Lewisburg Area High School Alumni Newsletter
Each year the Alumni Association selects 3 LAHS graduates to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award from a list of candidates nominated by their classmates. The candidates are nominated based on their making a contribution to their community, their profession and to their fellow human beings.
Lonnie C. Hill graduated from Lewisburg Area High School in 1972. He attended Penn State and Northern Virginia Community College where he received an Associates Degree in Police Science. Mr. Hill then attended American University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice. Finally, he attended George Mason School of Law. Upon graduation he worked for the FBI in Washington, DC. After 12 years of service with the FBI, he returned to Lewisburg and became the Chief Public Defender for Union County from 1986-2001. Currently he is a practicing attorney in Lewisburg.
Mr. Hill has been dedicated to helping the children of Lewisburg. He has been active in Boy Scouts for over 25 years. Not only did he receive his Eagle Scout Award in 1969, he became Scoutmaster from 1994-1999. Mr. Hill was instrumental in the Kidsburg project in Lewisburg. In 2003 Mr. Hill founded the Children’s Care Club whose purpose is to help children throughout the Greater Buffalo Valley Area.
Lonnie has been active in many organizations including the Kiwanis Club, the Lions Club, Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority, the Fourth of July Parade Committee, and numerous professional organizations. He lives in Lewisburg with his wife Linda and children.
Jodi L. Jarrett graduated from LAHS in 1975. She attended East Stroudsburg University where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. She furthered her education at Bloomsburg University where she received her Master in Education and Reading Specialist Certification. After teaching 5th grade for one year in the Midd-West School District, she returned to her alma mater and has taught at the Donald H. Eichhorn Middle School for 25 years. Presently she is the 6th grade social studies teacher.
Ms. Jarrett has always shown a love for children. She began working at the playgrounds in Lewisburg while still in high school and in 1984 she became Program Director of the Eastern Union County Recreation Association, a position she held for 10 years. She also volunteered her time with the Lewisburg Little League program as a commissioner, vice-president, umpire, coach, and was instrumental in the development of the girl’s softball program. Jodi was a coach in the Lewisburg Area School District for 27 seasons where she coached 6 undefeated teams in middle school and high school. She is most proud of the sportsmanship and life lessons she was able to instill upon her athletes. She continues to volunteer her time in the community and schools where she serves on numerous committees. She currently is a member of the Children’s Care Club, the LAHS Alumni Association and the Susquehanna Valley University Women’s Investors.
Robert Stackhouse has spent most of his life doing public service. After graduating from LAHS in 1945, he enlisted in the US Navy and served aboard a fleet oiler during World War II. When he returned to the states, Mr. Stackhouse worked as a US Postal Service Clerk in Lewisburg for 35 years.
Bob dedicated much of his life to fire fighting. He has served as Fire Chief for the Borough of Lewisburg, as an instructor at the Pa. State Fire Academy, and taught the Fire Department Officers curriculum at Penn State. He was instrumental in developing a fire prevention program for use in the schools. Mr. Stackhouse was also instrumental in forming the fire brigade at the UP Penitentiary and involving Bucknell University students in the fire department.
Over the years Bob has received numerous letters of commendation. President Richard M. Nixon sent him a letter recognizing his involvement in the Lewisburg Fire Department. The US Bureau of Prisons commended him for the fire brigade, which he formed. The US Postal Service honored him for rescuing a person from a burning structure. Mr. Stackhouse has also been very helpful to the schools by visiting and sharing his stories with the students about WWII.
Nominations for the 2005 Distinguished Alumni will be accepted until September 1, 2005. Please write the name of your candidate and the reasons you feel he/she would be a strong candidate for receiving the award (including any articles from newspapers or other publications) and mail to LAHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 38, Lewisburg, PA 17837. The committee will then send a letter to the candidate stating that they have been nominated and request they return additional information for the committee’s consideration. The committee will review all the resumes and make recommendations to the entire Alumni Board, who will make the final decision. The awards are presented at the Homecoming Football Game in the fall.
Several years ago the Alumni Association took on the project of improving the High School auditorium. We have raised approximately $27000.00 towards the project. Now we need your help. You, the Alumni that were in class plays, musicals, the band and choirs, or just students that enjoyed the concerts or plays – please open your checkbooks and help us bring the following proposal to reality. The goal is $300,000.00. Send all tax deductible contributions to the Lewisburg Area High School Foundation. If you are interested in helping with this project contact Bob Brouse ’58 at 570-966-2292.
