Dr. Dorothy Schumann Woolley

          Dr. Dorothy Schumann Woolley graduated from Blume High School in 1947 with an avid interest in science and a real appreciation for her education.  In a quoted statement she said, “When you grow up in the Great Depression and you walk a distance to school to get to first grade, you value your education.”

          She graduated from Bowling Green State University , magna cum laude, in 1950 with majors in biology and chemistry.  In 1950 she married Robert Woolley, received a masters degree in physiology from The Ohio State University Medical School in 1957, and a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of California , Berkley in 1961.  In the intervening years she and Robert had three children.  During the years she was working on her Masters and Ph.D. degrees, she was actively involved in research involving brain activity and chemistry as well as functioning as a teaching assistant.  She received a National Science Foundation postdoctoral scholarship and taught at UC San Francisco Medical School and also at UC, Berkeley for several years.  In 1964 she began a faculty position at UC, Davis, and became involved in research with environmental toxicants, including DDT.  She published many papers combining this with her work with hormone receptors in the brain.  During the 70’s she and her associates continued studies with monkeys to determine the effects of a toxicant on brain electrical activity. 

          She has served on many nationally-known research committees and boards—National Library of Medicine—toxology division, National Advisory Environmental Health Sciences Council, EPA, National Science Foundation, March of Dimes Research Grants, and others.  She published nationally-recognized papers, chaired animal physiology committees, continued individual research, and taught at the graduate level, initiating courses in neurotoxicology and neuroendocrinology.  She retired in 2004 but maintains her office at the university.

Jennifer Smith

          Jennifer Smith graduated from Wapakoneta High School in 1967 and Bowling Green State University in 1973 with her bachelor’s degree in Art Education.  She worked as an art teacher in the Beavercreek School system for ten years while earning a master’s degree from Wright State University in Professional Writing and Women’s Literature.  She completed coursework at Ohio State University and received her Ph.D.  She returned to Beavercreek to teach British and American Literature.  In 1991, having discovered the power of romance literature while working on her dissertation, she boldly resigned her teaching position and began writing full time.  She wrote and published under the pseudonym Crusie, her maternal grandmother’s family name.  Ms. Smith wrote a series of novels, one of which won the RWA Rita Award for Best Short Contemporary Novel and in 1995 another work received Best Category Novel by the AOL Readers Group.  1996 brought honors for one of the best romance novels by The Library Journal.  Also in 1996 she was a Career Achievement Award winner in the Romantic Comedy category and Ms. Smith was awarded Best Series Category author.  She finished her MFA in fiction in June of 1997 with a thesis entitled Just What You Wanted to Know and Other Stories.  Ms. Smith/Crusie is recognized as a New York Times best-selling author, a featured speaker at fiction and writing workshops and conferences all over the United States and overseas.  Her essay and writing criticisms are published in writer’s journals by university presses, cited at writer’s workshops, and noted in Romance Writer’s Reports.  Her novels have been published by Silhouette, Harlequin, and St. Martin ’s Presses.

          She continues to write and is currently working with a co-author, branching into an action/romance series.  She has published 12 successful novels, develops literary criticism, created thirty-plus non-fiction works, chosen as one of Amazon’s top ten romance writers, and she continues to work as an educator, encouraging other aspiring writers.

Fredrick Wintzer

           Fredrick Wintzer graduated from Blume High School in 1941 and entered Mt. Union College .  In 1943 he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Renshaw in the Pacific Theater.  After his military service, he returned to Wapakoneta to join his family business, The GA Wintzer Company.  He became active in newly-evolving concerns for the environment, receiving commendations from the Ohio Department of Health and Gov. Rhodes for his outstanding contributions to conservation.  He was also an innovator in his industry and received two U.S. patents for rendering processes developed for his company.  He has been actively involved with the Methodist Church in Wapakoneta acting as Chairman of the Finance Committee, the Building Committee, and working with the Board and the Worship Committees.  Mr. Wintzer has displayed his strong commitment to his community with involvement in and leadership of many public services organizations.  He served on the Auglaize County Board of Health for 21 years, the Mt. Union College Board of Trustees, and Wapakoneta City Schools Board of Education.  He was an active member of the Wapak Dad’s Club.  He was involved with the Auglaize County Regional Planning Commission and served as its President.  He worked with the Neil Armstrong Museum Site Committee.  Mr. Wintzer has received numerous awards and recognition for his contributions.  These include:  Citizen of the Year, Wapakoneta Education Association Friend of Education Award, and service club individual awards.  He is currently retired, but maintains active interest in his company, the community, and the political field.

Dr. Earl F. Kantner

          Dr. Earl F. Kantner graduated from Blume High School in 1944 and served in the Pacific Theater in the US Army during WWII.  He was wounded in action in the Battle of Okinawa.  He attended The Ohio State University and graduated with a major in Agricultural Education.  He taught agriculture at Ansonia , Wauseon, and Canal Winchester high schools.  In 1963 he became Assistant State Supervisor with the Ohio Department of Education, training and supervising agriculture teachers.  As Director of the Ohio FFA he developed 250 state FFA officers, served as a positive influence, and offered encouragement to students all over the state of Ohio .  He continued his work while achieving his MS in 1956 and his Ph.D. in 1968.  He was also teaching at The Ohio State University.  He has received the National FFA VIP Award, the National FFA Distinguished Service Award, and the National Citation for Meritorious Service.  He was inducted in to the 23rd Annual Agricultural Hall of Fame.  He has received many honors as a result of his continued public service.  These include:  The OSU Silver Anniversary Award, the Children’s Hospital Service Award, the Ohio Farm Bureau Service Award, and he was cited as Honorary Ohio Director of Education.  In retirement he continued as Executive Director of the Ohio FFA Foundation and spearheaded the development of and funding for the Ohio FFA Center on the Ohio State Fairgrounds.  “Doc”, as he is known by his many friends, co-workers and students, is married to Onnolee and has two children and three grandchildren.

