Congratulations to the founding class to be inducted into the South Huntington Hall of Fame (SHHOF).
As I review the Class of 2008, one great fact jumps out from your collective stellar biographies.
Your single common denominator is your proud connection to South Huntington schools and your graduation from Walt Whitman High.
The contributions you have made after leaving our revered campus are far and wide.
The ten selected candidates have made their mark in basketball, boxing, business, medicine journalism, theatre, our armed services and education.
The founding committee which selected the inaugural inductees have done a marvelous job and I commend them as well.
I visualized the SHHOF as a living tribute to a school system that is taking the time to bestow their highest honor on its most distinctive graduates and the mark they have left in the world beyond high school.
However, our alumni and current students, teachers, parents and personnel should be aware that this original class only marks the beginning.
It will serve forever as a link for all alums and an inspiration for all students today and tomorrow who pass through on their way to their personal futures.
I would hope that each student who attends South Huntington Schools learn more about our rich tradition which dates back to 1924 and includes over 50 graduating classes at WWHS.
My passion for 3 years was to see this day take place. I attended schools in our district from 1956-1968. Just this past weekend, our 1968 class gathered for its
40th Reunion.
A week ago today, we gathered at the entrance of the South Wing and proudly and loudly sang our class song.
Hail to thee Walt Whitman
The Best of Schools We Know
We Promise to be true to thee
Wherever we may go
We will always remember
What Loyalty is For
So Now we sing this song of praise
Walt Whitman
Evermore
I hope your class is as proud and loyal of your time here as we are and continue to be.
For you now know the real reason why I was consumed to helping create a living and breathing tribute to our school.
I loved my years here and I want others to share that feeling even before they reach the high school.
The SHHOF can accomp[lish that.
But it's going to take some work.
It's going to require all of us, students, alumni, parents, teachers, coaches, employees and especially the inductees who make up this inaugural class, to promote what has happened here today.
You must spread the word to the 50 classes of graduates at Whitman and even back to 1924, what the SHHOF is all about, how they can nominate their choices for future induction and for them to pass this news on to their classmates. Currently, they have no idea that their school system has created a Hall of Fame and might I say one of the few in the nation so structured.
To be a true tribute to our school, it must be about all of us who touched our school, who walked our halls, who played on our fields and had the great fortune to be educated in what I believe is one of the truly great school districts in this country.
And believe me, from the South Bronx to Hawaii, I know school districts and something about today's students.
We are truly blessed to have had the opportunity to be here.
I salute the Class of 2008. May you return to future inductions with the same pride and passion in which it is given.
On a personal note, I would like to thank Dr. Shea for sharing my passion and being the driving force behind the creation of our Hall. I thank Jacqui Harris, Harry Waller, Lorraine Cortina and Jim Polansky. You will always be special to me.
I might be several thousand miles away from you today, but my heart will always remain with Walt Whitman High School and the South Huntington Hall of Fame.
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