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First class selected for District 87’s Hall of Fame

By Phyllis Coulter
pcoulter@pantagraph.com

BLOOMINGTON — The abundance of successful Bloomington High School graduates and people who contributed to the school district even surprised a man who worked in Bloomington schools for almost 40 years.

Glen Newton, the chairman of Bloomington District 87’s committee to create a Hall of Fame as part of the district’s 150th anniversary this year, said he was overwhelmed by the number of such achievers.

The committee’s work is done. Superintendent Bob Nielsen will discuss the first 20 Hall of Fame inductees — 10 Bloomington High School graduates and 10 people who contributed to the school district — at the school board’s meeting Wednesday night.

It was a difficult challenge to narrow down the list of candidates, Newton said.

The baseball fan said he likes the way the national Baseball Hall of Fame started with only four original honorees and inducted new people each year.

“We stretched it to 10 (in each category),” he said.

The inductees will be honored with plaques describing their achievements. Graduates’ plaques will be displayed in the newly renovated student center at Bloomington High School and contributors’ plaques at the school board offices on Monroe Street.

There is room for 100 plaques at the high school and about 50 at the board office, Newton said.

“It’s a challenge to the community now. Let’s see how you can fill this up with people who contributed,” said Rick Laleman, committee member.

“Probably we’ll catch a little flak,” Newton said.

Some people will think the committee missed some of their favorites, but they can nominate future inductees by filling out a nomination form patterned after the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, he said.

Newton attributes the initial idea for the hall of fame to the superintendent.

“I think it was wonderful,” Newton said.

Newton is personally acquainted with many nominees because he worked in the district as a principal, counselor and teacher for 37 years. However, even he was surprised the district prodcued a Pulitzer Prize winner.

Inductees are from business, entertainment and creative arts, and they are ethnically diverse. “It was easy enough to find all of them,” Newton said.

The inductees will be honored on homecoming weekend in September. They will march in a special sesquicentennial parade, starting at 2 p.m. Sept. 23, from Oakland Elementary School to Bloomington High School. Inductees will also be honored with a banquet Sept. 20.

“Bloomington’s list of distinguished alumni would rival many universities,” Laleman said.

Inductees

Following are inductees to Bloomington District 87’s new Hall of Fame, which recognizes former students and people who contributed to the betterment of the district.

Bloomington High School

Willie Brown, Class of 1966, executive vice president, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.

Clinton Davisson, Class of 1902, physicist and Nobel laureate

Pete Elliott, Class of 1944, executive director, Professional Football Hall of Fame, football coach

Phillip Clifton “P.C.” Kurtz, Class of 1913 valedictorian, and principal, assistant principal, teacher, Bloomington High School

Dennis Marquardt, Class of 1973, founder, Denny’s Donuts and Bakery

Edward B. Rust Jr., Class of 1968, chairman and CEO, State Farm Insurance Cos.

McLean Stevenson, Class of 1946, actor, writer, comedian

Suzanne Tick, Class of 1977, award-winning fabric designer and owner of Suzanne Tick Inc. New York City

John A. Waddell, Class of 1959, opera singer, vocal coach

W. Charles Witte, Class of 1959, circuit judge, attorney

District 87

Delores Anson, education support personnel, administrative offices, 1960-2007

Horatio Bent, board member, board president, 1893-1931

Rosemary Dustman, director, pupil personnel services, coordinator of guidance, counselor, teacher, 1951-1985

Lois Green, assistant superintendent, principal, teacher, 1938-1970

Roy Hostettler, counselor, teacher, 1947-1990

Robert Knight, principal, assistant principal, counselor, teacher, 1950-1987

Sharon Morkin, teacher, 1966-1994

Sarah Raymond-Fitzwilliam, superintendent, principal, teacher, 1868-1892

Dortha Tompkins, board member, board president, 1949-1962

George Wells, superintendent, 1944-1966

Inductees

Bloomington High School

District 87

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