OCS MISSION STATEMENT
Owensboro Catholic Schools share in the mission of the Church in communion with families and parishes to provide excellence in Catholic faith formation and academics which prepares students to become responsible individuals as well as members of their family, Church, and community.
Preparing Leaders, Achievers, and Believers
Christ is the Reason for This School
Reflect, Rejoice, Recommit
As I reflect back on 2024, I can’t help but rejoice. No, it wasn’t a perfect year. It certainly had its fair share of hardships and heartache, but my heart can still smile knowing the many ways the Lord worked, and continues to work, in and through the students and staff at Owensboro Catholic High School.
Students are coming more and more alive in their faith. They are seeking daily adoration before the school day begins. Weekly Reconciliation was so heavily attended that we added a second day to accommodate those seeking the sacrament. Service clubs such as Leaders for Life, SCRUBS, Habitat for Humanity, and Servants of Salvation (just to name a few) are thriving with student involvement and the desire to better our school and community. Many of them are also actively involved in their parishes by ministering at Mass, attending youth groups, and going on mission trips. And, most recently, students are engaged in small groups as a means to strengthen and share their faith.
Our faculty and staff also play a role in strengthening and living out their faith within our school community. They lead by example, spearheading, organizing, and volunteering with our service clubs and small groups. Homeroom and class service projects have been implemented by some teachers, and many give of their time to help lead Senior Retreats. As you walk through the halls, you will find teachers praying with their classes, praying for one another as prayer partners, and challenging their students to grow in the many ways we are called to serve Christ.
Truly, God has His hand in all of this.
The Lord calls us to discipleship each and every day. All we have to do is open the door and let Him in. It’s amazing what He can do when we let Him into those small spaces, those nooks and crannies of our everyday lives. I’ve witnessed it first hand. The Lord is certainly moving and shaking in the hearts of the students and staff at OCHS. By no means are we perfect and we certainly have room to grow, so I look forward to all He has in store for us in 2025. May we recommit to opening the doors of our hearts to Him and His call to discipleship.
Yearbook photos on cover provided by Shannon Lewis Photography
Lisa Higdon ’02 OCHS Theology Chair
About our cover story
By Tracy Conkright, Chief Education Officer
Our cover story highlights current OCS personnel who graduated from Owensboro Catholic High School. These heartwarming stories reflect on their time at Catholic High and the influence of current and past teachers, administrators, and coaches of OCS. They share how these individuals impacted their lives and inspired their career choices. To think they are now those individuals who encourage and motivate our students each day is amazing and a blessing.
If you think about it, people who choose to work in schools have one of the most important jobs in the world. At OCS, the mentor-student connection is invaluable and life-changing. Our employees aren’t working for recognition or a paycheck but because they have a passion and dedication to our system, students, and the faith-based environment. These professionals inspire our students with their words and actions and encourage them to do well and succeed in life. These individuals live their faith and assist our students in growing and experiencing theirs. They are the ultimate role models for our young people.
Even though their work is challenging, they remain positive, compassionate, and understanding of our students’ needs and potential. Their dedication is shown by their ‘round-the-clock work habits, not stopping work when they leave the building. Instead, they are at home grading papers, answering emails, making lesson plans, and communicating with parents. Most of our employees arrive early and stay late.
Our employees are one of the key factors that make OCS special. So, I would like to express gratitude to all who choose to work in our school system. And say THANK YOU for shaping the minds of our students, instilling values and passing on knowledge, showing up each day, believing in each student’s potential, and being a mentor who will leave an indelible mark on some child’s life. Your profound impact and dedication are an inspiration to everyone. So, thank you for choosing OCS to mentor and inspire students.
Specifically, we are thankful to our employees who are OCHS graduates!
COVER STORY
TRADITION Starts Here
At Owensboro Catholic Schools, our slogan, “Tradition Starts Here,” is more than a simple phrase; it embodies a living promise. It represents a journey that not only begins but also continues to grow and flourish.
A powerful testament to this is our remarkable alumni who choose to return and serve within our school community. Currently, we are proud to have over 60 graduates working across our four campuses, a clear indication that Owensboro Catholic is more than just a school—it’s a family. On top of that, we have an abundant amount of alumni who serve our school system either as coaches, substitute teachers, scrip volunteers and more!
By Clare Clark, Digital Marketing Coordinator
This strong bond raises an important question: Why do so many of our alumni return? The answer lies in the values, relationships, and sense of belonging they cultivated during their time here. “Tradition Starts Here” reflects our unwavering commitment to nurturing future generations and strengthening our community for years to come. Together, we ensure that the spirit of Owensboro Catholic continues to thrive in every returning face and heart.
Natalie Anderson ’00
Guidance Counselor4-6 Campus
Jeff Arnold ’88 3rd Grade - K-3 Campus
Chanda Bender ’06
Administrative Assistant4-6 Campus
Sarah Blincoe ’78 Assistant - K-3 Campus
Jenny Burns ’02
Administrative AssistantOCHS
John Calhoun ’95 Music - OCMS/4-6 Campus
Vanessa Calvin ’84 3rd Grade - K-3 Campus
Laurie Castlen ’03
Title I - K-3 Campus
Heather Clemens ’87 4th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Ginny Coomes ’03
Assistant Principal - OCHS
Lauren Coomes ’03 1st Grade - K-3 Campus
Neil Corley ’87 Science - OCHS
Beth Coyne ’00 4th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Kevin Dorth ’04
Social Studies - OCHS
Kristin Dorth ’04
Theology - OCHS
Sonya Drury ’90
Administrative AssistantOCHS
Sherry Durham ’89
Librarian - K-3 Campus
Lyndsi Ebelhar ’04
Kindergarten - K-3 Campus
Tina Edge ’89 Kindergarten - K-3 Campus
Tim Flaherty ’75 Science - OCHS
What brought you back to Owensboro Catholic Schools for work?
I wanted to return to a place where I always felt welcome and cared for as a student by my teachers, faculty, and classmates. I wanted to be able to try to make a difference in the ways that they did for me. This was the place that helped pique my interest in education, so this is where I decided to come back to.
Savannah French ’21
As I was growing up, I would always get asked the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I never was able to answer people. Even as I got into high school, I still didn't have a clue as to what I wanted to do for my career. When I started college, I took a couple education classes to test the waters, and I loved it! As soon as I realized I wanted to become a teacher, I knew that the only place I wanted to teach at was Owensboro Catholic Schools. I have so many fond memories with all my teachers I had K-12. I too want to create long lasting memories with my students so they will also be able to look back at their time spent at OCS and smile.
Rachel Krampe ’13
As a student, I loved attending a school where I learned about my faith and could pray each day. I knew this was the only path for my teaching career. This environment aligns with my faith and values. It is a blessing to work here and send my own children to our schools. We are one big OC family!
Krystal Smith Flowers ’04
I have worked for the Catholic school system my whole career. I always knew teaching with Christ was my vocation. Being able to impact a child’s life with the gift of Christ present in our school is what I wanted to do. With Christ guiding me I am able to teach through prayer, scripture, song, and example. What a wonderful way to teach!
Diane Elizabeth Lewis Fulkerson ’85
Once I decided I was going to be a teacher, it was OC or nowhere!
Ginny Coomes ’03
I always wanted to come back to OCHS and teach and inspire students the way I was inspired when I attended OCHS.
Scott Lowe ’87
I truly felt that I was called to teach in a Catholic School, specifically this school system. Owensboro Catholic Schools have always been near and dear to my heart, so it just made sense to be here. As we all know, there is something truly special about this place.
Christina Wathen ’16
Alumni OCHS Staff
COVER STORY
My father receiving the Gold and Emerald Award for his nearly 50 years of service in the Catholic School System.
Neil Corley ’87
Being an Acette with a great group of girls! We won State!
Tina Roby Edge ’89
As I look back on my time at OCS, whether as a student or staff member, I will always remember OC as a place that offers a rare, unique experience, is a tight-knit community with deep roots that fosters a sense of family and belonging, instills and cultivates a high degree of moral values, and inspires each person to reach their God-given potential. The OC bond is unmatchable, celebrating each other’s successes and supporting each other in times of need.
Sherry Gaddis Krampe ’87
Sandy Fleming ’80 5th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Krystal Flowers ’04 Kindergarten - K-3 Campus
Savannah French ’21 Agriculture - OCHS
Diane Fulkerson ’85 1st Grade - K-3 Campus
Kaitlyn Fulkerson ’07 6th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Melissa Goetz ’96 Math - OCHS
Ben Hardesty ’02 Social Studies - OCHS
Stephanie Hardesty ’01 Scrip Coordinator
Tiffany Harrington ’09 English - OCHS
Amy Hartz ’89 Kindergarten - K-3 Campus
Cheri Hayden ’78 Kindergarten - K-3 Campus
Natalie Hayden ’88 Director of AdvancementCentral Office
Favorite Memory at OCHS?
There are so many to choose from, between the school dances and ball games, Ring Mass and days of recollection, project graduation and everything in between! But my favorite is Junior year religion class with Ms. Angel; that is where I met my future husband.
Jenny Riley Burns ’02
How do I choose?! Ms. Perry's “Do whatya oughta, put the acid in the wata” slogan for Chemistry labs, PAP’s biology dissections, Senior Retreat, the Excellence Rallies, the Magazine Drives and Lucky Bucks Days, the list could go on...
Tiffany Murphy Harrington ’09
Celebrating Mass with the entire student body.
Natalie Hayden ’88
My favorite memories are those of my days in marching band. I also fondly remember several of the teachers, not because of what I learned in class, but how they treated people and lived their faith.
John Calhoun ’95
COVER STORY
How has your Catholic faith influenced your return to
Being able to work in an environment that incorporates my faith into every aspect of the day is a huge blessing. I love being free to share in my faith with those around me.
Kelly Crowe Wathen ’02
My faith has grown each year of my life. There is nothing like seeing these little ones express their love of God with prayer, dance, and song.
Vanessa Payne Calvin ’84
I want to give back to a family that gave me so much!
Nancy Wilson Neal ’84
Being in an environment where I can share my faith on a daily basis and watch students grow in their faith is life changing.
Lisa Jarboe Higdon ’02
Lisa Higdon ’02
Theology - OCHS
Sam Howard ’10
Maintenance
Lisa Igleheart ’98
Assistant - K-3 Campus
Allison Johnson ’88 2nd Grade - K-3 Campus
Sharon Johnson ’82 Health Tech - K-3 Campus
Amanda Kauffeld ’07
Assistant Principal4-6 Campus
Rachel Krampe ’13 2nd Grade - K-3 Campus
Sherry Krampe ’87
School Nurse/Health Coordinator - OCHS
Sarah Beth Lewis ’19 Kindergarten - K-3 Campus
Scott Lowe ’87
Social Studies - OCHS
Shannon Luttrell ’88 4th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Nicole Melton ’12 1st Grade - K-3 Campus
Kristin Miller ’09 Principal - K-3 Campus
Bridgette Molnar ’92 5th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Andra Montgomery ’97 Guidance CounselorK-3 Campus
Nancy Neal ’84 JAM (Jesus and Music) Teacher - K-3 Campus
working for OCS?
Alumni OCES K-3 Staff
It means so much to be able to talk about God and to see the students stop and say the Rosary for an OCS family member. This is not something that you would see in public school.
Sonya Clouse Drury ’90
Kurt Osborne ’88
Assistant Principal/Senior Counselor - OCHS
Katie Pagan ’02 English - OCHS
Jeremy Phelps ’89 Head Coach - Girls Softball
Michael Robertson ’99 Head Coach - Girls Basketball
Donna Rudy ’77 Cafeteria - 4-6 Campus
Alyssa Schueler ’14 Language Arts - OCMS
Jennifer Self ’90 Assistant - K-3 Campus
Veronica Shearn ’13 1st Grade - K-3 Campus
Emily Sloan ’11 3rd Grade - K-3 Campus
Margaret Thompson ’06 5th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Kelly Trogden ’88 Cafeteria - K-3 Campus
Christina Wathen ’16 6th Grade - 4-6 Campus
Kelly Wathen ’02 Assistant - K-3 Campus
Nina Wiggins ’04 Secretary - OCMS
Mark Woodward ’80 Dean of Students/P.E./ Athletic Director - OCMS
COVER STORY
What is your favorite part of your job?
