The Hall of Fame Reception was Wonderful

The 2007 Association of Godby Graduates (AGG) Hall of Fame Induction/Dinner
was a great success. If you are a Godby grad and like talking and hearing
about your high school years, this is a must-do event. The chance to visit
with an old principal, teacher or classmate is something I relish and
enjoy. The 2007 AGG Hall of Fame provided all of that and more.

Paul Blackburn (class of 1970) was our Master of Ceremony. He started the
event off with asking the Godby Jr. ROTC to present Colors. After the
pledge and invocation we had a delicious dinner served by the Godby
National Honor Society students. The NHS students served the meal, served
the dessert and picked up plates in less than 40 minutes. Not bad
considering there were 100 guests that filled our Media Center. Kudos to
the Godby NHS and Jr. ROTC.

After dinner Paul introduced the head table and other special guests. He
then asked Jean Ferguson, our new principal, to welcome the capacity crowd.
Mrs. Ferguson spoke enthusiastically about her new post and acknowledged
each student that helped with the 2007 Hall of Fame.

Paul then introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Patti Skates.  Patti, a 1972
grad traveling to Godby from Tennessee, reminisced fondly about her days at
Godby High. She commented on how Mrs. Nan Nelson had been so instrumental
in helping shape the direction of her own life. Patti’s message was one of
giving back to Godby High and the importance of the AGG scholarship effort.
She coined the acronym GIVE (Godby Individuals Value Excellence) as our
theme for the evening. Patti then presented Mrs. Ferguson a very nice check
in honor of Mrs. Nelson, who now lives out of state. Patti did the same
last year in honor of the late Coach Wilson Holiday.

Paul then introduced Mrs. Merry Ortega (Ms. McDaris while principal at
Godby) and Mr. Bill Montford. These two past principals then introduced the
guests of honor.  Sharon Thomason Hayes (McClellan), introduced by Mrs.
Ortega, was in the first graduating class in 1970. Sharon was nominated
from the education category. Sharon is a 32-year teaching veteran, 20 years
of which were at Godby. Sharon spoke eloquently about her days at Godby and
how the beginning years of integration molded her future life. She praised
teachers like Coach Holiday and John Lawrence for their dedication to
students’ well being. She remembered Mrs. Hannah TenEyck, Mrs. Ruth
Protinsky, and Mrs. Diana Spradling for influencing the teacher she has
become. Sharon saved her highest praise for her mother, Frances McClellan
Godfrey.   While not a teacher a Godby, Mrs. McClellan taught scores of
future Godby grads at Ruediger Elementary.

Chris Varner, introduced by Mrs. Ortega, is a 1972 graduate. Category:
Professional. Mrs. Ortega quipped that she was in awe of his extensive
resume. Chris, however, was very down to earth, even though he works in a
field that is out of this world. Chris is a lead engineer with Ball Aero
Space and came in from Denver, Colorado for the event. He designs circuit
boards for space crafts. Aside from sending satellites into space,
Chris’s “super bowl” is when he received his all-area pass to Cape
Canaveral. He called the pass the “Keys to the Kingdom.”  Chris noted that
his early years weren’t quite as noteworthy as a taxi cab driver. Chris
commented that Mr. George Lundregan was very instrumental in his high
school development.

Bob Thurston, introduced by Mr. Bill Montford, is a 1977 graduate.
Category: Fine Arts. Bob had the over-40 crowd in tears of laughter about
his recent eye sight exam. Bob now resides in Washington, DC where he
composes and arranges music for the Air Force Band. He spoke of the
leadership skills he acquired while at Godby under the supervision of Mr.
Jeff Bradford and talked about how band had taught him the importance of
learning to follow as well as to lead. Bob noted how Mr. Bradford and Mrs.
Lynn Glover were instrumental in his life, and he contributed to the
scholarship fund in honor of them both. Bob commented about how his mother
(Mrs. Maryjane Thurston) and Mrs. McClellan had worked together and that he
was in Mrs. McClellan’s third grade class.

Bart Wells, introduced by Mr. Montford, is a 1977 graduate. Category:
Business.
Before Bart was introduced, Mr. Montford told a very funny story about how
some students of the agriculture class gave him a gift of two potted
plants. Mr. Montford found out later the two plants were illegal plants.
This story brought the house down. Then he introduced Bart. Well, Bart
acknowledged that he was in the ag class that year, but said that he in no
way had anything to do with the gift. Bart is now business partner of
Sperry Industries. Bart spoke of the eerie feeling he had driving into the
Godby parking lot that evening, a “deja-vu” experience of hurrying to get
to class on time. He paid tribute to coaches Culbreth, Dean, Thomas and
Burtelson for instilling in him a work ethic that has been so beneficial in
his lifetime. He included Mrs. June Masters in his praise of former
teachers. Bart spoke proudly of the football state championship Godby won
his senior year.

Karen Trammell, introduced by Mr. Montford, is a 1978 graduate. Category:
Volunteer.
Karen is the consummate volunteer mom. Karen’s two children both graduated
from Godby High. Karen commented that she learned her volunteering ways
while a student at Godby, earning the “Miss Goody Goody” title. Her
thousands of volunteer hours were born out of a desire to be involved in
her children’s education, and she recognized her husband’s and her
children’s volunteer efforts as well.  She shared a funny story with us
about when Mrs. Joyce Ridner thought she was chewing gum and made her spit
out her retainers during class. Karen even told how she was nice to
underclassmen while she was a senior. Isn’t there a rule against that? Mrs.
Ridner was the teacher that influenced Karen the most.

Jenny Worth, introduce by Mrs. Ortega, is a 1995 graduate. Category: Sports.
When Mrs. Ortega introduced Jenny, she asked the audience if there could be
any doubt about Jenny being selected Homecoming Queen while at Godby.
Jenny, upon graduating from Godby, went on to the national stage of the
fitness world. She held on to the Miss Arnold title and was ranked number 1
in the U.S. for two consecutive years. Jenny’s inspiration was her teacher
and cheerleading sponsor Mrs. Angela Breza-Pierce. Jenny expressed some
discomfort that she was the youngest among the inductees, but rest assured,
her accomplishments have been grand.

Our evening was special. Our honorees truly deserved recognition. I look
forward to next year’s slate with great anticipation. I hope to see you
there.