7 to be inducted into Anthony Wayne hall of fame

8/29/2007

As a track star at Anthony Wayne High School, Missy Meeker Bergfeld was the first girl from the school to earn All Ohio honors.

She was the first AAA girls' high jump champion in the history of girls' track in Ohio, and her school long jump record of 17 feet, 9 inches was broken only this year, by an inch.

She earned four varsity letters in track and field, four in volleyball, and three in basketball. She went to the University of Kentucky on a full athletic scholarship during an era in which girls rarely received athletic scholarships.

Now, 31 years after her graduation, her youthful past has caught up with her - in a most gratifying way.

Ms. Bergfeld is one of seven new members of the Anthony Wayne Alumni Association Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be during a luncheon at the high school Sept. 8.

"It's very overwhelming," Ms. Bergfeld, who graduated from Anthony Wayne in 1976, said. "I know that there have been a lot of worthy people inducted, and I feel very honored to be included in that group."

The other inductees are:

• Dr. Phillip Boehm, class of 1955, a respected veterinarian and cattle breeder who was active in the FFA and 4-H while at Anthony Wayne. He will be honored posthumously.

• Carol Gottschalk-O'Shea, class of 1967, who as president of the school board oversaw the rapid repairing and rebuilding of the high school after the July, 1992, tornado. She too will be honored posthumously.

• Dr. Robert Welch, class of 1969, an accomplished obstetrician-gynecologist who has won many awards.

• Dr. Julie Holloway, class of 1979, a dental specialist and author of many clinical articles.

• Karla Witte, class of 1981, vice president of product development and technical services for Triangle Digital INX Co. of San Leandro, Calif.

• Jane Golding Robertson, class of 1985, administrator of human resources for Institutional Care Pharmacy of Tiffin and former human resource facilitator at Defiance Precision Products of Upper Sandusky, Ohio.

The Hall of Fame honors Anthony Wayne graduates and faculty members who have made significant contributions to the school, their professions, or their communities. It has 92 members.

Nominations are made by inductees or a member of the Anthony Wayne community. Alumni must have graduated at least 10 years earlier, and staff members must have served a minimum of 10 years in the schools and have been retired for at least five years.

Ms. Bergfeld credits her late parents, Bill and Barbara Meeker, and the Anthony Wayne staff for contributing to her success as a young athlete.

Her freshman track coach, the late Dick Albaugh, actually recruited her when she was in eighth grade, she explained.

"He came into study hall and asked me to stay after school. After school, he then told me he hoped I would come out for track my freshman year. He was the athletic director and coached track and basketball, and was a big influence on young people," she said. "My parents and my brothers and sisters were always there for me with encouragement too. They were very supportive."

Ms. Bergfeld lives in Waterville, her hometown, with her husband, Jim, and their children, Katherine and Robert. She is the director of Hope Nursery School and Child Care Center in Whitehouse.