As the librarian, I enjoy getting to know every single student at the K-3.
Sherry Roberts Durham ’89
Getting to help younger students learn about Jesus’ love
Jennifer Krampe-Self ’90
Graduation. It symbolizes a job well done each year as we send another group of students out to shape the world.
Kurt Osborne ’88
I get the opportunity to interact with everyone from the students to the parents and the faculty and staff every day. And make a positive impact on people daily!
Nina Wiggins ’04
100% talking with the kids! They share their adventures, sadness and fears, joys and sense of humor. There is a new funny story every day! If it were not for a serious FERPA AND HEPPA violation my book would hit the best seller list in about five minutes!
Sharon Williams Johnson ’82
Getting to work alongside with several fellow OCS graduates. Being a part of OCS is like being a part of a family. The family atmosphere and getting to know kids of people that I went to school with. Being a part of OCS has been the biggest blessing in my life!
Mark Woodward ’80
I love the little kindergarteners; they are so sweet!
Lisa Minalga Igleheart ’98
Alumni OCMS Staff
OC CONNECT 2024
2024 was a banner year!
Aces, look at what you achieved!
At the start of 2024, we set ambitious goals and shared them with our community, knowing that doing so creates accountability and inspires collective action. Reflecting on the past year, we’re thrilled to share that together, we raised over $300,000 in unrestricted income for the high school! This incredible achievement highlights the power of collaboration and what can happen when we align our efforts toward a common goal.
Thank You!
Thank you for your unwavering support— we couldn’t have done it without you.
Let’s aim even higher and make 2025 another outstanding year!
Natalie Hayden ’88 Director of Advancement
270-686-8896
natalie.hayden@ owensborocatholic.org
Owensboro Catholic is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization. Your generous monetary gift is tax deductible.
Let’s hear it for our friends and the Class of 1969 - the top giving class of 2024!
We wish to extend gratitude to our Friends of OCHS. Your continued support of our mission is appreciated.
OC CONNECT 2024
OC Connect 2024 Donors
At this time of year, we like to share the final list of all 2024 Phonathon donors. Some classes have been grouped if only a few gifts were listed. Thank you, alumni and friends, for believing and supporting the mission of OCHS. You make a tremendous difference, and we could not do this important work without each of you. These unrestricted gifts given to the Phonathon are used daily where the obligations and opportunities are greatest.
Please keep in mind this list is put together by humans and we try very hard to include everyone who gave in 2024 correctly. If we have made an error, please accept our sincere apologies and kindly call 270-686-8896 to let us know.
1948 $360.78
Jack and Doris Mills
Joe Mudd Family
Mary Riney Mudd
In Memory of Rita Beth Thomas
1950-1951
$1,250.00
Joseph N. ”Bucky” Coomes
Joan Marrett Englert
Dr Carroll and Margie Howard
Bill and Patty Johnson
Marjorie Reisz Reid
Francis Thomson
1952 $405.00
Joann Castlen Galloway
Daniel and Shirley Kurz Hagman
Mary Elizabeth Tipmore Handy
William P. Hayden Jr in Memory of Martha Clark Hayden
In Memory of Barbara Reisz Brown
Jane Coomes Rowland
Bob Slack
Margaret Hayden Velotta
1953 $7,302.50
John and Nan Roby Filburn
In Memory of Gene Frey
Bob and Mildred Slack Gilles
Barbara Frey Hagman
In Memory of Barbara Frey Hagman
Anna Jean Hardesty
James F. Marrett
Ann Roby Oberg
Ignatius Payne
John and Margie Clark Wathen
1954 $1,015.00
Bob and Roberta Berry
In Memory of Commander John M. Gilles
Joseph Cooper Hayden
Pat O’Malley McCarthy
Cora Ellen Medley McKinley
Patsy Downs Whitmer
Joann Johnson Williams
1955 $10,795.00
Mary Bryant Booth
In Memory of Barbara Gilles Clark
Vince and Joan Frey
Sue Clark Howell
Bill Payne
George and Barbara A. Powers
Bettye Rouse 1956
Don Blandford
Mary Ann Head Clouse
Joan Riddle Collins
Douglas and Cheryl Hayden
Nancy D. Hendricks
John and Mary Medley
Joann Schartung Millay
Jackie Kamuf Murray
Bob and Theresa Payne Pedley
Lula ”Lou” Hamilton Royal
Barbara F. Stallings
Cloa Johnson Thompson
Mike Weaver
1957 $984.09
Margie Hamilton Ashworth
Col Michael and Kathleen Boldrick
Bob and Betty Crowe
Earl and Paula Fischer
Gertie Sims Frey
Margaret Grant Frey
Joanna Vowels Hatcher
Carl and Marty Hayden
Charlie and Linda Kamuf
Lori Sanders - In Honor of Charlie Kamuf
Bonnie Mittelstadt
Charles and Lois Payne
Mary Etta Schrecker
Bill Thomas
Mary Foster Whitis
1958 $15,230.78
Anonymous
Harry and Peggy Bellew
Bob and Roberta Berry
Lee and Frances Bidwell
Imogene Knott Blakeley
Alice Boarman
Lillian Roberts Bowlds
Annette Smith Bryant
Martha F. Clark
Thomas Clark
Linnie Murphy Clary
Bob and Betty Crowe
Bob and Marian Davis
Donald and Ruth Dickens
Thomas Fogle
In Memory of James David (Red, Sonny, Smokey) Gilles
Henry and Bernadette Hayden
Carl and Marty Hayden
Otis and Judy Hicks
Bob and Francil Higdon
James R. and Beverly Knott
Larry and Polly Warren McCubbins
In Memory of Mary Hilda McFarland
Ronald and Connie Byrne McKay
In Memory of Robert Ralph Murphy
Joseph Newton
Robert W. Nix
In Loving Memory of Rosemary Payne
Marie Gatton Priar
Joe and Cissy Dieterle Raibert
Jim Schartung
Gene and Jane Strehl
Richard and Dorothy McKay Thomas
1959 $5,220.00
Joyce Roberts Bickett
Bill and Suzanne Blandford
William Blandford
Col Michael and Kathleen Boldrick
Philomena Bollinger
Paul Busse
Frankie and Ritz Devins Cecil
Joe and Mary Jane Russell Clark
In Memory of George Collignon
Doug and Nancy Dunn
John and Liz Froehlich
Bonnie Russell Hawkins
Geri Hart Martinez
Rebecca Millay
Rebecca Kiefer Millay
Charles and Lois Payne
Ed and Allethaire Price
Marie Saunders
Dorothy Payne Tipmore
Wayne C Tipton, Jr
Don and Mary Weaver
Judy Wright
1960 $395.00
Lee and Frances Bidwell
Larry and Susan Cashen
Guy and Linda Simmons Connor
In Memory of William Allen (Goggles) Gilles
PJ and Sarah Hayden
John F. and Theresa Jones Jr
Steve Meyer
1961 $8,137.50
Anonymous
John and Mary Nell Bouvier
Don and Janet Bowlds
Patricia Roberts Cecil
Bob and Marian Davis
Mike and Linda Drury
Thomas Dunbar
Paula Kerrick Fisher
Hadley Roberts Harrington
Rich and Kathy Hayden
Gerald and Judy Higdon
Charlie and Linda Kamuf
Bernard and Marilyn Boone Lally
Larry and Gene Lyon
Bob and Linda Marrett
Larry and Willodean McMahan
Margaret Beaven Moorman
Michael and Kari Morton
Burley and Beverly Phelan
Carol Thornberry Sims - In Memory of Timothy Sims
Ron and Mary Helen Strehl
Buzz and Patsy Collignon Van Meter
Don and Mary Weaver
Doug Wood
1962 $3,675.00
Mick and Janet Baseheart
Harry and Peggy Bellew
Joe and Beverly Carrico
Larry and Dottie Elder
Harry Glenn
Robert and Cynthia Hawley
Dennis and Sharon Elliott Hayden
Gene Keelin
Tom and Vicki Luckett
Libby Hayden Mattingly
Tony and Celia Roberts Roach
Carol Thornberry Sims
R. Michael and Patsy Snyder
Agnes Kamuf Stallings and late Edward B. Stallings
1963 $2,055.00
Gene and Carolyn Abel
Mick and Janet Baseheart
Fred and Sharon Bittel Coomes
Jim Goetz
Ronnie and Mereda Hicks
Becky Welsh Jesop
Joe and Paula Knott
Mary Ann (Tom) Kurz
Charlotte Feldpausch McAlevey
Ken and Edie McKay
Elizabeth ”Lizzy” Millay
Martha Gilles Payne
Ronnie and Judy Frey Peach
Donald and Carol Ralph
Victoria Roberts
Joseph E. and Barbara Russell
Mary Alice Wethington
1964 $3,820.14
Jack and Dolores Beyke
Pat Black
John and Esther Blandford
Anita Hayden Garrison
Tom and Mary Beth Goetz
Elaine Stephen Grant
Jim and Janet Hagan
Josie Hagan
Mike and Michelle Hagan
David and Paula Hayden
Larry and Brenda Hayden
PJ and Sarah Hayden
Ron and Karen Matthis
Paula McIntyre
Charles and Mary Ann Medley
Greg and Patti Biscopink Merimee
David M. Mulligan
James and Sharon Bell Murphy
Steve P. Oelze
Randy and Carolyn Porter
Joe and Beverly Bellew Rudy
William C. Schrecker
Mary R. Lyon Shepler
Steve Sims
Mike and Maria Wright
1965 $6,755.00
David and Nancy Akers
Paula Cilia Annin
Bill and Sally Buford
Vincent and Linda Cecil
Tony and Carolyn Clark
In Honor of Sharon Knox-Tucker
Gary and Phyllis Edwards
Linda Rhinerson Falloway
Carol S. Goetz
Mike and Michelle Hagan
Jerry and Virginia Harper
Deacon Joe and Sherry Hartz
Don Hayden
Maureen Hardesty Jackson
Mark and Joanne Johnson
Kirk and Loretta Fay Barr Kinley
Barney and Sharon Knox-Tucker
Mitchell and Martha Long
Linda L. Luebcke
Danny and Anna Ruth McNulty Lyon
Bob and Linda Marrett
Al and Judith Mattingly
Ed and Mary Riney
John F. Tewell Jr
William and Rosemary Riney Thompson
Bobby L. Timbrook
Judith Tramontin
Chip and Mary Katherine Van Meter
Jim and Linda Warren
Joseph and Connie Weikel
Dennis and Peggy Welsh
Joyce Bittel Yeiser
1966 $1,852.50
Jack and Dolores Beyke
Ben and Stanette Blair
Judy Murphy Brown
Pat Daugherty
Martine Edge
Eddie and Peggy Grant
Larry and Becky Marrett Horsman
OC CONNECT 2024
Susan Mary Jones
Bill and Sheila Kyle
Mitchell and Martha Long
Greg and Patti Biscopink Merimee
Steve Mitchell
Tom and Carol Payne
Bruce and Phillis Schrecker
Bobby and Kelley Simmons