The Auditorium Lighting and Rigging Proposal:
The following is a general summary of the improvements and additions included in the proposal to improve our current lighting, rigging (curtains and hanging equipment), electrical and technical (light board, dimmer, etc.) equipment in the LAHS Auditorium:
*Replace all rigging and hanging systems on the stage to accommodate curtains and hanging lights. New rigging and hanging systems will ensure highest level of safety for those using the stage. New rigging and hanging systems will accommo-date additional curtains being added to the stage. (see next item).
*Replace all curtains and add additional curtains. Note: the main (grand) curtain will also be replaced. New curtains will be of the highest quality and be chemically treated for flame retardancy according to fire code.
*Replace current dimmer (main theatrical lighting control center) with a state-of-the-art dimmer. This dimmer will have significant increase of capabilities including increased inputs for lights and lighting assignments.
*Replace current lighting control console (light board) with a state-of-the-art console. This console will allow for a maximum of 400 control channels (our current capability is 40 channels). This console also has the capabilities to store over 600 light cues internally. Lighting cues and set-ups can also be saved to a 3.5 inch disk for storage. This capability is very beneficial in an educational setting as it allows for theater classes to use the lighting console in its curriculum. Students will be able to receive “hands-on” training in stage technology and produce lighting plots, which can be saved to disk. This also allows for minimal interference with current productions on the stage.
*The lighting console will also be compatible with personal computers to allow for easy transfer of data and easy creation of lighting effects.
*The auditorium will be wired with state-of-the-art lighting inputs, as well as video input/output (allowing for professional level video/audio recording with quality educational potential), and Ethernet wiring (to include inputs and outputs). The Ethernet wiring essentially “networks” all systems in the auditorium to operate digitally (combining lighting, video, and sound in future projects).
*The above improvements will not only benefit our students tremendously in expanding the possibilities of educational experiences, but it also provides state-of-the-art systems needed when visiting artists, concerts, and professionals require use of the auditorium.
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*Add “Control Stations” in key spots of the auditorium. These Control Stations (often called “dummy controls”) allow for people to operate lights and turn on pre-configured lighting set-ups for events at a touch of a button without needing access to the main lighting console. This is beneficial in a multi-purpose auditorium at a high school where a diverse range of events take place. It also keeps inexperienced or unqualified people from having/needing access to the lighting console.
*Replace and add additional lighting inputs and plugs. Replace and add additional wiring and plugs needed to operate all lights.
*Replace and include 84 new lighting instruments of various design and capability. These lights will include all necessary accessories including hanging clamps, safety cords, color frames, etc.
The equipment, materials, and design specified in this proposal are a vast upgrade (that is an understatement) over the current equipment, materials and design of the high school auditorium. The improvements and additions will offer the students of LAHS the opportunity to work on the stage in a classroom setting (for stage and theater) and also provide the highest quality of technical design for all theatrical, musical, and professional events on the stage at Lewisburg Area High School.
Any questions on the proposal should be directed to Justin D. Hill, Director of Instrumental Music and Music Department Chairperson at the high school. His e-mail address is
hill j@dragon.k12.pa.us or dragonbanddirector@hotmail.com
A representative from the Harris Publishing Company met with the Alumni Board of Directors explaining the process of preparing for our next directory to be released in the fall of 2006. The Board received some helpful comments and some disappointments from those who had purchased directories in 2001. The process of finding alumni resulted in errors that were printed. Harris Publishers and the Alumni Association apologize for this and we will make every effort to make this upcoming directory a successful project that we can all be proud of.
The process begins with the Alumni Association providing our current data base to Harris. Our class agents have been busy updating our records. We hope that you will notify us with any name changes (for the women) and address changes for yourself or a fellow classmate. Harris will send you a postcard asking you to call their 800 number to confirm and/or update your data. Please respond to that request. You may also wish to update your children’s data at that time if they are also LAHS grads. In addition to the usual statistics of name, year of graduation, address, children’s names, telephone number, and occupation, they will also ask for your e-mail address.
Once the Directory has been completed and released, the Alumni Board has elected to take part in Harris’ Graduate Connection Online. This will help us to stay in touch faster, easier, and more economically. Alumni can register for access to basic services and/or pay a nominal annual subscription fee to enjoy all Harris services such as Online Directory, ClassNotes, Reunion Message Board, MyPage and Online Newsletter. The Alumni Association will still provide a written copy of the newsletter to those graduates who prefer to receive a mailed copy.
