Newcomerstown Wall of Fame adds three
NEWCOMERSTOWN — It’s one of the highest honors in the Newcomerstown Exempted Village School District, with three former graduates being named to the district’s Wall of Honor.
Inducted in a ceremony on May 12 were the late Dr. Harry Little, Whit Parks and Ron Hurst. The ceremony followed the conclusion of the 2022 Scholar Awards Banquet at Newcomerstown High School. Dr. Little was a 1948 graduate NHS, with Parks and Hurst both graduates in 1969. Parks and Hurst were present for their induction while Dr. Little was represented by his son, David Little, and his brother, Weldon Little. Parks also has the distinction of being part of only father-son combination on the Wall of Honor. His father, the late Paul Parks, had also been honored.
Principal Josh Branch made the presentations.
In his remarks, Branch said, “Dr. Harry Little wore his Newcomerstown High School alumni status as a badge of honor. He continued to return home for class reunions and kept in touch with classmates even in his last days. He was proud of his family’s contributions to the community and he was grateful for the lifetime love of learning instilled by his teachers at Newcomerstown.
“He put that love to powerful use as he completed his undergraduate work at The Ohio State University. Serving in the U.S. Air Force after graduation, he was selected for an elite force of high altitude reconnaissance officers in the Strategic Air Command, flying missions during both Korea and the Cold War.
“Upon completion of his service, Harry Little returned to study the field of special education. He received his masters’ degree in education from OSU and taught in the Florida schools, as well as beginning the first educational programs in the Florida penitentiary system.
He served as the first State Director of Special Education in the State of Indiana at the mere age of 30 and received his doctorate from Indiana University, while raising his three children.
“He was instrumental in pioneering the shift away from institutionalizing children with special needs and providing educational services in the classroom. When touring a newly constructed institution to house those with special needs, Indiana’s governor asked him what he thought of their new facility. He responded ‘If I have anything to say about it, it’ll never open its doors.’ It never did.
“Little's impact on public education can perhaps best be viewed through the generation of special education teachers he taught and the international relationships built between special educators in this country and abroad. Each year he took students to study the latest methods being employed in other nations (in order to improve our own) as well as presenting at conferences throughout the world. After receiving recognition as the International Special Educator of the Year, he was even asked to consult in the former Soviet Union. Here at home he created special education programs at several colleges and universities, including the University of Maine and Russell Sage College.
“Dr. Little was challenged by physical ailments over the last third of his life, but he continued to show his Trojan spirit, facing adversity with courage and humor. There have been few worldwide ambassadors for Newcomerstown like Harry Little as while he was passionate about his work, what he loved was his family, his heritage and returning home to Newcomerstown.”
The second honoree was Ron Hurst.
Principal Branch’s comments included: “Ron is a 1969 graduate of Newcomerstown High School. He was raised on Heller Drive along with Whit Parks. His parents owned the restaurant called The Luncheonette in downtown Newcomerstown. He played football, basketball, baseball, and also ran track. He attended Beckley College and West Liberty University. After graduating from West Liberty, he accepted a teaching position at Strasburg in 1974. He taught for 39 years and was the Athletic Director as well for 25 years. He is still active in coaching at Strasburg. He was elected to the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2012.
“He has been married for 51 years to his wife Bobbi, who graduated from Newcomerstown in 1970. They have three adult children and three grandchildren.”
The third honoree was Whit Parks
In his remarks, Branch said, “Whit Parks is now retired, after spending 40 years in education and 37 years as a head football coach for eight different schools across Ohio. His overall record of 213-161-3 included playoff appearances in 1997, 2001, 2003, 2015 and 2017 and Conference Championships in the MBC in 1977 and 1978, the COL in 1984, the BCC in 1987 and 1988, and the OVAC in 1997. He is a six time Conference Coach of the year, eight-time District Coach of the Year, six-time Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Region Coach of the Year, and he was the Ohio Division II Coach of the Year in 1997.
“He was head coach for the North/South All Star Football Game in 2018, the Muskingum-Licking County All Star Game in 1988 and 1998, and was Assistant Coach for the Big 33 Ohio-Pennsylvania All Star Game in 1994.