Todd and Pat Stelmach
Glenn and Sheila Stewart
Ernie and Shirley Taliaferro
Joyce Young
1967 $4,280.00
Larry and Sheila Abel
Agnes Bickwermert Allen
Linda Hagan Avery
Don and Vicki Cecil
Fred and Sharon Bittel Coomes
Doug and Nancy Dunn
Tom and Janet Ebelhar
Gary and Beverly Estes
Susan D. Garwood
Paul and Chris Gill
Denny and Sarona Murphy Grant
Sharon Cecil Hart
Thomas E. and Millie Ward Hines
Shirley Ebelhar Kent
Paul and Benita Martin
Mike and Bennie McNulty
Tommy R. Osborne
Phil and Brenda Drury Phelps
Tom Shively
Larry and Jean Sims
Jo and Don Spath
Ernie and Shirley Taliaferro
Dukie Wirth Tabor
Steve and Donna Thomson
Steve Thornberry
Carrie Wieder
1968 $3,886.03
Joseph and Brenda Goetz Bean
George and Judy Blandford
Russell B. Brooks
Jeff and Marcia Carpenter
Joe Carr
Dennis and Monica Connelly
Tom and Janice Jenkins Conrey
Don and Jeri Cundiff
Philip and Frankie Denton
Steve and Linda Dixon
Tom and Janet Ebelhar
Jim and Debbie Edelen
Mark and Rita Heinz
Shirley Barker Hughes
Don and Sandy Kelley
Mike and Donna Koger
Jim and Kathy Likens
Theresa Mercker
Mike and Karen Mischel
Hank O’Bryan
Ann Hufnagel Payne
Tom and Carol Payne
Rachel Grant Roth
Larry and Jean Sims
Bill and Marilyn Strong
Gary and Donna Thompson
Paul Warren
1969 $34,053.20
Greg and Deborah Clouse Arnold
Steve and Gloria Haynes Baker
Joseph T. and Jeanne Bouvier
Thomas E. Buford
Tom and Ann Castlen
Don and Charlotte Cecil
Karen Hardesty Cole
Jim Tony Fulkerson
Carl and Molly Greenwell
Marsha P. Hardesty
Mary Sheila Howard
Roger and Marian Jones
John and Martha McNulty Mancinelli
Jerry and Remonda Reed Maynard
Gary and Stephanie Millay
Michael and Elaine Mills
Donna Head Montgomery
Richard and Donna Murphy
Sam and Cindy Hall Murphy
Dr William and Sherry O’Bryan
Pat and Marilyn Mischel Pace
Steve and Donna Rivette
Terry and Mary Lee Posey Roark
Jr and Donna Stogsdill Roby
Beth Rone Royster
Deborah Hayden Sheperis
Robert E. Smith
Bruce and Lynn Snyder
Randahl and Millie Stephen
Genny Jones Stevens
Charlotte M. Stofer
Gene and Jane Strehl
Pat and Marnita Strehl
Bonnie Stuart
Margaret Stuart
Anne Lauzon Swinford
In Memory of Michael Murphy Taliaferro
In Memory of Angie Goetz Thompson
Dr Shelby and Mary Ann Thompson
Kelly and Becky Ward
1970 $3,922.86
Ronald and Kay Biscopink
Thomas A. and Janie Blair
Tom and Ann Castlen
Rose Castlen Garant
Bruce and Jane Early
Jeff and Margie Walker Ebelhar
Wayne and Laura Edge
Mike and Cynthia Fiorella
Rose Castlen and Mike Garant
Joe Hagan
Mike and Alice Franey Hays
Wally and Julie Klee Johnson
Dean and Tina Jones
Jim and Kathy Likens
Mike and Jan Martin
Gene and Mary Meyer
Marty and Becky Mitchell
David and Vickie Osborne
Phil and Natalie Roberts
Vickie Snyder
Stephen Weafer
1971 $8,920.00
Thomas and Patricia Rittmeyer Anderson
Hugh and Lisa Bittel
Donnie and Connie Clark
Dr and Mrs M Wayne and Annetta Ebelhar
Ron and Carol Ebelhar
Paulette Schrecker Eison
Pat and Lori Elder
Parvin and Anna Kay Ellis
Mike and Cynthia Fiorella
Van Franey
Bob and Debbie Fulkerson
Steve and Peggy Gardner
Donna M. Goetz
Gary and Nelda Grant
Joe and Ellen Haire
Martha Kurre House
Tony and Christa Hundley
Thomas and Ann Knox
Greg and Cynthia McCarty
John and Carolyn McCarty
Mark and Karen McCarty
Patrick Mulligan
Drs William E. and Marie Petrites
Murphy
Larry and Rosemary Sims O’Brien
Ken and Mary Jo Plas
Mary Bickwermert Salmon
Mike and Janice Scherm
Mark and Martha Sims
Tim and Rhonda Haynes Troutman
George and Joanie Wathen
Michael and Janet Wathen
William and Mary Lou Boarman Whitt
1972 $3,337.50
Mark and Mary Beth Barr
William and Martha Beyke
Judy Carrico Bielefeld - In Memory of Charles E. and Mary Virginia Carrico
Karen Cavin-Brown
Charles and Barbara Barr Daugherty
Jeff and Margie Walker Ebelhar
Mark Ebelhar - In Memory of Grace Medley Ebelhar
Vince and Teresa Sims Edwards
Thomas and Rosemary Young Foster
Rosemary Young Foster - In Memory of Thomas Foster
Michael L. Goetz
Eddie and Peggy Grant
Denny and Sarona Murphy Grant
Jerry Hardesty
Roger and Marian Jones
Mark and Mickey Keller
Allen and Gina King
Robert Dell Mattingly
David and Debbie McBride
Paul and Judith Clark Nevergoll
Steve and Beverly Payne
John and Mary Pickrell
Pat and Marnita Strehl
Gary and Donna Thompson
Steve and Donna Thomson
Jay and Andrea Wethington
1973 $5,130.55
Nelda Martin Best
Greg Blandford
John and Patty Bolger
Marty and Janice Bumm
Steve and Judy Blincoe Carrico
Karen Dueker
Robbie and Lana Englert
Bill Franey
Gary Gant
Trip and Carole Guthrie
Kathy M. Hardesty
James and Rebecca Hatfield
Sherri Smith Hayden
Steve Haynes
Bruce Hill
Dr John and Barbie Howard
David and Margie McNulty Jackson
Wally and Julie Klee Johnson
Bill and Theresa Jones
Stephen and Lucy Kaelin
Allen and Gina King
Joey and Marianne Knott
Larry and Patty Marr
Wayne and Doris Mattingly
Marty and Becky Mitchell
Steve and Cynthia Murphy
Gregory L. Riney
Harold and Suzanne Roberts
Annie Kate Roberts
Rebecca Swoyer
John G. Vessels
Wayne and Susan Zoglmann
1974 $12,020.55
Scott and Martha Beyke
Tony and Paula Pedley Bittel
Marty and Janice Bumm
Bob and Paulette Davis
Chris Dunn
Keith and Cathy Franey
Janice Danhauer Greene
Bill and Becky Hardy
Frank and Karen Hein
David and Karen Hayden Jarboe
Mary Helen Castlen Johnson
Bill and Linda Kerchusky
Charles Knott
Jeff and Janice McCarthy
David and Cheryl Mills
Sam and Cindy Hall Murphy
David A. Murphy
Aces and Uriah Heep Fan
Patty Mills Reynolds
Annette Thomas Roberts
Jane Roberts
George and Karen Schauman
Steve and Lisa Sims
Brenda Zoglmann Thomas
Richard and Connie Trogden
Delores Sims Turnage
Stephen and Nancy Velotta
Kennetha Waninger
Patrick H. Warren
Jerry and Alicia Simon Wells
Rob and Trish Whitaker
1975 $3,858.41
David and Ann Blanford
Dave and Jean Cantu
Alan J. Cecil
Joe and Vicky Connor
Sr Mary Jo Curtsinger, CSJ
In Memory of Matt Lawrence
Byron and Jan Durbin
Mike and Anne Marie Taylor Falk
Lee Franey
John and Karen Gildehaus
David and Ginny Hagan
Tony Hamilton
Bill and Becky Hardy
Phil and Cheri Hayden
Charlotte Kaelin Hedges
John Anthony Hein
Phil and Diane Higdon
Stephen and Diane Howard Hoffman
Martha Luckett
Laura Howard Mattingly
Greg and Cynthia McCarty
Sandy Merritt
Steve and Cathy Newby
Gary Newcom
Steve and Sherry Orth
Bill and Dottie Riney
Charles and Jill Rivette
George Schrecker
Mary Gasser Sullivan
Elaine Thomas
Wayne and Pauline Warren
Fr. David Wathen
George and Joanie Wathen
Dennis and Gayla Whitehouse
Anonymous
Bert Barker
Joey Barr
Jake and Diane Barr
Greg Barton
Hugh and Lisa Bittel
Donnie and Mary Ann Blanford
Denny and Jill Campbell
Danny and Gail Campbell
Thomas and Terri Carrico
Joe and Barbara Weafer Cecil
Dennis Cecil
Ruth Clark
Steve and Stacey Conkright
John and Helen Cornell
Kevin and Lisa Roby Edge
George Elder
Barbara Fischer
J. Carlin Gregory
Randall and Kim Hardesty
Scott and Tina Hardesty Hardy
Rich and Susanne Wright Harris
Pamela B. Hartz
George and Belinda Hayden
Thomas and Katherine Hayden
Phil and Diane Higdon
Stephen and Diane Howard Hoffman
Celeste Medley-Hood
Joseph E. Isbill
Dr Chris and Paula Kavolus
John Lattin
Wanda P. May
David and Renee Clark McNulty
Celeste Medley-Hood
Joe and Vicki Mills
Dr John and Cindy Mulligan
Jim and Laura O’Bryan
Carol Wirth Parker
Perry L. Payne
Tim and Becky Mayfield Pedley
Tony and Donna Powers
Chris and Janet Reid
David and Julie Payne Renshaw
Neil and Vicky Rudy
Perry and Debbie Stiff
Mike and Janice Sweeney
Chuck Thompson
John and Colleen Walker
Doug and Tammy Wathen
Tim and Donna Brown West
Rob and Trish Whitaker
Doug and Laurie Hayden Wood
1977 $2,939.51
Charles Berry
Tim and Debbie Blandford
Harvey and Cathy Clark Bowlds
Danny and Gail Campbell
Denny and Jill Campbell
Sandy Ebelhar Clark
Tony and Julie Ebelhar
Stephen and Donna Englert
Joe and Winnie Medley Foster
Les and Neva Hayden
Rick and Kimberly Coomes Hayden
Fr Tony Jones
Charles Killian
Jacinta Merimee
Paul and Colette Osborne
Steve and Beverly Payne
Tony and Lisa Raley
George and Pam Frey Randolph
Robert and Cynthia Roby
Steve and Lisa Sims
Vickie Hayden Sipes
Ron and Karen Bertke Thomas
Dr David Thompson and Dr Vicki Frey
Rick and Lizann Thompson
Dr Tom and Maryann Thompson
Michael Ward
Sharon Thomas Wathen
1978 $8,550.65
Tim and Lynette Bender
John T Chandler
Martin and Sandy Durbin
Pat and Lori Elder
Denny and Diane Fulkerson
Tom and Mary Kay Gardner
James and Sandy Guinn
Phil and Kim Haire
Phil and Cheri Hayden
Rick and Kimberly Coomes Hayden
John and Susan Jones
Kenneth and Mary Wathen Keller
Steven and Michelle McClellan
Lisa Pedley Millay
David and Diane Mountain
Jay and Claudia Schmidt Nolan
James and Stephanie Orton
George and Pam Frey Randolph
Dan and Kim Riney
In Honor of Don and Dee Riney
Warren and Ellen Roberts
Robert and Cynthia Roby
Scott and Mary Ann Rudy Shoopman
Ron and Karen Bertke Thomas
Myles and Ruth Ann Thomas
Mike and Sharon Weafer
Dwayne and Kathleen White
1979 $3,280.78
Anonymous
Kenneth and Wendi Bickett
Robert and Lori Bittel - In Memory of Jody Blanford
Tom and Diane Cecil Bowers
Jimmy and Charlotte Corley Dickens - In Honor of Russell Corley and In Memory of Virginia Corley
Bryan and Benita Drury - In Memory of Jody Blanford