So please, when you get your postcard from Harris Publishing, please respond. We are counting on you to make this project a success.
President – David Powell ’60 Ang Giunta ‘58
Vice-President – Richard Pursell ’61 Bill James ‘68
Secretary – Shirley Gromlich ’56 Lonnie Hill ‘72
Treasurer – Barbara Baylor ’64 Nan Keiser ‘58
Ann Miller ’53 Julie Borys ‘61
Judy Bechtel ’56 John Shaw ‘85
Bob Brouse ’58 Dan Voneida ‘68
Jodi Jarrett ’75 Jim Wetzel ‘58
Tim Jarrett ‘73
Graham Showalter ‘58
This year the All Sports Booster Club is starting an Alumni Super Booster page in the High School Football program. By making a donation of $20.00 you will be helping support all Lewisburg High School Sports. For each donation your name will appear on the Alumni page of the football program this fall. Just print your name as you wish it to appear in the program and send it with check for $20.00 made payable to the All Sports Boosters and mail it to Sheila Crebs, 4007 Furnace Road, Lewisburg, PA 17837. Thank you for your support of all our sports at LAHS.
The Class of 1943 had a Reunion picnic at the Montour Preserve on September 1, 2004. One is planned for September 1, 2005, to be held at St. John’s U.C.C., 1050 Buffalo Road, Lewisburg.
The LAHS
Class of 1944 met for their 60th reunion on September 4,
2004, at Brynwood on 6th in Lewisburg. Twenty classmates and their spouses gathered
Friday evening for an informal get-together, and then 42 enjoyed a buffet
dinner at Brynwood prior to the reunion meeting. The group met for breakfast Sunday morning at
Country Cupboard. It was decided to meet
yearly rather than every 5 years as in the past. For their next reunion they are inviting all
LHS classes of the years 1942 thru 1946 inclusive to a catered picnic sponsored
by the Class of ‘44
Date: September 3, 2005
Time: Noon
Price: $10.00 per person
Place: Gazebo on the grounds of Riverwoods (former Methodist Home)
Rain or Shine
Chairpersons: Joanne Lowery Shannon, Dr. John Arbogast, Jr.
Tours of the new retirement apartment complex, Ridgecrest Court, and Slifer House will be available. Reservations must be received before August 27th by forwarding your check to Betty L. Cook.
Editor’s note: A special thank you to the Class of 1944 for their $100,000 gift to the Alumni Association.
The LAHS Class of 1948 will meet for a 57th reunion on Saturday evening, September 24, 2005. A dinner will be held at Christ United Lutheran Church located on Old Turnpike Road (Route 45) west of Mifflinburg. That evening after dinner, Betty Cook ’46 will present a special program. “Reflections of a Town in the Victorian Years.” It should be a nostalgic look back at our town of Lewisburg. Complete information regarding the dinner and program will be mailed to each class member in mid-June. Any questions, please call Sam Diehl at 570-922-4566 or e-mail hbeen10273@aol.com. Looking forward to seeing many of you in September. June Solomon, Class Agent.
From the Class of 1950—Our 55th class reunion will be held September 9th at the Towne Tavern for an informal social at 7:30, September 10 at La Primavera Restaurant at 5:15 for a social hour followed by the banquet at 6:15, and September 11 at Country Cupboard for breakfast at 9:00.
From the Class of 1951—June Crabb Packer died on Sunday, January 16, 2005, following a losing battle with pancreatic cancer. June physically left us on that date, but her memory will continue forever. Knowing how much she loved going to the “Hilltop” to eat, we decided there would be the best place to honor her memory. On February 4 we did just that. The word was spread and the Class of ’51 gathered. Each class member there was afforded the opportunity to toast June’s life. We felt her presence with us. We also know she was already gathering those who have gone before us (Charlie, Ed, Nancy, Helen, Ron, Don, Bill, Faye, Marilyn, Marvin, Peach, Gail, Bob, Joyce, Betty Jane, Betty, Sally, Hazel, Jean, Dorothy, Joan, Sue, Barbara) for a reunion of their own. Whenever anyone from the class was visiting in the area, June always made the contacts to have a “mini reunion.” At class reunion meetings she wielded a mighty pen, and phone, making contacts with eating establishments (especially Rusty’s/Brynwood), and disc jockeys for dancing. She loved to dance. Even though floodwaters were lapping at the door in September at our 53rd reunion she would not cancel. She knew this would probably be her last dance.
