OBDC Hall of Fame
History
The Ohio Band Director’s Hall of Fame was established in 1974 as part of the Ohio Band Director’s Conference held annually at The University of Akron. The HOF inducts one retired Ohio High School or Middle School band director in recognition of outstanding work in the field of instrumental music education. In 1994, the “Pioneer” HOF component was added to recognize those individuals who were the early leaders of Ohio school bands. To date there have been 39 Hall of Fame and 12 Pioneer Hall of Fame Inductees.
The Ohio Band Directors Conference photo gallery for Hall of Fame and Pioneer Hall of Fame Inductees is located in the Guzzetta Hall Atrium – outside the UA Bands Administrative Offices (Room 270).
Each year, the Ohio Band Directors Conference welcomes outstanding middle school and high school concert bands and directors to campus for performances, workshops, and the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony during the final OBDC High School Honor Band concert.
Nomination Process for OBDC Hall of Fame
Eligibility Requirements:
- The majority of the candidate's service must have been in public/private K-12 schools in the state of Ohio.
- Candidate must be retired (drawing retirement benefits) a minimum of three years from her/his position of record [school district which constitutes the majority of her/his teaching career].
- Candidate may be employed in another position (university or private sector), but may not be employed on a full-time basis by a public/private K-12 school system in Ohio.
To Nominate:
Anyone wishing to nominate a potential candidate to the Ohio Band Directors Conference Hall of Fame may do so by filling out the OBDC Hall of Fame Nomination Form.
Upon completing the form, email the document to gsk1@uakron.edu or mail a hard copy to the following address:
University Bands
Attn: OBDC Hall of Fame Nomination
The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-1002
Selection / Introduction Process:
Nominees are reviewed and voted on by the members of the OBDC Hall of Fame. The inductee is introduced by the previous year's inductee at the annual OBDC Conference on the first Saturday in December.
Inductees
2023 | Laurie Lafferty | Buckeye Local (Ashtabula) Schools |
2022 | Patricia Meeks | Shawnee Local Schools |
2021 | William Thomas | Lakota East High School |
2020 | Greg Snyder | Lakota West High School |
2019 | George Edge | Grove City High School |
2018 | Thomas Brucoli | Champion High School |
2017 | Kenneth Mehalko | Strongsville High School |
2016 | Marty Lydecker | North Royalton High School |
2015 | Richard Sherrick | Parkway Local Schools |
2014 | Jeffrey D. Shellhammer | Gahanna Lincoln High School |
2013 | Sam Reynolds | Princeton High School |
2012 | Gayle Stalheim | Mentor High School |
2011 | William Rasey | Austintown Schools |
2010 | Roger Hall | Perry High School |
2009 | Vince Polce | Defiance High School |
2008 | Jack Gray | Shelby High Schools |
2007 | Alexander (Sandy) Stuart | Austintown City Schools |
2006 | Gene Milford | Edgewood Senior High School |
2005 | Anthony Cebriak | Canfield High School |
2004 | John E. Crumly | Hilliard High School |
2003 | Harry Pfingston | Avon Lake High School |
2002 | Ted Wenger | Perry High School |
2001 | Les Susi | Columbus Whetstone High School |
Columbus North High School | ||
2000 | Mary Jane McKinley | Nelsonville City Schools |
1999 | David McMaken | Caldwell High School |
1998 | Ernest Burnett | Paulding High School |
1997 | Max W. Treier | Cambridge High School |
1996 | Robert Lyon | Strasburg – Franklin School District |
Dover City Schools | ||
1995 | Percy Hall | Mansfield High School |
1994 | James Kirk | Nordonia High School |
1993 | Elaine Ostrander | Danville High School |
1992 | Dick Cool | Northmont City Schools |
1991 | Glenn E. Walker | Ayersville High School |
1990 | Anthony Buonpane | Crestwood High School |
1989 | Ward Zerkle | Trotwood – Madison High District |
1988 | Cliff Hite | Findlay High School |
1987 | Dwight Somerville | Shelby High School |
1986 | George M. Toot | Stark County |
1985 | Walter M. Sells | Fremont Ross High School |
1984 | Frederick R. Walker | Oakwood – Dayton Schools |
1980 | Royal O. Reynolds | Cuyahoga Falls High School |
1979 | Frank Menichetti | Fremont Ross High School |
1978 | Howard Pardee | Salem City Schools |
1977 | Ralph Herron | Coventry High School |
1976 | A. Jerd Bayless | Canton Lincoln High School |
1975 | John Farinacci | Cleveland Heights High School |
1974 | Emil Puffenburger | Northwest High School |
OBDC PIONEER HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
2013 | Roy Liston | Manchester and Peebles High School |
2008 | Casimer B. Kriechbaum | North Olmsted High School |
2004 | George Bird | Washington High School (Massillon) |
1997 | Kaarlo W. Mackey | Conneaut High School |
Cleveland Heights High School | ||
1996 | Dominic E. Grecco | Strasburg High School |
Ulrichsville High School | ||
1995 | George E. Wahlstrom | Ashtabula Harbor High School |
1994 | Lawrence H. “Alex” Alexander | Dover High School |
1994 | Philip P. Gates | Piqua High School |
1994 | Mark H. Hindsley | Cleveland Heights High School |
1994 | J. Merton Holcombe | Mansfield High School |
1994 | Louis E. Pete | Ashland High School |
1994 | John W. “Jack” Wainwright | Fostoria High School |