WCS Hall of Distinction
Wabash City Schools Hall of Distinction is intended to preserve the history and traditions of of our schools and acknowledge the remarkable individuals who shaped it. The recognition of past graduates and those affiliated with WCS for their significant contributions will serve to provide a model for future generations. The Hall of Distinction seeks to highlight the past in order to ensure a promising future.
Wabash City Schools organizes our exemplary graduates and patrons in the Hall of Distinction by induction class. Each distinguished member is nominated by our members of our community and approved by our Hall of Distinction Committee.
Class of 2014-2015
Adelaide Steele Baylor
Class of 1878
Educator - First woman principal of WHS, First woman superintendent of WCS, Renowned state and national educator
Rose Kidd Beere
Class of 1878
Physician - First woman physician to serve in the Spanish American War, Head physician Denver,
Colorado State Hospital
L.H. Carpenter
Class of 1914
Educator - Principal of Wabash High School, Superintendent of Wabash City Schools
John W. Corso
Class of 1948
Set Designer - Emmy winner and Academy Award nominee, Set designer for over 50 television shows
and numerous feature films
Jerry L. Ferguson
Class of 1959
Business Leader - Co-founder of Biomet Inc., Leader in the medical device industry
Richard E. Ford
Class of 1956
Philanthropist - Sponsor of numerous artistic and cultural opportunities for students, parents, and
patrons of Wabash City Schools
Crystal Gayle
Class of 1970
Vocal Performer - Grammy winner, Female Vocalist of the Year, Hollywood Walk of Fame Star recipient
Mark C. Honeywell
Wabash Patron
Philanthropist - Creator of the Honeywell Center, Honeywell Foundation, and recreation facilities for the benefit of all
Margery Stewart Johnson
Class of 1938
Performer - Official US Army WWII poster girl, RKO Films movie star and model
Martha Biggerstaff Jones
Class of 1929
Educator - English teacher at Wabash High School for 26 years, Board of Trustees for Wabash Carnegie Public Library
Ruth & Claude Minnear
Wabash Residents
Philanthropists - Wabash business owners, Sponsors of a scholarship trust which has enabled hundreds of students to attend Indiana colleges and universities
Johnny "Ole" Olsen
Wabash Resident
Stage Performer - Broadway and motion picture performer, Half of the renowned Vaudeville team of Olsen and Johnson
James W. Parks
Class of 1947
Business Leader - President and CEO of AAA Hoosier Motor Club, Board of Trustees for Ball State University
James M. Ridenour
Class of 1960
Government Service - Director of the National Park Service, Director of the Indiana Department of
Natural Resources
Asa J. Smith
Class of 1911
Attorney - Lead attorney responsible for the removal of the Ku Klux Klan from power in Indiana
Jennie Wade
Class of 1874
Philanthropist - Sponsor of a scholarship for WHS students that continues today
Class of 2015-2016
Michael Beauchamp
Class of 1972
Business Leader - Responsible for starting the revitalization of downtown Wabash and developer of the Wabash River Defenders
Loren Berry
Class of 1906
Business Leader - Developer of The Yellow Pages
Royal Davis
Class of 1895
Journalist - Editor of New York Post
Steven Ford
Class of 1976
Business Leader - President of Ford Meter Box Company, Member of The For Meter Box Foundation, Member of many local boards and organizations
Edward “Pete” Jones
Class of 1954
Educator - Editor of Wabash Plain Dealer, Writer, Local historian
Owen James Neighbours
Class of 1956
Educator - Principal of Wabash High School, Superintendent of Wabash City Schools
Charles Showalter
Class of 1936
Artist - Graphic artist responsible for numerous iconic advertisements including Coca-Cola Santa Claus and Coppertone Baby
George P. Smith II
Class of 1957
Law Professor - Legal scholar, Expert in the field of bioethics and medical law, Recognized by Indiana University School of Law for his contributions with a Distinguished Professorship Chair and the George P. Smith II Fellowship
Gene Stratton-Porter
Class of 1956
Author - Author of numerous novels and articles, Indiana’s most widely-read female author, Naturalist
Class of 2016-2017
George F. Bosch
Wabash Resident
Philanthropist - Mechanical Engineer, Responsible for the fully paid George F. and Mary P Bosch Memorial Scholarship
James D. Conner, Jr.
Class of 1873
Business Leader - Organized and incorporated The American Association of Importers and Breeders of Belgian Draft Horses, Knighted by Order of the Crown of Belgium
David K. Henderson
Class of 1965
Medical Scientist - First epidemiologist of National Institute of Health (NIH), Awarded 6 NIH Director’s Awards, Twice Department of Health and Human Services Distinguished Service Award, Service to America Award in 2013 as the US government’s Federal Employee of the Year, WHS Valedictorian Class of 1965
Richard Wolpert
Class of 1954
Aeronautical Scientist - Used special orbital mechanics to determine landing site for NASA’s Apollo 11 Mission
Class of 2017-2018
David A. Haist
Class of 1969
Attorney - Managing partner of Barnes and Thornburg, General Counsel and Vice President of corporate affairs for Do It Best
Kim Grogg Marin
Class of 1976
Performance Artist - Drama Director at Hewitt School in Manhattan, Worked on over 100 musical theater productions
​
​
​
W.C. Mills
Class of 1913
Educator - Created basketball and softball leagues in Wabash, Developed activities such as ice skating on Gipe’s Pond and sledding on the Fisher St hill, Helped reestablish scout programs in Wabash
Julia Swain Thom
Class of 1922
Ophthalmologist - Completed a second residency in psychiatry, Highly regarded child psychologist, Well know fabric artist and weaver
Marie Daughtry Webster
Class of 1878
Quit Pattern Designer - Former home in Marion became Quilters Hall of Fame, Published author
Class of 2019-2020
Woodward Baldus
Class of 1953
Business Leader - CEO of Terex the largest equipment manufacturer in the US
Parker Beauchamp
Class of 1999
Business Leader - Community restoration proponent, Community advocate, Entrepreneur
Ed Gribben
Class of 1958
Engineer - Worked with NASA on jet propulsion in Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs, as well as USAF Minuteman program, and private aerospace technology
Patricia O’Conner Lynn
Class of 1958
Community Advocate - Founded Child Abuse Council, Wabash County Special Olympics, Wabash Herbfest, and served on many Wabash boards
Ian Stallings
Class of 1995
Interior Designer - International interior designer, spearheaded Lagro revitalization project
Robert Vanlandingham
Class of 1957
Educator - Administrator and teacher at Wabash City School, mayor of Wabash 2004-2016
Class of 2023-2024
Margaret Robertson
Class of 1872
Educator - One of the first two Wabash High School graduates, taught elementary school in the community for 43 years
Lena C. Clauve
Class of 1913
Musician - First dean of women at the University of New Mexico, music professor, wrote the music for the University of New Mexico fight song still used today
John R. Rockwell
Class of 1946
Business Leader - Harvard University MBA, All-American Athlete, Madison Avenue advertising executive, philanthropist
Amanda Butterbaugh Mulheren
Class of 1976
Theater Actress - Member of the Actor’s Equity Association of the United States, performed in Off-Broadway, voice over actress, theater teacher to the special needs community
Jimmy Daywalt
Schooling interrupted by WWII
World War II Veteran – Army Air Corp gunner on B-24, played in Army Air Corp Band, raced in Indianapolis 500 eight times being the 1953 “Rookie of the Year”, in 1954 held the fastest track times at Indianapolis to date, best starting position 2nd, best finish 6th