Five new alumni were inducted into the Lancaster High School  Hall of Fame recently. All were granted their own biographical plaques that ingrain them in the school’s history. Three of the new inductees, along with their family and friends, toured the high school, presented an informational session for high school journalism and construction tech students, and were later honored at the Friday night lights football game. The newest inductees include:

Ralph E. Smith—Class of 1964. Smith became successful as a comic strip writer and artist, creating the syndicated Captain Vincible and Through Thick and Thin comic strips. He is noted for a career built on talent, humor, and heart. 

“I’m doing what I always wanted to do: drawing pictures and telling jokes. Do what you want and have fun doing it,¨ said Smith.

Looking back to his high school days, Smith recalled his first claim to fame.

“I got a part in the school play, Our Town.  I had one line,” he chuckled.

Before his artistic career, he served in the United States Air Force as a medic in the intensive care unit in San Antonio, Texas.  Later, he moved to Sarasota, Florida, and attended the Ringling School of Art, graduating in 1972.

Smith said that being inducted into the LHS Hall of Fame is an honor.

“It felt good to be remembered,” he said.

“I just love Lancaster; it’s a great place to grow up.”

Paul D. Schullery—Class of 1966.   Schullery’s long and successful career began in 1972, when he first became a Yellowstone Park ranger. Schullery is also a well-known author, editor, and narrator. In 2001, Schullery wrote and narrated the award-winning PBS film Yellowstone: America’s Sacred Wilderness (2000). He commented on his experience working with Yellowstone National Park.

“Yellowstone was the center of my universe for about 50 years of my life,” he said.“It was amazing; it was a wild ride.”

Schullery received an honorary doctorate of letters from Montana State University, an honorary doctorate of literature from Ohio University, and other awards, including the U.S. Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee’s Communications Leadership award for extraordinary work in grizzly bear recovery.  Schullery said that he is amazed that he has been inducted into the LHS Hall of Fame.

“I’m thrilled; this place has meant so much to me,” he said.

In closing, Schullery offered career advice to high school students.

“Figure out what you want to do, and find someone to pay you for it,” he said.

Brad Hutchinson—Class of 1991. Hutchinson is the founder of a nationwide company called Company Wrench, Ltd. He has locations in nine different states and over 275 employees. Hutchinson also has an apprenticeship program with a 50% success rate.

“There’s no shortcut to success; you have to put in the work,” he said.

“You can be the smartest guy in the world, but if you don’t apply yourself, you won’t go anywhere,” he said.

Despite not attending college, Hutchinson still became a very successful person through hard work and determination. Hutchinson had grown up as a kid who didn’t have much and didn’t like school. Even though he never had higher education or was the smartest kid, he claimed he was an idea guy, and it showed.

“You gotta work; you gotta care. In today’s world, we’re looking for people who want to work hard and make the cut.  We are hungry for the next generation,” he said

“You must work hard and put in the time to have a successful career,” he said.

Two alumni were unable to attend the induction ceremony. These inductees include:

David Higgins—Class of 1966. Higgins achieved a successful career in the performing arts. He is an Indiana University graduate with a degree in music, speech, and theater. He started his journey when he was young, when he performed with Leonard Bernstein at the Lincoln Center opening in New York City. He traveled around the U.S. performing with the Boychoir group, later joining the Opera Company of Boston, where he performed at the Wolf Trap Opera Festival and the Beijing Opera Festival. During his time with the opera company, he was the lead performer of many roles. After his time performing with the opera company, he became an investor in Broadway productions.

James M. Wagonseller—Class of 1939. Wagonseller was a well-known local in Lancaster as a realtor, businessman, and member of the Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce, Lancaster Kiwanis, and many more for decades. Before Wagonseller lived a laid-back lifestyle, he was in the Army Air Corps (the Air Force) during WW2. During one of Wagonseller’s missions, he and his flight crew were on their way to take out Hitler’s oil supply in Romania for a bomb raid when, out of nowhere, the crew ran into a major problem. The crew’s bombs were not releasing, and due to this, they couldn’t land safely, so Wagonseller had to climb out of the plane mid-air and cut the strap holding the bombs and successfully climb back in, saving the lives of his flight crew. After the war, Wagonseller was an active member of the American Legion before being elected National Commander of the organization in 1974. During his time there, he fought tirelessly to advocate for veterans’ rights.