PJ and Sarah Ebelhar - In Memory of Jody Blanford
Steve and Trisha Frey
Steve and Trisha Frey - In Memory of Jody Blanford
Dr David Thompson and Dr Vicki Frey
Andrew and Janet Goetz - In Memory of Jody Blanford
Helen Hagan
J Jolly and Mary Michael Hayden
Monica Hayden
William and Penny Higdon
Marty and Patty Kaelin-In Memory of Jody Blanford
Randall and Nancy Knott
Kevin and Mary Szemethy Lasley
Bob and Connie McCarthy
Scott and Leanne Ward Murphy
Gordon and Deborah Powers
Ken and Cheryl Rieves
Jeff and Shelly Riney
Jeff and Shelly Riney - In Memory of Jody Blanford
John and Janie Aud Riney
Dan and Kim Riney
Andy Roby
Randy and Robin Roby
In Memory of Mary Evelyn ”Cissy” Sullivan
Michael R. Thomas
Michael R. Thomas - In Memory of Jody Blanford
Patrick and Joan Thompson - In Memory of Jody Blanford
Kenneth B. Tinsley
Michael and Debby Ward - In Memory of Jody Blanford
1980 $2,875.75
Anonymous
Gary and Dolores Aull
William and Lynne Payne Bell
Martin L. Bickwermert
Tony and Paula Pedley Bittel
Gary and Mary Kay King Calery
Scott and Anne Coomes
Bernie and Lisa Dotsey
George and Sandy Fleming
Steve and Trisha Frey
Curtis and Cindy Thomas Hamilton
Russ and Vicki Hayden
Stephen Hein
Todd and Kathleen Connor Johnson
Tom and Sharon Johnson
Mary Jo Jones
Stephen and Lucy Kaelin
Chris and Susie Mattingly
Malcolm and Tammy Smith Neel
Robin and Cynthia Owens
Karen E. Pence
John and Janie Aud Riney
Ron and Kelly Stallings
Eddie and Peggy Wilson Tichenor
Mai Vu-Ha
Billy and Sara Smith Wilson
John and Kathy Wright
1981 $1,257.50
J Michael Boarman
Kevin R. and Deborah Corley Carrico
Stephen and Sharon Clark
Dennis and Peggy Corley
Carl and Tammy Glahn
Tim and Cathy Goetz
Curtis and Cindy Thomas Hamilton
Russ and Vicki Hayden
Todd and Kathleen Connor Johnson
Ben and Becky Bickett Marks
Scott and Leanne Ward Murphy
Phil and Natalie Roberts
Chris and Karen Thompson
Keith and Sharon Tipmore
1982
Chris and Karen Baer
$3,951.17
Joe and Tammy Calhoun
Ron and Cathy Frey-Ramsey
Jerry and Amy Glahn
Mary Gresham
Scott and Lori Hamilton
Garrick and Maria Hart
Richard and Kim Higdon
John and Rhnea Hill
Kevin Howard
Marty and Rita Jacobs
Bill and Debbie James
Tom and Sharon Johnson
Lisa Stallings Moseley
James and Stephanie Orton
Greg and Laurie Payne
David F. Powers
Alan and Monica Riney
Brian and Shannon Scheidegger
Stephens
Joe Szemethy
Thomas and Catherine Vessels
Mike and Sharon Weafer
Richard and Lori Whitehouse
1983
$2,278.21
John and Yvonne Barker
Greg and Betsy Bickett
Carl and Linda Boarman
Kevin R. and Deborah Corley Carrico
Vince and Reenee Fogle
Ricky and Carla Hagan
Steve and Kristie Hayden
Jeff and Stephanie Higdon
Texas Gas Matching Gift - Jeff and Stephanie Higdon
Richard and Kim Higdon
Scott and Cindy McCain
Michael and Tollie Medley
Rich and Andrea Mountain
Greg and Kim Mullican
In Memory of Angie Norcia
Ron and Kelly Stallings
Suzanne Thompson
Thomas and Catherine Vessels
1984 $1,724.50
Don and Jenny Bittel
Matching Gift - Don and Jenny Bittel
Ruth Drury Charles
Stephen and Sharon Clark
Barry and Stephanie Frey
Chris Graney
Jamie and Angie Klump
David Lewis
Bob and Connie McCarthy
Richard and Jenny Medley
Greg and Laurie Payne
Jill Steen
OC CONNECT 2024
Mike and Lisa Sullivan
Chip and Melanie Walsh
1985 $2,030.00
Anonymous
Brian and Dr Carol Collins-Carriveau
Stephanie Sims Doom
David and Janette Ford
Denny and Diane Fulkerson
Joe and Carol Gorley
James and Susan Coomes Howard
Shawn and Beth Hunter
Matching Gift - Shawn and Beth
Hunter
Robert Mayfield
Kevin and Shannon Robbins
Gene Schadler
Joe and Chris Schepers
Tony and Kim Thomas
Check and Jennifer Wilson
Tim and Debra Wright
1986 $2,101.84
Leonard and Joni Howard Barnett
Carl and Linda Boarman
Vince and Reenee Fogle
Jeff and Julie Garvin
Tim and Cathy Goetz
Ricky and Carla Hagan
Jody and Karen Head
Catherine Pedley
David and Trisha Phelps
Tony and Kim Thomas
Geary and Rhonda Thompson
Jeff and Molly Wolfe
1987 $3,003.26
Joseph B. and Beth Bissmeyer
Shannon Coomes
Scott and Lori Hamilton
Scott and Jennifer Higdon
Chris Kamuf
Keith and Sherry Krampe
Kevin and Debbie Kurz
Kathy Boarman Murphy
In Memory of Billy Murphy
Kathleen Overton
Stephen and Cynthia Riney
Jennifer Rumage
Valerie Thompson and Bill Thompson
Check and Jennifer Wilson
Tim and Debra Wright
1988 $7,658.99
Jeff and Rhonda Arnold
Joe Paul and Kim Bickett
Jennifer Roach Bishop
Nick and Candance Brake
Bart and Cheryl Bruner
John Buford
Bill and Vania Campbell
Barry and Stephanie Frey
Jane M. Fulkerson
Richard and Natalie Hayden
Jody and Karen Head
David and Sara Hemingway
Scott and Margaret Higdon
Capt (Ret) Tim and Lara Hill
Charlie and Allison Johnson
John and Michelle Lyon
Richard and Patty Missi
Tim and Bridgette Roberts Molnar
Laura Morgan
Bobby and Amy Payne
Charlie and Jennifer Payne
Jeff and Debbie Presser
David and Brenda Rasco
Jason Ray
Phil D. Riney
Dr Sean and Bree Simone
Barry and Laurna Strehl
Constance Norcia Wesnofske
Brian and Tina Wright
1989 $1,310.82
Christopher Allen
Ralph and Michele Blair
Mike and Tina Edge
Keith and Rachel Evans
Paul and Dana Hardesty
Charles and Kristie Laughley
John and Michelle Lyon
Vincent and Misti McCarty
Holly Payne McGuire
1990 $279.97
Brent and Shawnte’ Bacher
Matt and Ashley Frey
John and Julie Moore
Barry and Laurna Strehl
1991 $1,100.00
Colby and Heather Blair
Richard and Jennifer Hayden
Chip and Amy Pride
Rob Rector
Madison and Amy Strehl Silvert
1992 $1,425.00
Ralph and Michele Blair
Brad and Courtney Boehm
Gary and Christy Buford Browning
Matt and Brandi Hayden
Scott and Jennifer Higdon
Tim and Bridgette Roberts Molnar
Matt and Jenny Likens Richeson
Darren and Annie Riney
Michael and Christa Roberts
Cynthia Schadler
Kent and Juli Wurth Stewart
1993-1994 $1,120.52
Clint Burcham
Drs Matheis and Amy Carrico
Keith and Rachel Evans
Jeremy Eades
Matt and Ashley Frey
Matt and Brandi Hayden
Matt and Christy Hayden
Chris and Mara Mischel
Kurt and Stephanie Tucker Oller
Darren and Annie Riney
Kara Taliaferro and Troy Schwartz
Matthew and Rachel Taliaferro
1995 $4,865.17
Murray and Tricia Adams
Kevin and Nancy Bach
Jonathan Constant
Brian and Laura Grant
Jeremy and Renee Guinn
Dr John and Julie Hammen
Johnny and Sarah Henderson - In Memory of Philip Mullen
Thomas and Beth Hutchison
Matthew and Heather Naas
Todd and Casey Ray
Jeremy and Karissa Riter
William and Jamie Stogsdill Saxton
Marty and Amber Sims
Sean and Rachel Taylor
Sean and Amanda Terrell
Texas Gas Matching Gift - J.
Michael and Shanon Thomson
Michael and Shanon Thomson
Scott and Melanie Wallace
1996 $1,419.96
Dr Aaron and Jill Clark
Robynn J. Clark
Jared and Destiny Daugherty
Ryan and Lauren Grant
Tommy and Christie Hayden
Ben and Sara Murphy
1997 $3,845.15
Aaron and Margie Benton
Dr Aaron and Jill Clark
Paul David and Kristin Hayden
Sarah Howard
Thomas and Beth Hutchison
Camron and Nikki Knott
Jared and Jaime Martin
Ben and Sara Murphy
Ty and Lindsey Petway
Ryan and Katie Taliaferro
1998 $1,540.00
William and Holly Bodne
B. J. and Haley Buford
Steve and Tammy Gardner
Andy and Laura Hennessey
Adam S. Johnston
Nathan and Erica Millay
Jason and Jennie Parker
George and Amanda Hayden Powell
Adam and Courtney McNulty
Shewmaker
Kent and Katie Staples Short
1999 $725.00
Seth and Brandi Baker
Jesse and Leigh Buford
Scott Grant
Paul David and Kristin Hayden
Jacob and Bridget Reid
Allison Taliaferro Cecil
Matthew C. and Holly R. Tierney
Will and Mary Katherine Wathen
2000 $461.96
Ryan and Beth Coyne
Bo and Jodi Ivey
Stacey Coomes Kosters
Jarrod and Sarah Lilly Malone
Nathan and Beth McNulty
Mike and Mary O’Herron
Lance and Sarah Osborne
2001 $336.58
Sarah Allen
Dustin and Kendra Brooks
Laura Ruth Edge
Helen Ann Hays
Eric Lyninger
2002 $633.53
Chris and Jenny Burns
Dan and Keri Duncan
David and Lisa Jarboe Higdon
Laura Rudy Lashbrook
Nick and Stephanie Orth
Lance and Sarah Osborne
Jonathon and Lauren Reid Patton
Dustin Warren
2003 $685.00
Travis and Laurie Castlen
David and Ginny Coomes
Dr Aaron and Melissa Flaherty
Ashley Hancock
Bo and Jodi Ivey
Mike and Tressie Lilly Mallory
Aaron and Leslie McNulty
Patrick and Jennifer Stiff
Craig and Sarah Jarboe Thomas
2004 $1,555.00
Ben and Kathleen Norcia Arnold
Derek and Rachel Blair
Dr Aaron and Melissa Flaherty
Michael and Christie Wall Hagan
Dustin and Katie Jones
Jesse Martin
Lee and Jessica Martin
Sarah Clark Thomas
Craig and Sarah Jarboe Thomas
Matthew J. Thompson
Matthew and Holly Tierney
2005 $141.71
Cody and Chanda Bender
Dirk Dooper
Dustin and Katie Jones
Matt and Michelle Valego
Elizabeth Wathen
2006 $1,946.02
Cody and Chanda Bender
Jonathan and Amy Brand
In Honor of Danielle Hayden Grae
Lloyd and Katie Wright Harris
Jay and Anna Ivey - 2006 Challenge
Bryan and Laura Klump
Kirk McCarty
Ryan and Veronica McCauley
Mark and Erin Ebelhar
Jordan and Amanda Taliaferro
Chad and Lorna Thompson
Ryan and Kristen Bumm
Sarah Ebelhar
Ashley Barna Garrett
Ben and Jasey Hartz
Chris and Lyndsey Hein
Jimmy and Melissa Hurley Lanford
Josh Goetz
OC CONNECT 2024
Matching Gift - Josh Goetz
In Memory of Katlyn Taliaferro
Kristen Wathen 2011-2015
Darcy James
Nick Krampe
Matt and Kaylee Kuhlman
Sam and Kate Lilly
Andrea McBride