On September 11, 2004, the LHS Class of 1954 held its 50th reunion at LaPrimavera Restaurant in Lewisburg. There were 37 class members present. The food and service were terrific, and the opportunity to visit and catch up with all of our former classmates made the evening a total success. On Friday evening, September 10th, Joyce and Dick Beck once again offered their home to any of those classmates that wanted to gather before the reunion to visit and there were approximately 45 people there. On Sunday morning September 12th, those of us that could make it met at Country Cupboard Restaurant for breakfast and to say our goodbyes. Needless to say, the weekend passed too quickly and we did not get to visit as much as we would have liked to, but we promised to keep in touch and hopefully see each other again soon. We are tentatively planning another reunion in 3 years.
From the Class of 1955—Please mark your calendars for the 1955 50th Class Reunion. Friday, September 23 – Helen Donahoe’s house for socializing; Saturday, September 24 – LaPrimavera for dinner; and Sunday, September 25 – Country Cupboard for breakfast. More information later—just clear your calendar.
Class of 1956 – Looking for Former Classmates: The Class of ’56 is searching for former classmates who attended school with our class during the school years of 1952 and 1956. These students did not graduate with the class for a variety of reasons but were in our class during the freshman through our junior years. With the 50th anniversary of our graduation approaching in 2006, the reunion planning committee will be looking at the possibility of sending invitations to former classmates who did not graduate with the class in June 1956. We have located 29 who fit this category but have been unable to locate the following 7 people: Leah Benin, Donald Boop, Joseph Byrne, Jack Grimes, Edith Hunt, David Sickles, and Robert Wood.
Some of the female classmates from the Class of ’56 have figured out a way to get out of the house or away from the job site, enjoy a tasty lunch, swap stories about days gone by with high school classmates…and they won’t have to wait until our 50th in 2006 to get started with the fun. Each month on the second Tuesday at 11:30 at the Country Cupboard on Route 15 on the north edge of town they will have the opportunity to get together for a most enjoyable event. The ladies from the Class of 1956 are meeting in the lobby of Country Cupboard to have lunch together. These “Hens’ Luncheons” are a great way to break the daily routine and relax with friends (the Hen’s comment is from one of the ladies – no Roosters allowed). A few have brought a snapshot or two along to help bring back the memories. You don’t have any old photos, no problem, come anyway. Help spread the word to ALL the ladies from our class and then join in the group. If you don’t live in the immediate area, but travel to the Lewisburg area on occasion, why not plan your trip so you can attend? Mark your calendar…and stop by for a casual visit with classmates. The last get-together totaled thirteen classmates and the number is growing as the word is spread.
The following classmates have passed away since the printing of our last newsletter in the spring of 2004:
Helen Keyser ’27 Helen Noll
Benfer ’39 M. Jane Fetter Hummel ’45
Beth Stiefel Itoh ‘68
Gladys Herman Moser ’28 Clyde Gingrich ’39 Naomi Butler Neitz ’45 Sharon Fisher Bassett ’69 Janet Blair
Bogar ’29
Harvey Sanders ’39 John Reichley ’45
Sharon Gearhart ‘76
Edith Derk ’30 Philip
Johnson ’40 Caroline Baranaskas ’46 P. Joan Jones Klees ‘78
Hermie Umpleby Lawrence ’31 Helen Renner Kifolo ’40 William Forseman ’47 Chad Gearhart ‘98
Margaret Blair Mathias ’31 John Mabus ’40 Shirley Warntz Metzger ’47
Levi Houghtaling ‘99
Pauline Rearick Mincemoyer
’31 Andrew Machamer ’40 Donald Wert ’47
Mark A. Moyer ‘03
Richard Aurand ‘32` Phyllis Noll
Wainwright ’40 George Leiby ’48
Joan Harclerode – teacher Eleanor McDowell ’33 Hazel Strassner Gill ’41 Doris Gotwalt Roush ’50 Catherine Nesbit – teacher Elizabeth
Cook Fisher ’35 Carl
Kerstetter ’41 June Crabb Packer ’51
Helen Fulmer Nickerson ’35 P. Nervon VanBuskirk ’41 Kenneth Hook ’54
The following classmates Albert Pentz ’35 Dorothy Farley Catherman ’42
Robert Hopp ’56 who did not graduate from Pauline
Hackenberg Waugh ’35 Freda Aikey
Confer ’43 Miles Rohrbach ’58 LAHS also passed away:
Dorothy Brown Tartaglia ’37 William Guyer ’43 Nancy Daubert Pennycoff ’59
Roy Maurer
Elizabeth Dyer Winters ’37 Dorothy Snyder Hause ’43 Deborah Mase Marnerakis ’63 Julia Hixson Anderson
Russell Ernest ’38 Anna May Gold
Kazary ’43 Patricia Kizis Reichenbach ’63
Wilbur Schreck
Glen Jarrett ’38 Charles
Lucas ’43 Shirley Royer Wenrich ’65
Ruth Romig Olin
Bernice VanBuskirk Smith ’38 Pauline Wilson Myers ’44 Gail Forbes Carroll ’67 Patricia Hartley Reich
Ruth Strouse Strine ’38 Helen Jean Mitchell
Holtzman ’45 Michael “Jack” Rute ’67 Theresa Miller Allen
2004-2005 ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS
John Vaji, athletic director for the Lewisburg School District, gathered the statistics for all the sports in the district throughout the year. Dragon Pride is running high with all the personal and team achievements. The following teams were district champs: golf, boy’s cross country, boy’s soccer, field hockey, girl’s basketball, boy’s and girl’s tract in both 2004 and 2005, and TJ Storm ’05 as District Swim Champ.