“His personal recognitions include: 2020 – Inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame; 2012 – Inducted into the Inaugural Hall of Fame Class: Muskingum County Forever Dads Inductee; 2000 – Winner of the Franklin B. Walter Educator of the Year: Auglaize County; 2022 – Inducted into the Tuscarawas County Athletic Hall of Fame.”
In addition to the inductees to the Wall of Honor, the Newcomerstown Exempted Village School District honored students for their academic achievements.
Students honored for their senior projects included: Jeffrey Beitzel, Elena Cadle, Mackenzie Carroll, Vanesha Castillo-Montalvo, Jalissa Coe, Destiny Davis, Cameron Dodd, Jasmine Duerson, Riley Eckelberry, Ruth Ellis, Gatlin Fish, Jaiden Friel, Caleb Gano, Haylee Gardner, Kimberly Gibson, Chase Haver, Makenzie Hickman, Hunter Kennedy, Isabella Lallithan, Willa Mann, Noah McConnell, Staci Melville, Alexis Quillin, Zachary Quillin, Bryce Rhodes, Kaylee Ringer, Evan St. John, Roberto Sumey, Tyler Watson, Kadon Williams, Braxton Wilson, Makenzie Worthington.
Students honored for mentorship included: Elena Cadle, Mackenzie Carroll, Vanesha Castillo-Montalvo, Madison Cunningham, Cameron Dodd, Riley Eckelberry, Ruth Ellis, Caleb Gano, Makenzie Hickman, Jaylyn Kellogg, Clair Mayse, Staci Melville, Kyler Popadak, Alexis Quillin, Kaylee Ringer, Brianna Robinson, John Rose, Hayli Schuler, Roberto Sumey, Paul Thompson, Kadon Williams.
Fourth year Scholar Awards: Jeffrey Beitzel, Tayte Bryan, Elena Cadle, Destiny Davis, Jasmine Duerson, Seth Gamble, Sarah Garretson, Kimberly Gibson, Melanie Gibson, Caitlin Green, Addison Guy, Chase Haver, Makenzie Hickman, Karley Ingle, Lexus Johnson, Michaela Miller, Kyler Popadak, Kaylee Ringer, Grace Roberts, Brianna Robinson, Hannah Sterns, Haley Williams, Kadon Williams.
Third year Scholar Awards: Madison Cunningham, Alexis Dakin, Clint Durben, Gaitlin Fish, Jessica Fish, Ellie Foster, Haylee Gardner, Bladon Garland, Isabella Lallithan, Cabot Little, Rylee McCort, Leah McMahon, Alyssa Meek, Marlie Moner, Dakota Offman, Megan Parry, Breanna Rehard, Lincoln Stull, Jacie Tedrow, Olivia Valdez.
Second year Scholar Awards: Nyah Baker, Camryn Ellis, Braelyn Fish, Kelly Hinds, Ashley Lahmers, Austin Lambes, Jade Mason, Zoey Mathews, Caden Norman, Rickey Owens, Jaidyn Peoples, Alexis Reed, Bryce Rhodes, Jayson Sanders, Julia Sanders, Mariah Schuler, Keiona Warren, Brandon Weber, Kadee Williams, Mackenzie Worthington.
First year Scholar Awards: Ryan Baker, Alyssa Barker, Sidney Beall, Bo Black, Aaron Bolz, Sam Brode, Blair Butler, Audrie Conner, Abigail Cool, Ethan Cutshall, Makayla Davis, Riley Eckelberry, Clayton Fish, Ethan Foster, Jaiden Friel, Caleb Gano, Cheyenne Garabrandt, Kristen Gibson, Gabriella Gray, Brooklynn Hall, Iliana Harris, Dawson Harvey, Makenzie Johnson, Hunter Kennedy, Sean Lawrence, Kiersten Lawton, Avery Lower, Willa Mann, Carter McConnell, Jonathan McConnell, Noah McConnell, Jade McKim, William McMullen, Cole Miku, Alexus Miles, Jason Miller, Jordan Miller, Kennedy Norman, Nevaeh Phillips, Alexis Quillen, Kamdyn Rusnak, Hayli Schuler, Graham Shepherd, Austin Smith, Evan St. John, Krandon Stowers, Larissa Stull, Roberto Sumey, Paul Thompson, Tyler Watson, Lane Zickel.