Dillin and Meagan Millay Melton
Dylan Payne
Luke Riney
Drs Sam and Whitney Thompson
Alyssa Beyke
Nolan and Clare Clark
In Memory of Emily Foreman
Weston Jacob
Wes James
Will and Lauren Eyre James
Noah Todd
Mallary Bailey
Ethan Daugherty
Katie Evans
Meredith Fischer
Luke Frey
Daniela Guido
Spencer Harris
Elizabeth Hayden
Jody Hopgood
Conleigh Osborne
Isabelle Reisz
Todd Riter
Ava Roberts
Spencer Roberts
Emily Smith
Lindsey Warren
Ginny Young
Anonymous
Gary and Beth Abshier
Kirsten Ahnell and W. L. Magnuson
Wayne Allen
Joann Anderson
Mark and Monica Augustine
Mike and Cindy Aull
DCN Bill and Joy Bach
Ralph and Marcia Baker
Brett and Katie Ballard
Charlene Baumgarten
Jeanne Beaudette
June Bell
Ralph and Rose Ann Bemboom
Dr Garry and Marcia Binegar
Doris Blandford
William P. Hayden Jr
Bill Boehm
Donna Boldrick
Fr J. Edward Bradley
Bob and Penny Brauer
Dr Carol Braun
Charles Brown
Howard and Louise Brown
John and Germaine Broxon
Tom Calhoun
Mrs. Gayle Howard Carrico
Pat and Carolyn Cason
Ed and Gloria Cecil
Rose Cecil
Tom Cecil
Phil and Betty Cissell
Walter and Gail Clancy
John and Patsy Clayton
Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corp
Gerald and Judy Coomes
Russell Corley
In Honor of Russell Corley and In Memory of Virginia Corley
Jerry and Erica Crabtree
William and Monique Craig
Scott and Ginny Danner
Dr Joe and Tracey Danzer
Jerry Ray Davis
Sieband and Wanda Dooper
Frances R. Drury
Richard and Maureen Duvall
EMK Charitable Trust
Larry and Colleen Edmiston
Envision Contractors LLC
Dennis and Barb Evans
Allan and Trish Eyre
Todd and Taunya Eyre
Linda Fentress
Billy and Patricia Folk
Neel and Sarah Ford
Scott and Teresa Gardner
Chris and Jenny Glaser
Joyce C. Greenwell
Roger and Jeanie Grimsley
Michael Gross
Richard and Joyce Gruenewald
Gulfstream Commercial Services
Hagan’s Saw Shop
Frank and Connie Hagan
Branden and Rebecca Haines
Joe and Marie Hancock
Marge Harper
Eddie and May Haynes
Josh and Emily Heistand
Rose Hodgkins
Dr Jeff and Lynn Hofer
The Michael E Horn Family Foundation
Dr Carroll and Margie Howard
Mel and Bev Howard
Richard A. Howard
Jeff and Pat Huebel
Dr Phil and Mary Beth Hurley
Independence Foundation Inc
Bobby and Peggy Jackson
Gary and Karen Jarboe
Robert and Vicki Johnson-Poynter
Mike and Debbie Jones
Joy Keller
Donna Kessler
Drew and Morgan Kirkland
David and Helen Kirkman
Teresa Korn
Karl and Carol Koster
Kurtz Auction and Realty
John and Chrissy Kurtz
William B. Kurtz
Bonnie Boarman Lanham
George and WaNell Lanham
Rick Lebecka
Tom and LaNell Lilly
Chris and Jane Lovekamp
Fr John Paul Mang
Mabel Martin
Paul J Martin Enterprise, LLC
Jerry and Ginger McBride
Peggy McCarthy
Doris McCrary
David L. McJoynt
Dr Fred and Helen Meister
Altaf and Ashley Merchant
Charles T. Merimee
Tom and Ann Meyer
Mick-Murf Construction, Inc
Charlotte Mischel
Rob and April Mitchell
Norma Moss
Millie Mullican
Kenneth Murphy
Mike and Mickeye Murphy
In Memory of Ed Jackson and Pat Mountain
Joe and Maggie O’Bryan
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
Owensboro Grain - A Cargill Company
Dr Patrick and Suzanne Padgett
Jane Pfeifer
Davon Pinkston
Bob and Lynne Pope
Dorothy Powers
Murray and Sara Pride
Ed and Dr Amy Ray
Byron and Lucy Rhoades
Fr Jerry Riney
W. Bruce Riney
Gary and Bonnie Roberts
Gary and Patricia Satterwhite
Frank Scalcucci
Les and Helen Schaick
Dr and Mrs John C. Schertzinger
Gates and Angela Settle
Fr Anthony Shonis
Harold and Rhonda Staples
Mark and Kathy Sterling
John W. Stevenson
Pamelia Storms Barrett
Robin Swift
Carolyn Taylor
Fr John Thomas
In Memory of Ken Thomas
Mike and Karen Thompson
Travis Thompson - In Memory of Elizabeth Anne Thompson
Frances K. Tichenor
Richard and Jeanette Turner
Gary and Linda Wahl
Minda Ward
James and Elizabeth Warnock
Bill and Brenda Wathen
Ethel Watrous
Otis Webb
Dr Justin and Madison Wedding
Micky and Barbara Wells
Carl and Mary Jo Westerfield
John and Dee Dee Wethington
Tyrrell Whitaker
Thomas Whitsett
Ken and Sarah Emberger Wilhelm
Lorinda Wilson
Allen Wood
Michael and Suzanne Wurth
OC CONNECT 2025
Calling Starts March 2025
We are excited for another year of connecting with our friends and alumni of OC to see what we can accomplish in 2025. Visit the OC Connect page on our website to view the latest updates about the 2025 campaign. When you give your gift electronically on that same page you will be able to leave a message about why you give to OC, maybe leave a favorite memory or make a tribute to a favorite teacher. Leaderboards of the classes will also be displayed. This is just another way we hope to connect with you this year!
Help put your class on top!
Whose class will it be in 2025?
Will you be donating during the OC Connect 2025 to help your class? The Top Ten giving classes in 2025 will have their class year posted on our new Giving Classes Wall of Fame.
Save us a call by using the envelope in this magazine and making your donation today. The Phonathon proof list will publish in November this year.
Join us for one of our calling nights and leave with new Aces gear! Calling nights begin March 4 and will run every TuesdayThursday through March 25.
Use your phone’s camera to scan this code, which will allow you to sign up to volunteer online via our SignUp Genius.
Special Projects
$1,000,951.09
OCHS would like to give a huge THANK YOU to all our donors who so generously gave to all the special projects this year. With the generosity of all the donors, we raised $1,000,951.09. We are so overwhelmed with the abundance of gifts we received this year and listed them below to let you know what we’ve been working towards this year! If you have any questions regarding these projects or would like to contribute to any of them, please contact Natalie Hayden at natalie.hayden@owensborocatholic.org.
l Archery
l Athletic Endowment
l Band
l Baseball
l Boys Basketball
l Biology Lab
l Boys Soccer
l Capital Improvement
l Chapel
Chapel $729,332.00
Gary and Beth Abshier
Murray and Tricia Ward Adams
Anonymous
Ben and Kathleen Norcia Arnold - In Memory of Chelsey Mudd
DCN Bill and Joy Bach
Seth and Brandi Baker
Brett and Katie Ballard
Bert Barker
Greg Barton
June Bell
Nelda Best - In Memory of Ray Best
Alyssa Beyke
Hugh and Lisa Bittel
Rick and Lisa Bivins
Derrick and Rachel Blair - In Memory of Chelsey Mudd, David Jarboe Jr, Bruce Embry
David and Ann Blanford - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Donnie and Mary Ann Blanford
Carl and Linda Boarman
William and Holly Bodne
Nicholas and Candance Brake - In Memory of Jean Cambron and In Honor of Steve Rocco and Sr Barbara Jean Head
Charles Brown
John and Germaine Broxon
Bart and Cheryl Bruner
Bill and Sally Buford - In Honor of John, BJ, Jesse Buford, and Christy Buford Browning
Marty and Janice Bumm
Marty and Janice Bumm - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Rick and Betty Burcham - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Steve and Judy Carrico
Drs Matheis and Amy Carrico
Pat and Carolyn Cason
Travis and Laurie Castlen - In Memory of Cheer
l Chapel Furnishings
l Cheerleading
l Community Partners
l Cross Country
l FFA
l Faith Formation
l Football
l Girls Soccer
l Health
Coach Vickie Buford
Nolan and Clare Clark
Stephen and Sharon Clark
Class of 1982
Ryan and Beth Jarboe Coyne
Scott and Ginny Danner
Joe and Tracey Danzer
JerryRay Davis
Diocese of Owensboro
Linda M. Dixon
Mike and Linda Drury
Richard and Maureen Duvall - In Memory of John and Josephine Sartor
Mike and Tina Edge
Elder Pipe and Supply Co., Inc. - Pat and Lori Elder
Gary and Beverly Estes
Jonathan and Renea Estes
Keith and Rachel Evans
Todd and Taunya Eyre
Linda Fentress
Neel and Sarah Ford
Bill Franey
Keith and Cathy Franey
Lee Franey
Van Franey
Ron and Cathy Frey Ramsey
Margaret Grant Frey
Vince and Joan Frey
Jim Tony Fulkerson
Steve and Peggy Gardner
Matt and Ashley Barna Garrett
Jeff and Julie Garvin
David and Cathy Graham - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Mike and Mary Pat Gray - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Richard and Joyce Gruenewald
Trip and Carole Guthrie
Frank and Connie Hagan
Branden and Rebecca Haines
l Media Center
l Other
l Project Graduation
l Softball
l STEM
l Theatre Dept
l Training Facility
l Tuition Assistance
l Wrestling
State Farm Matching Gift-Branden and Rebecca Haines
Andrew Hamilton
Dr John and Julie Hammen
Ashley Hancock
Joe and Marie Hancock
Paul and Dan Froehlich Hardesty
Bill and Becky Hardy
Garrick and Maria Hart
Hartz Contracting - In Memory of Frank Hartz
Michael and Maria Smith Hatz - In Memory of Helen Rose Krampe Smith
David and Paula Hayden
Joseph Cooper Hayden
PJ and Sarah Hayden - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Paul David and Kristen Hayden
Matching Gift - Paul David and Kristen Hayden
Phil and Cheri Hayden
Richard and Natalie Hayden
Richard and Jennifer Hayden
Russ and Vicki Hayden
Mike and Alice Franey Hays
Jody and Karen Head
Steve Hein - In Memory of Julie A. Hein
David and Sara Hemingway - In Honor of Ed and Gloria Cecil
Andy and Laura Hennessey
David and Lisa Jarboe Higdon - In Memory of David Jarboe Jr
Jeff and Lynn Hofer
Michael E. Horn Family Foundation Inc.