The following are the state qualifying teams: golf, boys’ cross country, boy’s soccer, girls’ soccer, field hockey, girls’ basketball, boy’s and girl’s track. Individuals qualifying for states were: Abby Funk ’05—bowling, Derek Coffey—wrestling, Derek Reber—wrestling, and TJ Storm ’05—swimming, and the following track and field athletes: Becky Rautzhan ’05—shot put, Aliza Shabanowitz ’05—800, Kalle James-Wintjen, Casey Sims, Cathy Meade and Jamie Eggleton—400 relay team, Kalle James-Wintjen—200, Alex Maguire, Erin Schoenfelder, Casey Miller, and Aliza Shabanowitz ’05—girl’s 3200 relay team, Kevin Schoenfelder ’05, Neil Huber, JP Harrison ’05, and Alex Permyashkin ’05—boy’s 1600 relay team, and Mike Mathias ’05, Michael Krohn ’05, and Weston Bettner ’05—boy’s 3200 relay team.
In 2004, Lewisburg also did very well in tract and field with the following athletes: Chris Spooner ’04—cross country and 1600, Chris Moreau ’04, Adam Renner ’04, Kevin Schoenfelder ’05, and Chris Spooner ’04—boy’s 3200 relay team, Kalle James-Wintjen, Casey Sims, Joanna Kerlin, and Amanda Benshoff ’04—girl’s 400 relay team, and Becky Rautzhan ’05—discus. All State Recognition went to Bryn Zeigler ’05—1st team boy’s soccer, Aliza Shabanowitz ’05—1st team girl’s soccer, and Becky Rautzhan ’05—3rd team girl’s basketball.
HELP WANTED
The Alumni Association is looking for someone to help with updating the website. You will need a computer and some extra time on your hands. Training will be available. Contact Julie Voneida Borys ’61 at 523-3431.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
By David Powell ‘60
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association and Foundation I would like to thank our Alumni for their past contribution to the success of and to encourage continued support and participation in ongoing activities of the organizations.
“Now we all march on together”
Those familiar words from the original pre-1986 Alma Mater and post 1986 fight song are very appropriate as we Alumni of Lewisburg High School continue to strive to provide our students with the best educational environment. Through the many functions of the Association and generous contributions to the Foundation we are able to support many and varied programs for the Lewisburg School District that may not be possible otherwise. We would encourage our Alumni to continue to support our mission not only through monetary contributions, but also through other venues such as submitting names for our annual Distinguished Alumni Award, contributing articles to our bi-annual newsletter, volunteering for public relations work, maintaining our web site, helping with our annual election day spaghetti dinner and other functions as they are developed. Your continued support will enable the Association and Foundation to, as the song says to, “march on.”
SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS NAMED
Since our last newsletter was published before the 2004 scholarship winners were selected, we are pleased to announce both the 2004 and 2005 scholarship recipients. Katie Stump, who is attending Central Penn majoring in medical technology, and Kaitlin Berger, who is attending Gettysburg College majoring in psychology, are our 2004 winners. Those receiving $500.00 scholarships at the Awards ceremony on June 3, 2005, were Abby Funk, who will be studying biology at Juniata College, Beth Halama, who will be studying communications at Geneva College, and Joshua Herman, who will be studying criminal justice administration at Mansfield University. We congratulate all 5 of these young students.