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2009 Alumni Hall of Fame Reception and Introductions and Homecoming - October 9.
The West High School Alumni Association
was proud to introduce the 2009 Hall of Fame Honorees.
Russell Carter '36 - Civil Rights Lawyer, Judge (deceased)
Susan Johnson '45 - Film and Broadway Performer (deceased)
Edward Gleibs, Jr., '52 - Entrepreneur in the Measurement of Electricity
Joe Johns '75 - National News Correspondent

l. to r. - West Principal Dan Martin '72,
2009 Hall of Fame Chair & 2007 Hall of Fame Honoree Felix Hoover '67,
Joe Johns '75,
Esther Carter Spear - accepting for her father Russell Carter '36,
Becky Gleibs Foster - accepting for her father Ed Gleibs '52,
Bette Hams Jenks '45 accepting for Susan Johnson '45, and
2009 Association President Susie Katon Ward '70
 Bios on the 2009 Alumni Hall of Fame Honorees have been added to the website
Hall of Fame 'room.'
The evening started off at 5pm with the Homecoming Parade. The Alumni Association had several 'weather the rain' to participate in the parade.
The rain didn't dampen the spirits of those along the parade route. The Alumni Association float riders tossed candy and passed out the balloons to the kids along the route.
At one of the houses along the parade route someone is taking a picture of our float!
Principal Martin welcomes the honorees, their family, and the alumni to Homecoming and the Hall of Fame reception.
Becky Gleibs Foster thanks the Alumni Association for bestowing this honor on her father, Ed Gleibs. While health reasons kept him from attending, Becky related several of the great West stories her father had talked to the family about through the years.
Felix helps Bette Ham Jenks '45 with the microphone as she tells of stories of when she and Susie Johnson were friends, classmates, and cheerleaders at West. Susie was last her in 1995 for her 50th Class Reunion.

Bette explained that Susie Johnson's daughter lives in California. Bette read a letter from Susie's daughter, Corianne, expressing her thanks and saying she knew Susie would be very appreciative of this honor. Corianne would have attended but was awaiting the birth of her great-grandchild. Susie Johnson died in 2003.
Many alumni and family and friends of the honorees attended the event in the West Library.
Esther Carter Spear talked about her father and his ten siblings. All were all college graduates but one. Mr. Carter was a champion for civil rights for all people. Mr. Carter died in 1999.
Joe Johns' career in television shown through during his talk. Although, several times he expressed that he is a true product of his West High education. When competing in the discus throw at the Ohio Track and Field Championships his senior year, OSU Football Coach Woody Hayes approached him and asked if Joe would play football for him. Joe thanked the coach saying he had played some football (even starting some of the time), but he wasn't really a good football player. Coach Hayes said, "You may not be a good football player now, but I can tell you are a good athlete, and I think I can turn you in to a good football player." Although he appreciated the invitation, Joe stuck with his plans and attended Marshall University! He thanked his West Track Coach Bill Huckaba, who was at the reception, for changing his discus throw that eventually got him to the state meet. He also thanked his West Football Coach, Gary Vanderson, who was also in attendance, for the help he provided.

When working at NBC, Joe decided to go back to college and received a law degree from American University. He is currently a CNN correspondent, based in Washington, D.C. and reports on government accountability, waste, and fraud for the Anderson Cooper 360 program and other programs throughout the network. He said he took several things away from his days at West - never give up, try hard, fight, be a good person, be honest, and keep in touch with your friends from West (and several were there that evening).

After the reception and dinner for the Hall of Fame Honorees, we all moved to Magly Field.
The West Marching Band was first to take the field.
The field was pretty wet from rain that evening and the previous week, but it was Homecoming, and everyone wanted to participate.
The Band has added a few new members this year.

Taking the field after the West Band was the West Alumni Band. They had practiced on Wednesday evening and sounded great.
A West tradition for many years, seven former drum majors returned to march at Homecoming. They led the rest of the band on the field and were very much appreciated by everyone in the stands.
The Weskets followed the drum majors. This year two of the original Weskets from 1961 marched - Sally Jo Holmes Daft '63 and Sunya Graham Milner '63. This year former Weskets were honoring their former Band Director, and the one who started the Weskets, Mr. Jim Hill '49. Mr. Hill was also a West Drum Major. Mr. Hill died last year.
All former band members are always invited back to march at Homecoming, but this year they especially wanted those who marched in the Rose Bowl Parade forty years ago to return and march one more time!
The Drum Majors smartly standing at attention before making their way back down the field.
Joe Johns sharing a moment with Sue Weigand Wickenheiser '75 and Craig Weigand '75.
Just a few of the former West athletes and coaches who formed a tunnel for the 2009 West Football team to run through on their way to the field.
This year the 1969 and 1975 City League Football Championship Teams and the 1975 State Baseball Championship Team members were invited back.
The Alumni Band Weskets stand at attention.
The cheerleaders eagerly await the football team.
The Weskets and Cheerleaders cheer as they await the football team taking the field.
We were unable to get a picture of the team taking the field prior to the game, but when they were returning to their dressing room at half-time, their uniforms showed they had played a hard-fought game - in the rain. They didn't end up winning, but we applaud their effort.