Terry and Staci Horn
Bob Hoskins
Dr Carroll Howard - In Memory of Margie Hayden
Howard
Dr John and Barbie Howard - In Memory of Mary Berry Wilkins, Annette Berry
Dr John and Barbie Howard - In Memory of Margie Hayden Howard
Sarah Howard - In Memory of David Jarboe Jr, Chelsey Mudd
Dr Phil and Mary Beth Hurley
Jay and Anna Ivey - In Memory of David Jarboe Jr
Matching Gift-Jay and Anna Ivey
Bill and Debbie James
David and Karen Hayden Jarboe - In Memory of David Jarboe Jr
Tom and Sharon Johnson - In Memory of Margie Hayden Howard
Dustin and Katie Jones - In Memory of Chelsey Mudd
David and Helen Kirkman
Sharon Knox-Tucker - In Memory of Barbara Reisz Brown
Sharon Knox-Tucker - In Honor of Mary Alice Wethington
Sharon Knox-Tucker - In Honor of Judy Denton
Sharon Knox-Tucker - In Honor of Tom and Ann Knox
Mike and Donna Koger
Matt and Kaylee Kuhlman - In Memory of Tom and Sara Kamuf
Kurtz Auction and Realty
Tom and LaNell Lilly
Martha Luckett -In Memory of Margie Hayden Howard
Bruce and Sally Martin - In Memory of Margie Hayden Howard
Jesse Martin - In Memory of Chelsey Mudd
Mike and Jan Martin
Geri Hart Martinez
Al and Judith Mattingly -
Chris and Susie Mattingly - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Robert Mayfield
Andrea McBride
Jerry and Ginger McBride
Scott and Cindy McCain - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Greg and Cynthia McCarty
John and Carolyn McCarty
Dr Fred and Helen Meister
Altaf Merchant
Mick-Murf Construction Inc
Joann Schartung Millay
Joe and Vicki Mills - In Memory of Margie Hayden Howard
Greg and Kimberly Mullican
John and Cynthia Mulligan
Mike and Mickeye Murphy
Mike and Mary Wathen O'Herron
Lance and Sarah Osborne
Tommy and Debbie Osborne
Pat and Marilyn Pace
Dr and Mrs Pat and Suzanne Padgett
Steve and Beverly Payne
Randy and Carolyn Porter
In Memory of Georgia Claire Powell
Tony and Donna Powers
Chip and Amy Pride
Murray and Sara Pride
Ed and Amy Ray
Don and Dee Riney & Family
Terry and Mary Lee Posey Roark
Melisa Saalwaechter - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Dr Sean and Bree Simone
Carol Thornberry Sims
Mark and Martha Sims
Robert W. Slack
Rick and Diana Snyder - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Mark and Kathy Sterling
Kent and Julianna Stewart
Perry and Deborah Stiff
Pamela Storms Barrett
Gene and Jane Strehl
Mike and Lisa Sullivan
Todd and Cathy Switzer - In Memory of Margie
Hayden Howard
Ernie and Shirley Taliaferro
Ernie and Shirley Taliaferro - In Memory of Mary Katlyn Taliaferro
Ernie and Shirley Taliaferro - In Memory of
Michael Murphy Taliaferro
Craig and Sarah Jarboe Thomas
Elaine Thomas - In Memory of Margie Hayden
Howard
Elaine Thomas, Annette Thomas Roberts, Sharon Thomas Wathen, Myles and Ruth Ann Thomas, Greg and Leah Thomas McCarty - In Memory of Ken and Rita Thomas
Ronnie and Karen Thomas
Sarah Clark Thomas - In Memory of Chelsey Mudd
Dr Ben and Brittany Thompson
Chad and Lorna Thompson
Mike and Karen Thompson
Drs Sam and Whitney Thompson
Dr and Mrs Shelby and Mary Ann Thompson
Dr Tom and Maryann Thompson
Travis Thompson - In Memory of Elizabeth Anne Thompson
Valerie Thompson and Bill Thompson - In Memory of Margie Hayden Howard
Dr Marty and Laryssa Traylor
Gary and Nadine Trogden
Matthew and Michelle Valego
Buzz and Patsy Van Meter
Buzz and Patsy Van Meter - In Memory of Charlie Kamuf
George and Joanie Wathen
George and Joanie Wathen - In Memory of
Margie Hayden Howard
Will and Mary Katherine Wathen
Southern Star Matching Gift - Will and Mary Katherine Wathen
Dr Justin and Madison Wedding
Carl and Mary Jo Westerfield
Mary Alice Wethington - In Honor of Sharon Knox-Tucker
Ken and Sarah Wilhelm
Lorinda Wilson
Rita H. Wink
Brian and Tina Wright
Tim and Debra Wright
Michael and Suzanne Wurth
Other Special Gifts
Adam Allen
American Jr Golf Foundation
Ameriprise
Anonymous
Julia Arnold
Atmos
$278,619.09
In Memory of Louise Dominick Hazel Belli
Tony and Paula Pedley Bittel
Colby and Heather Blair
The Bodne Group Corporation
In Memory of Thomas Boldrick, Jr
James and Andrea Brockman
Cargill, Inc
Drs Matheis and Amy Carrico
John and Terrri Congleton
Jerry and Erica Crabtree
Sue and Savannah Crabtree - In Memory of Chad Crabtree
Daviess Co Farm Bureau Inc
Domtar Paper Co
In Memory of Grace Medley Ebelhar
Keith and Rachel Evans
Steve and Trisha Frey
Steve and Peggy Gardner
Jeff and Julie Garvin
Glenn Funeral Home
Scott Grant
Kathy Gray
Hagan's Saw Shop
Harold's Economy Dry Cleaners
Drew and Lisa Hawley
The Hayden Agency
Josh and Emily Heistand
Hide + Timber Designs, LLC
Michael E. Horn Family Foundation
Mel and Bev Howard
Tony and Christa Hundley
Immaculate Men's Club
Independence Foundation
Baird Matching Gift - Bo and Jodi Ivey
Bo and Jodi Ivey
James H Davis Funeral Home
Pete and Patty Johnson
Robert and Vicki Johnson Poynter
Charlie and Linda Kamuf
Drew and Morgan Kirkland
Karl and Carol Koster
Jennifer Krampe-Self
In Memory of Matt Lawrence
Larry and Gene Lyon - In Memory of Danny Lyon
John and Michelle Lyon
M&M Enterprises
Martin Custom Building, Inc.
Paul and Benita Martin
Steven and Vivian McClellan
Charlotte Mischel
John and Julie Moore
Ben and Sara Murphy
William R. Murphy
Corky and Elaine Norcia - In Memory of Angie Norcia
William and Sherry O'Bryan
Owensboro Health
Pat and Marilyn Pace
Charlie and Jennifer Payne
Owensboro Daviess Co Agents-River City Ins
Matching Gift - Kevin and Shannon Robbins
Kevin and Shannon Robbins
Chivonne Rutman
Marty and Amber Sims
Dr Andrew and Missy Thompson
Constance Norcia Wesnofske - In Memory of Angie Norcia
Thank you to all who contributed in memory of the following loved ones: Lisa Dominique Hazel Belli, Jody Blanford ’79, Fr. Ed Bradley, Anna Claire Clark, Eugene Clemens, Ashly Crisp ’02, Margie Elder, Danielle Hayden Grae ’06, Barbara Hagman ’53, Margie Hayden Howard ’51, Charlie Kamuf ’57, Danny Lyon, Paul Payne, Betty Pedley, Hayden Thompson ’13, Timothy Sims ’61 and Vickie Franey Sims ’65.
AcesREMEMBERING OUR LITTLEST
After our story on memorials in the last issue of The Green and White, several families and classmates expressed interest in our memorial funds and adding their loved ones and classmates to the Tree of Life. Two Owensboro Catholic graduates who are married suggested another special way to remember loved ones. Here is Zack and Courtney Clark’s story.
By Courtney Clark
My husband Zack and I started dating during our junior year at OCHS. We graduated in 2006 and married in 2013. Unfortunately, when it came time to start our family we learned that God’s plan is not always the same as our own.
We had four miscarriages before finally giving birth to our oldest son in 2018. God blessed us with two more boys over the next three years and we were excited to find out baby #4 was on the way. The pregnancy seemed to be going well. However, when I went in for my routine 16 week appointment, we unexpectedly learned our baby had no heartbeat. We were completely blindsided and devastated. I was induced on March 11, 2023 and gave birth to Anna Claire Clark.
Anna was a tiny, perfect little person with the tiniest little fingernails, facial features, etc. I originally planned to keep our story private but after seeing her, holding her
and loving her so deeply, I wanted the world to know Anna existed. She was indeed a little human being who deserved acknowledgment and respect.
I made a post on social media with a picture of Anna’s hand on my finger. I was surprised by the amount of people who reached out to tell me their stories. I found that miscarriage affects so many people but few people feel comfortable sharing their babies, especially those suffering from early first trimester losses. Our first four losses were in the first trimester. The babies were too little to deliver and hold. I knew in my heart that they were our children but holding Anna helped me to really, truly feel that.
Each miscarried baby is a loss, whether it’s at 5 weeks or 35 weeks. Women tend to downplay their early losses when talking to me. Some have even apologized for comparing their early losses to Anna. “I know it was early but it was a baby to me” is a common phrase I hear. I tell them that their babies were just as human as Anna. It was a baby to them because he/she was indeed a baby.
We wanted to start a memorial fund in Anna’s name to give other parents the opportunity to have their babies recognized. I hope this is an opportunity for parents to honor their babies in a meaningful way, no matter the baby’s age or how long ago they passed away. Some mothers have told me they still cry over the baby they lost 20+ years ago.
If Anna had been born around her due date, she would have been in the OCHS class of 2042. I’ll always hold a special place in my heart for that class. Anna was and will always be part of the Aces family. I hope this gives all parents the opportunity to remember their littlest Aces.
A new plaque will be placed next to The Tree of Life and will hold a special place to remember babies lost to miscarriage. Parents who have lost a baby can remember their child with a contribution. Names will be placed on a plaque next to the Tree of Life in the high school office.
A special school mass for the Unborn will be said in October, Pro-Life month. More information to come at a later date.
Zack and Courtney with their sons, Isaac, Luke, and Daniel
REMEMBERING
It is with great sadness that we share the loss of two of our school’s greatest supporters, Charlie Kamuf ’57 and Fr. Ed Bradley. Their contributions and unwavering dedication have left an indelible mark on our community, and their absence will be deeply felt by all.
Two Greats
Charlie, a 1957 graduate, was a long-time supporter of the Catholic School system with his children, and now grandchildren benefitting from a Catholic School education. Charlie was also a generous benefactor of the school with his most recent contribution being the expansion of the Owensboro Catholic High School parking lot.
After Fr. Bradley’s ordination to the priesthood in 1975, he was assigned to Owensboro Catholic High School for 10 years as the Dean of Students and then as Principal. During this time, he also served as the Diocesan Vocations Director. Upon his retirement, he returned as campus Chaplain for the school.
To read more about the legacies of Charlie Kamuf and Fr. Ed Bradley on our website, please scan this code.
The Impact of Two Greats
By Tom Lilly, Chancellor of the Diocese of Owensboro
Words can’t do justice to describe the impact Charlie Kamuf and Father Ed Bradley had on the Owensboro Catholic School System and to the communities where they lived and served. Two very different influencers with very different journeys, but they both shared a great love for the underdog and they both believed in the power of Catholic education.
We mourn the loss of two men who served distinctly differently, but who very ironically passed away within hours of each other on the feast of St. Andrew, November 30th. Their funeral Masses were held at St. Stephen Cathedral just hours apart on December 4th. Much has been written about their legacy. But the real legacy of any person is how they individually touch the lives of people encountered through a life’s journey.
I met Charlie in the summer of 1987 when he served on a committee at Owensboro Catholic High School. Their mission was to start a “Development/Advancement” office for the high school.
Charlie placed the employment ads in the Owensboro and Evansville newspapers and did some of the preliminary employee screenings. He also negotiated the first Advancement agreement. Charlie and his wife, Linda, threw a reception for my family welcoming us into the community, and they were one of the first gifts to the very first annual appeal. He never lost his passion or spirit of generosity to Catholic High. He couldn’t stand the sight of students crossing Parrish Avenue each morning. Traffic in the morning continued to grow and he considered it dangerous. So, he provided a solution. It was one of many solutions he provided for the school over the years.
Charlie never stopped wanting to grow and learn and try new things. He picked up golf late but was great fun to play with. He always appreciated a good shot, though it was rarely his own! He asked questions and cared about answers. And behind all those stories was a deep faith, a love for his family and roots he never forgot. I already miss those visits to local cafes each month where somebody called out his name the minute we entered. I also miss those text messages during the Green Bay Packer
Fr. Ed Bradley 1943-2024
Charlie Kamuf ’57 1939-2024
games. There are some voids too big to fill in life. You just hold onto good memories. My prayers are still with his family and his many other friendships who still mourn.
IN MEMORY
I met Fr. Bradley around the same year as Charlie, only this was on a three-day Catholic youth retreat. His days were always packed with appointments, projects and visits. The lives touched by his kindness and goodness go on and on. At a time when Owensboro Catholic Schools were experiencing decline in the late 80’s, he helped forge a new dynamic system that required parishes to work together to support “Catholic” schools, and not just parish schools. Today, there is a reason why the OCS system is one of the largest per capita private school systems in the entire nation. Statistics don’t lie. It took a strong pastoral leader to wade through the significant controversy and animosity that occurred during the consolidation process. But Fr. Bradley knew that united we would come out stronger than if we were divided. That legacy is still alive and thriving today, as are his works with the homeless. Fr. Bradley was also a very generous financial contributor to both.
There were some who didn’t know him that believed Fr. Bradley could be elitist or more interested in running with the famous and important. My Kentucky Wildcat loving uncle who volunteered at the Henderson hospital was a skeptic at first. So, he caught Father Bradley walking (probably walking VERY fast) through the lobby of the hospital one afternoon and asked for an autographed Louisville basketball calendar. When my uncle told me the story, he doubted the two would ever talk again. A couple of weeks later Fr. Bradley walked in the volunteer office asking who wanted the Pitino autograph! And then he remembered to do it every single year afterwards. Fr. Bradley probably never knew my uncle’s name, and he didn’t know his relationship to me. And I never told him the story. But my uncle became a believer by this generous act of kindness to a stranger who simply delivered hospital mail every day.
There are thousands of stories and wonderful memories. They left indelible marks on our school system and on our lives. Their personal generosity will continue to serve us for a long time. But more importantly, how they could make you feel with their acceptance, kindness, humor and hospitality is what scripture teaches us reflect the real marks of faith. And that’s what we should all aspire to. ♠
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Remembering Charlie Kamuf
By Gates Settle, Former OCHS Principal
Having been very involved with OCHS the last fifteen years, twelve of them as Principal, I have had the privilege of meeting and getting to know some of the most passionate and generous supporters of Catholic High. However, one who stands out that I really got to know well through the years is Charlie Kamuf.