Colonel Thomas Gross

          Colonel Thomas Gross graduated from Wapakoneta High School in 1971 and attended a military academy where he graduated in 1975.  His military schooling has included the Infantry Officer Basic and the Armor Officer Advance Course, the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College .  COL Gross was commissioned a 2LT in the Infantry in 1975 and has served in various assignments in the Army throughout his twenty-five years in the service.  He has served as a Rifle Platoon Leader, Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, and Scout Platoon Leader with 3rd Battalion 36th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, Kirchgoins , Germany .  He next served as Company Commander with Echo Company and Battalion Executive Officer, 15th Training Battalion at Fort Knox , Kentucky .  He was Assistant Professor of Military Science at the New Mexico Military Institute.  Following this tour he served as the Small Arms Division Test officer for the United States Army Infantry Board, Fort Benning , Georgia .  COL Gross worked as Observer Controller at the Combat Maneuver Training Center and as the Operations Officer for the 5th Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 3rd Armored Division during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  He commanded the 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division Fort Hood, Texas from 1993 through 1995.  Most recently, COL Gross was the G3 Operations Officer and Chief of Staff for the 1st Armored Division while deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina.  He has overseas tours in Germany and Southwest Asia .  COL Gross acted as Chief of Staff United States Ground Forces in Kosovo.  COL Gross has received numerous decorations and awards including the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (six oak leaf clusters), Army Commendation Medal (two oak leaf clusters), and Army Achievement Medal.

          Tom retired in September of 2004 and is a senior executive with Lockheed-Martin Corporation in Suffolk , Virginia .  He is a member of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce as a member of the Executive Committee, Co-Chair of the Economic Development and Military Affairs Committee.  He has two daughters Jordana 21, a junior at the University of South Carolina and Jacy 17, a junior in Greenville , South Carolina .

 

Charles Brading	Blume High School, 1954 Ohio Northern University, 1957, Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy United States Army, 1958-59, 1961-62 Mayor of Wapakoneta, 1988-91 Legislative Liaison, Ohio School Facilities Commission
Dudley Nichols (deceased)	Blume High School, 1913 University of Michigan, 1917, Engineering Degree Served in WWII Winner of Academy Award for Screenplay Writing
Edward W. Nolte	Cridersville High School, 1966 Attended BGSU, enrolled in Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps U.S. Air Force Academy, 1971, Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering University of South Dakota, Master's Degree, 1984 Program Control Manager for Lockheed Martin
Larry A. Kantner	Blume High School, 1956 BA Otterbein College, 1960 M.Ed. Pennsylvania State University, 1964 Ed.D. Pennsylvania State University, 1967 University of Missouri-Columbia, Professor
Bonnie S. Copeland	Classroom teacher – Ohio and Missouri Instructor of reading programs at St. Louis University and Meramec Community College with emphasis on tutorial programs Director of Maryland Assessment Center Program and specialist with Maryland High School Project Deputy State Superintendent of Schools and Chief Operating Officer, Maryland Department of Education President and Executive Director of Fund for Educational Excellence with mission to improve student achievement in Baltimore City Public Schools by directly developing literacy reform programs
Barbara Schumann Given	Professor and senior scientist at Michigan St. University Focus on translating research into policy for benefit of nursing professionals and health care clients Served on the Presidents’ Cancer Panel-Special Commission on Breast Cancer Specialist in Gerontology, chronic illness, and cancer care-received Elizabeth McWilliam – Miller Award for Excellence in Research, Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award, Pathfinder Distinguished Research Award by National Institute of Nursing, Distinguished Research     Award by Oncology Nursing Society University Distinguished Professor Award
O. Glenn Smith	11 year career with Westinghouse as design engineer–wrote Ph.D. thesis on heat transfer in nuclear reactors 27 year career with Johnson Space Center with focus on Skylab projects–designing controls for Apollo Telescope Mount and Earth Resources Instruments NASA manager for Applications Program for study of practical applications of satellite data Winner of 25 Outstanding Performance Awards at NASA President of Affordable Communication Co. with 8 stores in the Houston, Texas, area.
George Paul Heffner, MD	Practiced Internal Medicine and Endocrinology Established first camp for special needs children which created the model followed by many others – Camp Kno Koma for diabetic children Established Diabetes Nurses Teaching School for lay and paramedical persons – known today as Diabetes Treatment Centers Testified for US Senate in support of funding for Diabetes Commission Recipient of Pfiser Award for outstanding contributions to clinical medicine in the treatment of diabetes.
Neil A. Armstrong	Navy test pilot–flew Navy F9 –Awarded Air Meda National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics Lewis Flight Station as civilian aeronautical research pilot testing X-15 Rocket Plane  Selected as NASA astronaut-in Gemini 8 conducted first successful docking with a satellite  July 16, 1969, in Apollo 11, with astronauts Aldrin and Collins made a successful moon landing.  Armstrong was the first man to step onto the moon.   Inducted into Astronaut Hall of Fame Professor of aeronautical engineering, University of Cincinnati
Raymond "Scoonie" Dieringer	All star basketball player at St. Joseph High School and University of Dayton Member of the University of Dayton Flyers with wins at the Kentucky Invitational, 1955 and at the NIT in 1956 Head basketball coach Cincinnati Elder High School-team was undefeated in 1961 and achieved number 1 ranking in the state and named Ohio Basketball Coach of the Year- initiated cross-country track team at Elder. Coached at University of Cincinnati and later at Cleveland State University-moved team from College Division to a University NCAA Division I team Presently continues to work as a scout for the Dallas Mavericks team