peace corp, working his way up to Associate Director, to Interim Deputy Director, then becoming a Consultant. He has been a project Director with SERD Inc., Chief of Programs Branch of Court Administration Division, Chief of Party to the Administration of Justice and a Consultant on USAID Rule of Law projects around the world.  He has provided training, evaluation, consultation, helped develop projects and helped develop policy for groups all over the map.

As impressive as the positions he has held, may be the places around the globe that he has held them, a highlighted list includes: Afghanistan, Armenia, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Kosovo, Lesotho, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Ukraine, Uruguay and Washington D.C. It is with great pleasure that I present to you 2017 Hall of Honor recipient Jon Arden Leeth.

Leslie C Peltier

This inductee was a graduate in 1975….though it was an honorary one, I hope he was as proud of it as we all are of him.  Life was much different back in 1916, the World was at War, and a farm boy in northwest Ohio didn’t need a diploma.  What he had though was a vision and he used it to scan the night skies.  It all started when his mother pointed out the star cluster Pleiades, he then borrowed a book from the library, and spent his strawberry picking money an $18 mail order telescope.  In 1925 with a bit nicer telescope on loan from Princeton he discovered the first of 12 comets, 10 of which now bare his name.

 His love for the stars made him more than just the “world’s greatest non-professional astronomer” as he was dubbed by Dr. Harlow Shapley of Harvard, it inspired so many skills within him.  In 1937 as a designer working at the Delphos Bending Company he developed the skills to create the first merry-go-round telescope that could rotate to follow anything that moved through the skies.  In 1965 he became an author by publishing his autobiography “Starlight Nights” which was illustrated by the author of course. He has received numerous accolades, an honorary doctorate from Bowling Green State University, and appeared on the game show “to tell the truth”.  He not only had the award for amateur astronomers named after him there is also a  mountain range in California.

Through all of this he was still a proud part of our little community serving on the Delphos Public Library board for 33 years until his death in 1980.  It is with great pride that I present this 2018 award to his son Stanley, honoring Leslie Copus Peltier.

Sherry Steinecker Meadows

This honoree is a graduate of 1956.  She was very active in high school earning nearly straight –A’s, while participating in band, choir, national honor society, cheerleading, and working on the staffs of the Re-echo and the Delphi.  During her senior year she was named home coming queen.  After graduation she went on to the Ohio State University where she earned her bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees in Psychology and school administration.  In 1958 she even found time to be once again be named homecoming queen, this time of the Ohio State University.

She had a full and illustrious career in education starting as a special needs teacher in Springfield, Ohio.  She later became the school psychologist in Urbana, Director of Special Education in the Reynoldsburg district, Director of Intervention Services in Upper Arlington, and finally Superintendent at West Liberty Salam Schools.  Throughout her professional life she continued to lead a very active and talented life.  She played multiple musical instruments, accompanying other musicians with her piano skills, played at numerous churches and was even part of a tap dance group.

In 2015 she lost her battle with cancer at the age of 76…..We would like to present this award to her husband Carroll Meadows for a beautiful, talented and intelligent woman who made us very proud to name her a 2018 Hall of Honor recipient, Dr. Sherry Dee Stienecker-Meadows.

Duane D Reynolds

Our second hero to be honored tonight passed away January 23, 2017, just 42 days after we had the honor of awarding him a diploma 73 years after he left our school to join the Naval training academy.  He trained as a medic in the Navy then later in the Marines to accelerate his deployment into World War II.  He barely survived two of the costliest battles of the second World War sustaining a major concussion from the first and severe leg damage from the second when a mine exploded near him.  Hospital after hospital tried to find a solution for a leg that would swell each night beyond what would be expected.  Doctor after doctor tried to convince him to have the leg amputated but he refused.

After being discharged he found a bone specialist who performed a 12-hour operation which was a success but he was told he would be using a cane the rest of his life.  After a couple weeks of walking along Elm street in Lima he tossed the canes and defied the odds once again.