I have known Charlie for almost 30 years since his grandson and my son were friends at a very early age, but our friendship began developing when I became the Principal in the fall of 2011. As anyone who ever knew Charlie knows, he loved to talk and tell stories, but he also listened very intently to try to get to know more about anyone he met. Everyone seems to have a “Charlie story” they love to tell that usually elicits a laugh. Since Charlie’s passing, many of those stories have been told and retold, but this may be one that Charlie may not have shared with many people. Charlie loved ALL things Catholic High and it was never surprising to see him at any school event dressed in his pastels. One of those events he mentioned often that really stood out to him, was Grandparents Mass, which leads to a favorite story of mine.
At some point in my early days as Principal, my secretary called and said Mr. Kamuf was in the office and asked if I could see him. When he came back and sat down, he was as he always was - very jovial and talking about many
Gates Settle and Tim Riley, Dean of Students, joins Charlie Kamuf to observe the start of the parking lot project.
IN MEMORY
different things and telling stories, but at one point, as if to catch himself, he stopped and started asking about me and my family and was genuinely interested in hearing what I had to say. We talked for quite awhile about a plethora of things and he had a lot of ideas and suggestions about what he could do to help Catholic High. He never asked for anything, was never pushy or aggressive, nor did he expect anything in return. It was just Charlie wanting to help and it was easy to see how much he cared about the school's future and he wanted to provide support anyway he could. I can’t remember a lot of specifics about what was discussed that day, but I remember so clearly what he said before he left that has continued with me to this day. When he stood up to leave, he bent down, as if to get closer for emphasis and said, “Now listen to me: One of the best things my parents did for me was send me to Catholic High. One of the best things I did for my kids was send them to Catholic High and one of the best things my kids did for my grandkids was send them to Catholic High. You understand what I am saying?” I understood perfectly the seriousness of his words.
I could hear in his voice the passion, gratefulness, appreciation and pride for this school and how important it was for him to make sure I understood what OCHS meant, not only to him, but to so many others who felt like he did. I also think he wanted to make sure he got his point across to the new principal, which he certainly did!
Charlie also LOVED Grandparents Mass. I knew from Charlie and others, it was a big event. So when that first one that I would be involved with was approaching, I knew I wanted to say something about how special I had heard it was and wanted to try to say something to those Grandparents in attendance that could be meaningful about this day for them. It was if Charlie’s three sentences popped right into my thoughts, so beginning that year, I started using those three sentences with one small addition. When I welcomed everyone to Grandparents Mass that year, I said, “A very smart man who I respect greatly and whose appreciation and passion for Catholic High was unwavering, told me that the best thing his parents did for him was send him to Catholic High. And, one of the best things he did for his kids was send them to Catholic High, and the best thing his kids did for his grandkids was send them to Catholic High.” After I repeated his words, I never mentioned who the person was that told me this. But when I looked into the audience and saw Charlie close to the front row, where his wife Linda would always save seats, he and I just happened to make eye contact. When we did, he pointed very discreetly and would shake his head as if to say, “Yep, that’s right!”
Through my years as Principal and until my retirement, I continued with that statement each year, never using Charlie’s name. As much as he liked to talk and tell stories, he was a humble man and I don’t think he really would have wanted that kind of recognition
in front of so many in that setting. However, it meant something to him for people to hear what he had told me my first days as Principal and I think he enjoyed me sharing his words with those in attendance and it was my way of letting him know, I understood perfectly what he had told me my first year as principal. Charlie often mentioned the Grandparents Mass and talked about how fortunate he was to have been able to attend with his grandkids all the way through their high school years. He was so proud of them and he always looked forward to that day.
One week before Charlie passed away, we had lunch, drove around the country side and he talked about things he wanted to get done at OCHS before his time on earth was finished. He was in a great mood and I listened to stories and many of his Charlieisms. He mentioned several times how he was still trying to get to heaven and he needed and wanted to do more. He would always bring up something about Linda and how wonderful she was to put up with him and he never failed to brag on his kids and grandkids. But at some point, he would always ask lots of questions about my family, especially my oldest son with whom he shared “lawyering” advice.
As our visit came to a close and I dropped him off at his office, we shook hands, he got out of the car and looked back in and said, “I’ll see you soon and we’ll talk a lot more.”
It never crossed my mind it would be the last time I would speak with Charlie since he was as he always was - full of life, cheerful, talkative, positive, and talking about the future. I am now so thankful I was able be around him that one last time. I have thought about him a lot since his passing and as sad as it is to lose him, something always comes to mind to bring about a smile. He touched many lives in many ways and his examples of love, dedication, and commitment to faith, family, friends and Catholic High is quite a legacy. After much reminiscing about our conversations over lunches and drives, I know that I, along with many others, am so much better for knowing and having Charlie Kamuf in my life and I am thankful to have been his friend. ♠
Charlie at Grandparents Mass
An Inspirational Great
“Here’s the deal…” is how Rod Kuegel started his eulogy on Charlie Kamuf. Charlie was always interested in what book you were reading, what projects you were working on and what was going on in your family. But he was also a storyteller, and he loved collecting quotes and sayings. He was always comfortable in a crowd and in front of one. Whether he was pleading his case before the Owensboro Planning and Zoning Board, giving a lecture on constitutional law at Brescia University, or talking to Owensboro Catholic High School students about achieving success, he was never short on inspiration.
Catholic High Students Told To Prioritize!
Before we summarize Charlie’s lesson, these are his words from his introduction of himself to the class.
“I made a lot of friends and a lot of memories here at Owensboro Catholic High School. I learned many lessons about life that we’ll talk about, and I found my salvation here with Jesus Christ. I believe in that sign out on front of the school building, Preparing Leaders, Achievers, and Believers. I’m a believer! I chartered my whole life here. It’s been a long time since I was a student here. But the same spirit that was here when I was a student is still here now! You don’t get this every place. The students, the administrators, and the faculty all have this unusual spirit. You see it when you go to ball games. People in the community talk about it. The Catholic High spirit. I LOVE this place, and I THANK God every day for helping me survive. I would like to thank George Powell and Tim Riley for inviting me here and my parents also for sending me here!
I have learned in life that probably the most important discovery of the 20th century is that you can change your life by changing your attitude.”
Charlie also told the class the importance of having a personal mission statement. He told students to see life as a process that gives them some control, and not as a series of random events. He encouraged them to respect the process and the lessons and
opportunities they afford every individual. He said it’s no cliché that a person’s attitude will determine the life that they will lead, and a daily life should be sewed with kind deeds. He reminded students to compliment people in service roles, repay acts of evil with kindness, and “life is a lot easier when you can learn from someone else’s bad decisions.” He told them that one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child is to teach them how to work hard. “Hard work always beats talent when talent won’t work hard.” He loved the story of Abraham Lincoln losing six elections before becoming the greatest president the country ever elected. He said that a work ethic should come from a personal “caring” attitude. He emphasized that work habits matter and how we treat people in the working environment matters. He said once a person was giving their best effort, then he needed to be able to let go of the variables that are not in a person’s control. He warned the class to never stop growing and learning, adding that establishing healthy, faithful routines takes a lot of hard work, prayer, and discipline. He concluded, “I must use my personal values and personal relationships to increase my faith and devotion to family.” He said that these attributes were the key to a successful life.
you would
Charlie presented to a senior class his outlook on life. This wasn’t a career path class but a class on how to live a positive life.
Charlie's Favorite Sayings IN MEMORY
Charlie published a small book of his favorite quotes, saying he wasn’t sure where they all came from, but he found them “helpful when I am faced with an immediate and difficult situation.” Some of them, he said, “allow me a good laugh.” He generally attributed the remarks to the person he heard say it.
Samples from Charlie's collection:
“Be yourself is the worst advice you can give some people.”
“I am not afraid to die. I just don’t want to be on the next bus load.”
“Try to be happy, not to be right.”
“Big hat – no cattle.”
“Wealthy people miss one of life’s great thrills – making that last car payment.”
“Big hits get all the headlines, but little things win ball games.”
“He is so lucky he can fall into a mud hole and come out with a fish in his pocket.” – Gary Sisk
“It was colder than a Mother-in-law’s kiss.”
– Bill Rummage
“Don’t forget it’s the rooster that does the crowing, but it’s the hen that produces the egg.” – Linda Kamuf
“Get off the stage while they are still clapping.”
– Kevin Kauffeld
Here are a few he attributes to himself:
“The hardest crosses we carry are those we make for ourselves.”
“Everybody needs six good friends; I call them my pallbearers – these friends are irreplaceable.”
“You only live once in life, but if you live it right, once is enough.”
“Owensboro’s not the promised land, but it’s a good place to start.”
“Don’t go to bed mad. Stay up all night and fight.”
“You don’t have to pull your pants down to show your rear.”
He was also known to poke fun at his own vocation:
“Where there’s a Will there’s a relative.”
“A lawyer’s guarantee: I can create reasonable doubt for a reasonable price.”
“I slept like a lawyer last night – you lie on one side and then you lie on the other.”
“I wondered why somebody didn’t do something, and then I realized I was somebody.”
And some of his more poignant quotes were:
“I have learned that to love and be loved is the greatest joy in the world.”
“Life is not measured by the breath we take but by the moments that take our breath away.”
“In great relationships, the joy of being together is enough.”
And finally, “The most agonizing death is when one dies who has never lived.”
Charlie was working and living and learning right up until the day he died. He worked hard to live by the words he spoke. He WAS the deal!
Charlie and Linda Kamuf
IN MEMORY
Remembering Fr. Ed Bradley
Fr. Ed Bradley served as Owensboro Catholic High School Dean of Students and Principal. The Joseph of Arimathea group was established by Fr. Ed Bradley at Owensboro Catholic High School. The group’s purpose is to assist at funerals of those who are indigent or have no one to carry their casket at their funeral service. The Joseph of Arimathea group served as pallbearers that brought Fr. Bradley into his funeral Mass and then took him to his final place of rest.
Fr. Ed Bradley was such an angel to my family, the Breslers, during his time at OCHS.
Even though our Mom passed away in 2010, my sisters and I would like to donate in his memory to honor her. We are certain that if she were still here, she would do the same. Catholic education was especially important to her and daddy.
Momma became a widow at age 41 in 1969 with eight girls to care for alone. Her faith and passing it on to all her children was the most important thing in her life. She went to daily Mass and trusted in God’s providence to provide the means necessary to do so. We all attended St. Stephen Cathedral grade school and Owensboro Catholic High School by the grace of God and her sacrifices.
Fr. Bradley gave Momma much needed moral and spiritual support, especially when my youngest sisters were at OCHS. They had very few memories of Daddy, and Fr. Bradley was instrumental in counseling them, especially my youngest sister, through the difficult teenage years. Fr. Bradley helped Momma through it all, too, providing much needed support for her by lending a listening ear when she needed it.
After we had all left home to begin our own lives, Fr. Bradley continued to be a good and holy friend to Momma. He visited her when she had her cancer surgeries, prayed with her, and continued to provide much guidance and stability for her as she learned to navigate the waters of being an empty nester.
Fr. Bradley even baptized my own husband and brought him into the church early in our marriage. And a few years later he did the same for Tom Gipe. What a blessing he was to our whole family and so we wanted to honor his memory on behalf of our dear Momma, Ann Bresler, with this donation to Owensboro Catholic High School.
Thank you God, for the gift of Fr. Bradley’s life and legacy which we have been blessed to witness and receive.
Sincerely,
Louise Bresler Callahan ’69
Christina Bresler Jones ’70
Isabelle Bresler Ebelhar ‘72
May Bresler Gipe ’75
Rebecca Bresler Bumm’77
Best friend of Fr. Bradley, Fr. Brad Whistle gives the homily at the funeral. Both served OCHS together in the 1980s.
AcesFaces
We want to continue to share in the joys and successes of our alumni. Please take a moment and submit some news to us on how you are doing. New marriage, baby, job, move? Let us hear from you. All correspondence, along with photos, may be emailed to Clare Clark at clare.cordell@owensborocatholic.org.
