H.S. Hall of Fame to induct members

Paul Stanifer, a former music teacher at Bedford High School, will be inducted into the school's hall of fame.

TEMPERANCE -- Former Bedford Public Schools teacher Paul Stanifer says he's honored to be among the latest inductees into the high school's Hall of Fame.

"My career while at Bedford High School was filled with great experiences and pride," he said.

Mr. Stanifer was a music teacher on the Bedford faculty from 1965 to 1982. Today, he is retired and lives in Manitou Beach, Mich.

While at Bedford, he was deeply involved in the high school's symphony, marching band, concert band, and jazz band.

In 1979, these ensembles represented Bedford in Washington in competition at the National Cherry Blossom Festival and brought home first place to a packed pep rally in the high school gymnasium. The success of Mr. Stanifer's students brought national attention to the high school.

More than 20 of his students were selected by Musical Youth International to represent the United States in performances in North Africa, Spain, and the United Kingdom in 1980 and 1981. Mr. Stanifer was the conductor for both tours.

Mr. Stanifer's accomplishments at the Bedford schools did not go unrecognized by others.

He was inducted into the American School Band Directors National Association, the National Band Association, and he was a recipient of the Pell Award for Leadership Development.

He directed the Monroe County Community College Band for 11 years and continues to serve on the International Kenyan Urithi Education Fund board.

After leaving the Bedford school system, he taught in the Adrian schools and did a 15-year stint as director of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association, where he was responsible for Michigan's activities serving band and orchestra students in the state.

"Having the good fortune to have spent my early teaching career at Bedford High School, having directed many fine bands, having chaired the school's music program -- all gave me a wonderful and successful life in music education," he said.

Chuck Faller, president of the high school alumni association, said the Hall of Fame was started in 2000 and has 80 inductees. They are commemorated in the high school lobby. The 2011 induction will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 in the high school cafeteria. Tickets to the dinner are $25.

Other inductees that night will be:

Jesse Elzinga, class of 1997, who starred in cross country and track. He earned All Conference, All Region, and All State, and was the 3200-meter state champion in 1995. He holds six of the top 20 times achieved in Bedford High School cross country history, a school record. He is a teacher and administrator at St. Edward's School, Oxford, England.

Clayton Kelley, a teacher and coach, began the high school's wrestling program. Although he was with the Bedford schools only from 1958 to 1965, he started a winning program from scratch. His teams produced nine conference champions, nine state qualifiers, and one state placer. He attended Bowling Green State University, Eastern Michigan University, and is a Marine Corps veteran. After leaving the Bedford schools, he taught and coached for 20 years at Garden City High School in Garden City, Mich.

Rebecca Neorr Umpstead, class of 1990, was an outstanding athlete in track, volleyball, softball, and basketball. Her four-year sport was volleyball, where she was All District and All Region as a junior and senior. She set team records for service aces and block solos in one match and was named to the All State second team her senior year. She lives in the Ann Arbor area with her husband and three children.

Terri Riddle Ornsby, class of 1988, was a talented all around athlete who excelled in softball and basketball. In softball, she set records for stolen bases and the most hits in a single season and posted the highest batting average on the team. She was named All District, All Region, and second team All State. Her athletic activities were ended her senior year by a knee injury. She is married with four children and lives in Monroe County.

Louis Tibai, class of 1992, was the 130-pound state wrestling champ in 1992 and had a career record of 178-12-1. He was a three-time league champion, three-time district champion, and three-time regional champion. He and his wife have three children and live in Bedford Township.

The 1998 volleyball team, which won he state championship, consisted of Lindi Bankowski, Brook Burton, Theresa Estes, Katy Grodi, Bree Hickman, Melissa and Valerie Lyczkowski, Shayna Munson, Sarah Oleszczuk, Rachel Parsons, Sarah Schneider, and Melissa Weaver. Sharing in the honors are Melissa Meinhart, Nicole Salisbury, and Tara Paranick, who were brought up from the junior varsity team to play in tournaments that year. The team had an 89-3 record and set records for the longest winning streak (46) and won 11 of 12 tournaments that year. The coach was Jodi Manore, who serves in that capacity today.

For tickets to the Hall of Fame dinner, contact Mr. Faller at 419-290-6382 or chuckfaller@bex.net.