Like many soldiers who truly see the horrors of battle the stories are not easily shared.  It wasn’t until he reached his 80’s that his sons we afforded the opportunity to hear of the rough times that he had experienced.  Despite earning three Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts and a letter of Presidential Commendation from Harry S. Truman, it just wasn’t what heroes did.
I was proud of my very small part in getting this hero his diploma, which he valiantly earned so many decades ago, and now I am even more proud to present to his family, this plaque making him a member of the Delphos City Schools Hall of Honor 2019, Duane Devere Reynolds.

Gregory A Blythe

The first of this year’s recipients dedicated his life to service, spending 34 years in the United States Army.  This 1976 graduate was very active back in his high school days, participating in many sports, a member of both choir and band, and completing the college preparatory program needed to further his interests in science.  In 1980 he earned a degree from the Ohio State university, and then went on to earn a DDS degree from the Ohio State university of Dentistry in 1984.  He originally saw the Army as an instant job in his field and an opportunity to go to Europe.  In 1998 he completed the Army Periodontics residency program and earned a Master’s degree in oral Biology.

His job out of college turned into an amazing career and definitely afforded him the opportunity to see the world.  Through his career he was stationed in Germany, Oklahoma, Egypt, Kentucky, Korea, Hawaii, Washington and even Iraq where he was deployed in 2011.  His most satisfying assignment though was a stint serving a mountain village in Honduras.  He has made the statement that “It was a privilege to treat a group of people who normally would never receive any sort of dental care.”
During his career he received numerous medals from many of those assignments as well as served as a diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology.  After enjoying his career, he is now enjoying his retirement and getting an opportunity to continue his travels.

Because of those travels he was not able to be with us here tonight, I think he was going to be stuck in Hawaii this weekend, so here to accept his award is his sister Laura and his mother.  It is with great pleasure that I present the first 2019 Hall of Honor award to Greg Alan Blythe.

John R Brenneman

Our first inductee tonight was a graduate in 1953.  After graduating he served in the United States Marine Corps.  He graduated from the Ohio State University in 1961 with a business degree, where he was the 1958 men’s singles bowling champion for the university.

He started a business of coin laundries and dry cleaners, including his practice of offering free cleaning service for American Flags which earned him a patriotism award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  During the time of raising his family he was very involved with the West Jefferson Local School District, including serving 8 years as a board member and over 40 years as an active member and office holder of the West Jefferson Athletic boosters.  He was named fan of the year twice by the Football team and once by the Wrestling team.  In 1984 he founded a scholarship fund and still serves as its chairman, in 1986 he founded an adopt a family program for Christmas and was its chairman for 10 years.   His community service was honored in 2003 by the West Jefferson Alumni Association and 2013 by the Jefferson Local Board of Education.

This inductee has also served us here in Delphos, in 1998 he started two scholarship awards in memory of his Parents that supported some of our graduates for over two decades.  I am proud to announce as 2022 Hall of Honor member, John R. Brenneman.

Deborah Long Gallmeier

This inductee graduated in 1970. While in school her talents were showcased in choir, band, girls’ glee & ensemble and she was also very active in Y-teens, Science club, FFA, and the school paper, the Re-echo.

After graduation she became a nurse and served and cared for patients for 44 years until her retirement in 2015.  She served the district as a bus driver for many of those years, was a very active member of the Jefferson Choir boosters and served on the Delphos Board of Education for 18 years, which is the eighth longest service in the district’s history.

She Married her high school sweetheart in 1971.  This was more than a marriage it was a conglomeration of giving to a community that they loved.  Her husband became mayor in 2008 and he and his first lady established the program “Free food on Us” to help citizens of the Delphos City School District in need of assistance to feed their families.  Upon the sad passing of her husband our inductee formed a foundation in his name to continue this program and has provided bi-monthly distributions of food, hygiene supplies, organized coat drives and maybe most importantly offered an opportunity for our students and other community members to volunteer and be part of the giving.  The foundation has just recently taken over the “back to school” program that will continue to supply needy families with school supplies.

This inductee has served on the West Ohio Community Action Partnership Board and is still on the board for the Delphos Senior Citizens.  In 2020 she was named The Delphos Herald’s Tri County Woman of the Year, please help me welcome the 2022 Hall of Honor inductee, Deborah Long - Gallmeier