Each year the Association names one or two outstanding Alumni as the recipient of an Outstanding Alumnus Award to be presented at the Annual Banquet.
2022 OUTSTANDING ALUMNUS KATHY WALLACE, CLASS OF 1970
Kathy Wallace, graduate of the class of 1970, is the recipient of the 2022 Outstanding Alumnus Award given by the Bellaire High School Alumni Association. Kathy is recognized for her tireless support for the Bellaire Community, and her Alma Mater, Bellaire High School.
Kathy is a lifelong resident of Bellaire. She is the proud daughter of the late Philip and Nance Bass Wallace. She is the blessed niece of the late John and Gertrude Wallace Klee and James R and Mary Shiretta Wallace. Kathy is a faithful sister to Bill (deceased), Betty Ann, Richard (deceased), Roberta, Helen, Kelly and Jeff, (aka Jeff).
Kathy is a graduate and proud member of the class of 1970. Following her graduation, Kathy attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She entered the business world in 1973 as the owner/operator of the Martins Ferry Dairy Queen. She operated at this location as a "Big Red" in a community which was our arch- rival in all sports yet prospered as a businesswoman in "Rider Country". Her love and support of her Alma Mater, Bellaire High School, never faltered during her 43 years of operating her Dairy QUeen store in Martins Ferry. When she left that business location in 2015, and closed her association with the store, to her credit, even our arch-rivals were saddened to see her go. During her years in Martins Ferry, Kathy was a member of the Martins Ferry Business and Professional Women's Club. Attesting to her popularity as the owner/operator of the Dairy Queen, Kathy was recognized as their "Woman of the Year". Kathy is currently employed at Belmont Savings Bank, in Bellaire.
Kathy attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Neffs until its closing in 2018, and now attends St. John's Catholic Church in Bellaire . Over the years at the Neffs Church, she served on the Parish Council and the Finance Council, as well as, the Catholic Woman's Club. She served as the Sacred Heart Church Representative to the St. John High School Board of Education. Kathy also served as a lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion.
Kathy's involvement with the community, and active support for the residents living there, is unmatched. For over 45 years, she was a volunteer at local nursing homes and for the past 50 years has been a Santa's helper for fraternal and non-profit organizations. She is also known i.n the community as a cheerleader, song leader, comedian, and auctioneer. She is a member of the Bellaire American Legion Auxiliary Post 52; Bellaire Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary #371; social member of the Bellaire Sons of Italy Lodge #754; a charter member of the Great Stone Viaduct Education Society; and the Bellaire Touchdown Club.
Kathy's service, however, is far overshadowed by her support of Bellaire High School and its students. She is unmatched in the faithfulness, and true-hearted spirit of all those who love Bellaire High School. The lyrics of our fight song express the sincere hope "The defeat ne'er our Ardor cool", and Kathy through all the trials and tribulations our Alma Mater has faced remained "Joyous and ever loyal". Kathy served as the President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustee of the Bellaire High School Alumni Association for 26 years before retiring in 2019. For the past 20 years, Kathy has served as a Trustee of the Bellaire High School Endowment Fund and worked with this organization to bring academic scholarships to Bellaire High School graduates. Kathy is the "rock" that has anchored the class of 1970 for the past 50 years.
Kathy came from a large family on Rock Hollow, just beyond West Bellaire, and her humble beginnings made her the kind of person who understands the plight of other less fortunate. Her circle of friends extends well beyond her classmates in the class of 1970. She is devoted to many less fortunate people in our community, at times shrugging off her own needs to care for them.
Kathy is a person well known to those who participate in the annual Alumni Banquet, and at times, she may appear bold and daring as she strives to make those around her laugh and smile. She has done this for the past Fifty (50) years even when faced with difficulties of her own. She has brought memorable tim es to us through her ability to make us laugh and smile. Her quieter and caring side, and her humility, is often overshadowed by her desire to make us laugh, yet those who know her best understand that these are her greatest qualities.
When we think of a "Big Red", we need only recall the words of our Fight Song for a description of what they should look like. We think of one who is "Faithful and True-Hearted". We think of one who is always "Joyful and Ever Loyal". We think of one who will always"Boost for Her, "Bellaire High School". Kathy Wallace is such a person, and we congratulate her upon being recognized as the 2022 Outstanding Alumnus of Bellaire High School, for her Civic and her unequivocal love of her Alma MateR.
The Recipient(s) of the award shall be honored by the Association at the banquet held as a part of the Annual Membership Meeting, and shall have their photograph mounted and displayed in Bellaire High School along with past recipients of the Award.
