Two members of the Barnesville High School class of 1960 were inducted into the Barnesville Area Education Foundation Hall of Fame during the annual alumni banquet on Saturday, July 10.
Dr. L. Joseph Thomas was introduced by classmate Tim Parkinson.
"I am very humbled and appreciative of this honor," Thomas said. "Barnesville and BHS have always been good to me."
Thomas said he has leaned on his Barnesville education in his career as an educator.
A scholar and teacher, Thomas earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1964 and a M. Phil and Ph.D. in Operations Research from Yale University in 1967 and 1968.
He serves as a professor at Cornell University, Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, were he began as an assistant professor from 1967-1972 and later an associate professor from 1972-1977. He also serves as the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson School.
Thomas was a Nicholas Noyes Professor of Manufacturing Chair from 1983-2007. He has been a visiting professor at Stanford University, GSBA-Zurich (Switzerland) and Catholic University of Louvain (Belgium).
During his distinguished career, Thomas has lectured at over 50 universities and conferences.
In addition to teaching, Thomas was a chemical engineer at Eastman Kodak; a computer systems analyst at Texas Instruments and a consultant for many top companies including Accenture, IBM, Verizon and Boeing.
Thomas was twice honored with the Russell Teaching award by his five-year MBA reunion class; is a Fellow of the Production and Operations Management Society; received the Exxon Award for applying information technology to business education and is the author of four books and 60 scholarly articles.
Thomas serves a chair of Cornell's Academic Leadership Series and Financial Policies Committee and has been an editor and associate editor for scholarly journals including Management Science, Production and Operations Management, Operations Research, and many others. He is a board member for the Production and Operations Management Society and a committee member for the United Way of Tompkins County.
An avid sportsman, Thomas is a coach for many youth sports including basketball, baseball and soccer, as well as teaching music to children.
"I loved being in Barnesville and going to high school here," Thomas said. "A town should make you feel that the world is a safe place. It should make you feel known and welcome," Thomas said. "Barnesville is a town with pride. That feeling seems the same."
An Assistant Director of Engineering for the National Science Foundation, Michael M. Reischman was introduced by classmate John Wells.
Reischman earned an Associate of Electronic Engineering from Ohio Technical College in 1962, a BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering from New Mexico State University in 1967 and 1969 and a Ph.D. in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 1973.
He served on the National Research Council in Washington, D.D. from 1973-74; was a Postdoctoral Research Associate and Research Engineer at the Naval Research Laboratory at the Naval Ocean Systems Center inn San Diego, Calif. from 1974-976; Head of Fluid Mechanics and Materials Branch of the Office of Naval Research, Mechanics Division in Arlington, Va. from 1976-1983; Director of Mechanics Division there from 1989-1990; Program Director of Fluid Dynamics from 1985-1989 and Scientific Officer from 1983-1985.
He served as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research at Pennsylvania State University from 1990-1997; Associate Dean of Research and Economic Development at he University of South Carolina from 1997-2001 and Research Professor/Director of University Programs, NASA Office of Aerospace Tech., Washington, D.C. at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.
His community service has included: faculty advisor for Engineering Grad Student Council from 1990-1997; serving on the USC Legislative Liaison task Force from 1998-200; President of the Council of Economic Development, Incubator Committee Chair in 1997 and vice president of the board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Dance Theatre from 1991-1997.
Reischman's many honors have included: Centennial Distinguished Alumni, New Mexico State University, 1996; Who's Who in the World, 15th Ed., 1997/98; Fellow of the American Society of the Advancement of Science in 1998 and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 2000.
Reischman thanked the BAEF for the honor of being inducted into the hall of fame.
"It is a real thrill for a farm kid from Route 8," Reischman said. He said in addition to Barnesville High School, he attending Hendrysburg and Assumption Catholic schools, both buildings no longer exist.
He said BHS and the teachers who taught him there, had a big influence on him.
"Education and learning never really stop," he said. "Education is what makes a huge, huge difference in everyone's lives."
Reischman encouraged everyone to get behind education and encouraged support of the BAEF.
Thomas and Reischman joined classmate Larry Marmie in the Hall of Fame. Several past inductees including Marmie were in attendance
Richard Skinner presented the Extra Mile Award to fifth grade Barnesville Middle School teacher Marjorie Young. Two different people nominated Young, who was described as "having a heart of gold."
Young said the schools in Barnesville are fortunate to have the backing of BAEF.
"I have always tired to support my students beyond the classroom," Young said. She thanked those who nominated her as well as those who support the education foundation.
"It is a lovely gesture and make a person feel highly valued," she said.
Speakers from those classes celebrating five-year reunions included: Dalton Hines, class of 1940; Tom Hayes, class of 1945; Kenny Johns, class of 1950; Richard Skinner, class of 1955; Tim Parkinson, class of 1960; Pat Reischman, class of 1965 and Mary Murphy, class of 1970.
Irene Cowgill was also recognized at the banquet. Queen of the Class of 1945, Cowgill finally received her crown at the Barnesville High School Alumni Banquet July 10. (See jeanealities page A-4).
Evelyn Sampson was the evening's final speaker. Saturday's event was the 27th alumni banquet that Sampson has spearheaded, following in the footsteps of four generations of her family to do so. Sampson said a committee to plan the banquet will be formed and it is time for others to take over the duty. Mary Murphy led the singing of the BHS alma mater and Pat Reischman led the benediction.
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