Lillie Fischer ’15
After graduation Lillie went to be a student athlete at both UofL and Murray State. She played softball for two years as a Louisville Cardinal before transferring and finishing out her softball career and exercise science major as a Murray State Racer. Lillie had the chance to spend ten weeks with FOCUS at Summer Projects in Estes Park, CO developing her faith and leadership skills. After undergraduate studies, she attended Southern Illinois Carbondale and completed their Physician Assistant Program. Lillie has moved back home and works as a PA-C with Owensboro Health Cardiology. She married Nicholas Fischer on November 9, 2024, and they are joyfully navigating through the sacrament of marriage together.
When Lillie looks back at her time at Owensboro Catholic High School, she is thankful for the friendships she made and the education she received. But most importantly, the life lessons taught to her that helped her to excel both on the softball field and in the classroom after graduation. While at Owensboro Catholic, she was able to develop roots for her faith to keep her grounded when she went off on her own to college. It led her to becoming involved with the Newman Center, FOCUS, attending Summer Projects, and ultimately becoming more invested in her Catholic faith.
CURRENT
Football Coach of the Year and 2nd Trip to State
“I would like to thank my family for their patience and support this season. This season has truly been amazing. The team togetherness and hard work on a daily basis have showcased the best of our school and community. We, Owensboro Catholic Football, are very proud to represent the city of Owensboro and our Catholic school community in competing for the state title. Let's make sure we pack Kroger Field and show our Aces spirit: together! Let's go Aces!”
Coach Jason Morris
CURRENT Servant Hearts
The 2024 Owensboro Catholic High School fall fundraiser was named No Shave November/ No Uniform Mondays . For a $5 donation, boys who donated were exempt from shaving during the month of November and all other students could donate and wear free dress. Catholic High’s “Best Beard” winner from the No Shave November contest was Brady Clark! Students and staff raised over $1,100 and 100% of the donations from students, faculty, and staff went to Wendell Foster in memory of Georgia Powell, deceased daughter of OC Principal George Powell and his wife Amanda. Kara Howard ’09, who serves as Vice President of Development & Community Engagement, was present at a school mass to accept the donation on behalf of Wendell Foster.
Congratulations Marching Aces!
Our Marching Aces placed 2nd at Regionals to qualify for State, 5th Place at State Semifinals, 4th Place at State Finals. All amazing performances with distinguished ratings!
Our students continue to give back and serve our Owensboro Community and we couldn’t be more proud of them!
Members of OCHS NHS and SCRUBS made over 300 Christmas cards to share with residents of local nursing homes. Our students visited with residents of Hermitage Manor Nursing Home to share cards and sing Christmas carols.
Class of 1982 Christmas Generosity
Teresa Aull ’82 collected money from her class and bought Christmas for four Owensboro Catholic families in need. The items arrived beautifully wrapped and sorted. A lot of thought went into each purchase to make Christmas special! Also photographed is Tim Scheidegger who assisted with delivery to the OCS Central Office.
CURRENT
Thank you, Scott Lowe!
Boys XC Recognition
On Friday, November 11, 2024, at a home football game, a special celebration and recognition of Boys Cross Country state championship winning coach, Scott Lowe, took place. Coach Lowe was honored with a plaque from the Owensboro Catholic Athletic Department. This plaque is a special honor for all of his accomplishments and years of service to Owensboro Catholic Cross-Country. Members of the first Owensboro Catholic High school Boys Cross Country were recognized, along with all the male runners who were on a state winning team.
Coach Lowe had the following to say…
“It’s an honor to be standing here tonight. 24 years ago, Harold Staples hired me as a teacher and in the same breath as the head cross country coach. Little did we know that over the last 24 years the boys’ teams would have won numerous regional championships, an individual state champion in Willie Polio in 2007, a city county championship in 2017, and 4 state championships. We honor those men who made up those state teams from 2001, 2005, 2006, and 2007:
Paul Brown, Stuart Castlen, Josh Clary, David Dooper, Roger Dotsey, Justin Ford, Adam Goedde, Kevin Graham, David Gruenewald, Brent Hayden, Andrew Higdon, Ryan Higdon, Peter Hurley, Jordon Jones, Jared Kaelin, Chase Kauffeld, Jason King, Drew Knott, John Lanham, Kyle Mattingly, Paul Mattingly, Andrew McCarthy, Christopher McCarty, Jonathon Murphy, Corey O’Nan, Joey Polio, Willie Polio, Chris Pope, Blake Searcy, Nick Searcy, David Sweeney, Wes Taul, Christopher Terry, Andrew Thompson, Ben Thompson, John Thompson, Sam Thompson, Nick Tucker, and Matt Wills.
It’s because of each one of them, our program was successful and fun! I thank them from the bottom of my heart for giving me 24 years of laughs, tears, and blessings. Each team was special in the ways they trained and treated each other as teammates. We have many nicknames from these teams such as “the Team” and “The Beast”. Many days they spent piling up miles working towards the goal. Many stories of PR’s, Coach Ivey bus rides, hot days, cold mornings, and many Gatorades. In the words of Willie Polio before the gun
fired at the 2007 state meet, “We know we are the best here, let's show how good we can be.” These teams were the best and showed how good they could be.
I also want to thank the pioneers of the program here tonight as well. Harold Staples and the first boys’ cross-country team of 1978: Allen Schemmel, John Pfiefer, Rex Ferguson, Rob Richeson, Tom Weis, Fr. Randy Howard, Tom Whitten, and Fitz Hayden! Without Harold’s vision and the team’s willingness to endure those long miles, we, standing here tonight, would not have great memories of our seasons. I would be amiss not to honor also the families that have contributed much blood sweat and tears through the years, the Jones, the Thompsons, the Jarboes, the Polios, the Dotseys, the Casons, the Goeddes, and the Mattinglys. These families sent more than one of their guys to me and trusted me with their training and care. I grew as a coach and a man because of them and their families. They took on many roles such as coaching the middle school teams and the girls’ teams. Also, to all the families that contributed much to this program, thank you for everything. To my wife, to my children and my family, thanks for the support throughout these years. I could not have done it without you. I was blessed to have coached my sons Trevor and Nolan in 2013. Christina, thanks for being there for our children every Saturday that I was gone and every weekday night I came home late.
Continues on page 29
CURRENT
Fidelis
Ministering to faith-filled young women, Fidelis presents a new way to form their own small community at OCHS
Re-published from the Western Kentucky Catholic
By Ella Johnston, special to the Western Kentucky Catholic
Editor’s note: In continuing a project begun last year, we’re happy to once again work with Owensboro Catholic High school to assign a story to a student writer. Please enjoy this article written by senior Ella Johnston.
Two Owensboro Catholic High School teachers bring the “Fidelis” program to their female students this school year as they strive for a stronger sense of community and love among all the young girls attending their school.
Lisa Higdon, senior theology teacher, and Kristin Dorth, freshmen theology teacher, introduced the program one day after Mass at the beginning of the school year. Dorth says she stumbled upon the program at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis over the summer and thought it would be an incredible way to connect with the students at school. A total of 98 girls, aged between 14-18, signed up for the introductory meetings to learn more about the program.
“I am encouraged by even just the commitment of those who have been coming and the interest; that makes my heart happy,” says Higdon, smiling at the thought of the success of the Fidelis groups so far.
Dorth goes into detail as to what exactly Fidelis is: “It is a program that is more parish-based to be an intergenerational attempt to help women to know their dignity and to expose them to truths about virtue; in particular, to build them up and encourage one another.”
The program is focused on 6th-12th graders as it is being used in schools and churches across the country. Owensboro Catholic Middle School is also participating in Fidelis, and the teachers hope to create a greater connection between the two schools through the program.
Higdon and Dorth both wanted to find a way to minister to the young women of OCHS that was not in a classroom setting.
“We had recognized as a whole that we wanted to be able to create situations for more opportunity of growth related to individual
students,” explains Dorth. Higdon nods in agreement, adding, “The main point is about community and being able to learn and grow from each other.”
So far, the meetings have been successful at OCHS. The girls have been attending during their lunch shifts about twice a week in the media center conference room. With the large number of girls participating, the teachers needed a larger space than just a regular classroom. Higdon and Dorth encourage the girls to come when they can, but they are also aware of the busy schedule many students have around this time of year. Fidelis is flexible enough for girls to be engaged when they have time but also allows them to take a step back if needed.
When asked what they wanted the girls to leave with from Fidelis, Higdon and Dorth pondered the question for a minute. Higdon sighed and laughed a little, explaining how difficult the question was.
“I think, big picture, for me, is one, that they really and truly are loved for who they are and where they are… To know that God has made us intentionally and beautifully for a reason and to celebrate that together,” she answers.
Dorth responds with, “Creating an environment that presents genuine femininity… creating an environment where we are striving for that together… and to give these young women the tools they need to battle the lies that will continue to come their way once they leave Catholic High.”
Higdon and Dorth are looking forward to continuing Fidelis at Catholic High throughout the rest of the school year. They vow to continue striving towards a stronger community among the young women at Owensboro Catholic High School.
Ella Johnston is a senior at Owensboro Catholic High School and attends Immaculate Parish. ♠
CURRENT
Thank You, Scott Lowe … (continued from page 27)
I leave this program in good hands. Jacob Reid, Mary Katherine Wathen, and Samuel Polio, thank you for stepping up and continuing the success of this program. You have the backing of many more great families, and I see great things happening. Once an Ace always an ace! I bleed Green and white till the day I die… I love all of you! Go Aces!”
Thank you, Scott, for all you have done for Owensboro Catholic High School and the Cross-Country Program!
It was a fabulous weekend celebration OC XC, thank you all who joined us in the festivities! ♠
Congratulations Acettes!
OCHS Acettes placed 9th at State in both Hip-hop and Gameday divisions. We couldn't be prouder of them!
Chapel Update
On Thursday, December 12, 2024, on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a blessing service took place at Owensboro Catholic High School to bless the future site of our high school Chapel. Bishop Medley, OCHS Chaplain Fr. Daniel Dillard, Fr. Brandon Williams, representatives from the Diocese, students, staff, benefactors, and friends gathered for the blessing. In the heart of our school, a million dreams take flight as we build a chapel bathed in the light of our purpose – where Christ is the reason. Just like in the song, these walls will echo with hope, guiding the next generation towards leadership, achievement, and unwavering faith. Together, we’ll make dreams come true, inspired by the greatest show of love and belief.
Thanks again to all who have contributed or pledged to this worthy project. Hartz Contracting has been awarded the Chapel bid and construction began as soon as we returned from Christmas break. Please continue to pray for this project and know that fundraising is ongoing. We are currently furnishing the chapel and there are numerous items needing to be purchased. If you would like to remember a loved one by purchasing something, please call Natalie Hayden 270.686.8896. Please follow us on Facebook and stay tuned for Chapel updates!
Bishop Medley and Fr. Daniel Dilliard share how this space will be transformed into a place of worship.
Pictured are some of the members of the Chapel fundraising team.
Vince Frey with son Barry Frey and his wife Stephanie.
The chapel bid was awarded to Hartz Contracting and pictured are Ben Hartz with his family and Sarah Murphy Ford, President of Hartz Contracting.
HOST FAMILY Experiences
In November some of our OCHS families participated in the German American Partnership Program (GAPP). This program supports school partnerships and exchanges between high schools in the U.S. and secondary schools in Germany. Check out all the fun they had and what their host families had to say about the experience!
“Hosting a German exchange student was an unforgettable experience.”
The Burshears Family
“One day Fenja cooked for us a traditional dish from Germany, it was called Schnitzel (fried chicken with fries) and it was delicious.”
The Guido Family
“Joseph
thought it was a great experience to meet someone his age from across the world that shared many common interests yet had many cultural differences.”
The Kurtz Family
“He liked seeing how we celebrate Thanksgiving and he loved Owensboro’s Christmas decorationswhich he said are more elaborate and colorful than in Germany.”
The Kurtz Family
“The German students were so popular that everyone wanted to hang out with them.”
The Guido Family
“Shopping was a athighlight—especially Target and Walmart, which don’t exist in Germany.”
The Burshears Family
“Teachers here are less strict than in Germany and were surprised by how much fun students seemed to have in class.”
The Burshears Family
A special thanks to Ginny Coomes and Suzanne Cecil White for their time and coordination with this project!