Nominations may be made by any member if the Association by writing in letter form the name of the person to be nominated, the field of endeavor in which they have excelled, and an outline or resume of their achievements, activities and other accomplishments which brings honor to themselves and Bellaire High School. All written nominations must be submitted to a member of the Board of Trustees, or postmarked, not later than the second day of January of the year in which the award is to be given.
PAST RECIPIENTS
2019 Connie Crozier Bobo ‘68, Commercial Real Estate Broker to ALS Advocate
2018 Carolyn Presutti Davidson ‘78, Broadcasting
2017 Colonel Carl C. Johnson, Jr. ‘44, Government/Military
2016 Richard (Chad) Balwanz '70 Military Service
2015 Harold Lee Brown '63, Health Care
2014 F. William Banig '71, Government
2013 Robert I. Wallace '55, Education, Humanitarian
2012 Thomas Poe ‘68, Banking & Civic
2011 Dr. Charles T. Mehlman ’80, Medicine
2010 Kathy Hyett ‘71, Public Relations
2009 Martin F. Goetze ‘54, Health Care and Executive Management
2008 L. Dean Giacometti, ‘38, Education
2007 James B. Piatt '83 , Higher Education
2006 Donald A. Ostasiewski '58, Higher Education
2005 Daniel Frizzi, Jr. '70, Civic
2004 Gary Hill, Education
2003 Nancy Crooks Karvellis '66, Business
2002 Walter M. Calinger '57, Education
2001 Dr. James E. Austin '51, Dentistry
2000 Terry Allen Wallace '65, Administration
1999 Jules J. Duga, Ph.D. '49, Technology and Society
1998 Emil George Riedel, Jr. '50, National Security
1997 Dr. Rose Z. Starr '60, Teacher/Social Worker
1996 Judge John J. Malik, Jr. '46, Law
1995 Joseph A. Pitts, Sr., D.O. '49, Medicine
1994 Donald M. Knox '50, Education
1993 Alan E. Riedel '48, Law/Business
1992 Thomas E. Rataiczak '64, Education
1991 Robert L. Hill '49, Law/Public Service
1990 Daniel Howard Simpson '57, Govt./Public Service, U.S.Ambassador
1989 Dr. Samuel Evans '57, Intl. and Public Insurance, Adjusting, Consulting
1988 Nelson Lancione '36, Law
1987 Metta Miller '69, Advertising/Business
1986 Charles Tod Goodwin '31, Athletics/Military Service
1985 Kelley Archer '40, Civic Achievement/Law
1984 Dr. Peter Lancione '28, Medicine
1983 Benjamin J. Belt '11, Education
1982 Don Ault '47 and Joe Ault '53, Athletics
1981 Mary Fitch '31, Civic Achievement; Lou Mahacek '31,Commercial Art
1980 John Nosker '29, Banking
1979 Hilda Humes Burrows '22, Public Service/Education
1978 William R. Yost '44, Major General, U.S. Air Force
1977 A. G. Lancione '24, Ohio State Representative
1976 J. E. Giffin '16 and Lela Daugherty Giffin '14, Banking/Americanism
1975 Albert V. Noice '17, Banking/Education
1974 James DeBlasis '49, Artistic Director, Cincinnati Opera
1973 Frank W. Ault '39, Captain, U.S. Navy
1972 Velma Workman '14, Education
1971 Joe Mack '16, Public Service
1970 David Myers Creamer '23, Medicine
1969 Michael Basrak ‘31, Coaching/Education
1968 George Tyler ‘23, Law; Eleanor Tyler ‘29, Education
1967 Oliver E. Miles ‘25, Business
1966 Dr. W. J. Shepard ‘09, Medicine
1965 Robert Frank Aldridge, Business
1964 Dr. J. F. Wilkinson ‘10, Medicine
1963 Dr. George W. Watt ‘27, Chemistry
1962 Nick Skorich ‘39, Professional Football Coach
1961 Alfred Garrett ‘24, Education
1960 Navy Lt. Raymond H. Dick ‘38, Atomic Powered Submarines
1959 Rabbi Feinberg ‘16, Author
1958 Lane W. Lancaster ‘10, Political Science
1957 James H. McGregor, Education
1956 Walter Russell ‘10, Bio-Chemistry Research
1955 Mabel Cratty 1884, National Secretary, YWCA
1954 Bessie Hoge 1884, Missionary
1953 Erven Somerville ‘26, Major, U.S. Army