Class of 2016 Biographies

Glenn Alexander

The son of Ralph and Charlotte, and brother of Ralph (Skip) and Jacquie, also HHS grads, Glenn played Tiger basketball in grades 9-12 under coaches Jim Cullinan, Hal Burbach and Joe McKay. He lettered 2 years. As a Junior, he was named 1^st team All-league, 2nd team All-county, and HM All NE Ohio. He was the team leader in scoring with 16.1 pts/game and in rebounding with 14.5 per game. Glenn was also team MVP. His senior year he was a unanimous selection for 1^st team All-league, 1^st team All-county (top vote receiver), HM All NE Ohio. He was the leading scorer (18.9 pts./game) and leading rebounder (15.5 per game). He set a single game scoring record (45 pts) which still stands. He was inducted into the National Honor Society. He attended Davis & Elkins College in W. Va. on a full basketball scholarship. There he earned a varsity letter in his first 3 years and was elected Co-Captain his Junior year. He did not play his senior year due to an injury. He received his B.A. in 1971. In 1975 and 1976, Glenn coached high school basketball and was named the league’s Coach of the Year both years. Glenn attended graduate school at Miami University and earned his M.A. in 1981. He served as an educator for 42 years, including nearly 30 years as a District or ESC Superintendent. In addition, Glenn was an Adjunct Professor at Xavier University, a member of the Board of Directors of the Clermont County Chamber of Commerce, and received the OESCA Lifetime Achievement Award shortly after retirement in 2012 for meritorious service to public education. Glenn resides in Cocoa Beach, Florida with his wife of 43 years, Vicky. They have two daughters, April and Megan, and five grandchildren.

Billy Beasom

Billy was a 3 year starter and letter man in football. He served as team captain his senior year. In 1990 he was 1^st team All Trumbull Co, 1^st team All NE Ohio, All State, team MVP and the team finished 8-2. In wrestling, Billy was a 4 year starter and letterman. He was a 2 time team captain, Div I four time District Qualifier, Div I two time Sectional Champ, Div I District Champ (1991), Div I State 3^rd place in 1991. Billy was a four time 1^st team All Trumbull Co. wrestler which was the first ever in the county. In 1991, he was Trumbull Co Wrestler of the Year. He set 6 varsity records during his career: career takedowns (293), single season takedowns (150), most wins in a season (37), most wins in a state wrestling tournament (5), technical falls in a season (12), technical falls in a career. Billy went on to wrestle at Cuyahoga Community College where he was team captain (1993-94), an All American (1993), and ranked #2 in the U.S. He is a teacher for the Howland School System. He resides in Howland with wife, Jennifer, son, Dylan and daughter, Bailee.

Cody Chappell

Cody was a four sport athlete at Howland. In the fall, he played 4 seasons of soccer, he earned 2 letters under Coach George Stevens and was Academic All-Ohio and 2^nd team All-County. The team was league and Sectional Champs (2003). In 2 years of football, he averaged 40.6 yds/punt, hit a 47 yard field goal and scored 58 points. He was named HM All-Conference, 1^st Team All- County, 1^st Team All Ohio Div II, Mahoning Valley Coaches Association All Star and National Football Foundation NE Ohio Scholar Athlete. The team was league champion and a regional semifinalist (2003). During the winter, he played 4 seasons of basketball for Coach Bernard Bolha and received 2 letters. He was 1^st team All-Conference, 2^nd team All-County, team MVP and WYTV Channel 33 Student Athlete of the Week. He set several school records: most 3 pt FG in a game (7), most 3 pt FG in a season (64), & most 3 pt FG in a career (81). The team was district runner-up (2004). Finally in the spring, Cody played tennis. He was named 2^nd team All-Conference and the team was Co-Conference Champs (2004). He was a OHSAA Scholar Athlete, 2004 Male Athlete of the Year (Tribune Chronicle) and the Class of 2004 Valedictorian. He attended the University of Cincinnati and was a preferred walk-on punter. He received a BS in Education from Ohio University and a Masters in Mathematics from Kent State. He teaches math at Twinsburg High School where he has coached 8^th grade basketball, and currently coaches JV soccer and JV boys tennis. Cody, his wife, Sara (HHS class of 2004), and twin daughters, Anna and Carolyn (born 4/8/16) reside in Twinsburg.

Brooke Dunaway

Under her mother, Coach Leanna Dunaway, Brooke earned four letters in swimming and during her high school career, she held all individual and relay swim records except the 100m backstroke, received All-District for the 100 butterfly as a freshman and was the team MVP all four years of high school. She continued her swimming career at Xavier University on a partial athletic scholarship. There, Brooke competed against Division 1 schools. She earned a Faculty Nomination award and an Athletics Director’s Award in 1997. She was on the Atlantic 10 Conference Honor Roll in 1997-98. She swam during her freshman year and part of her sophomore year. At that point, her nursing major became the priority. In 2001, Brooke received her BSN from XU and started her nursing career at St. Joseph Hospital. She has been a labor and delivery nurse for 14 years. She is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and has been teaching childbirth classes at the hospital for 14 years. She married Mark Thigpen in 2006. They have three sons, Preston (8), Bryson (6), and Kenton (3). The 2 older sons attend Howland Schools and all are future swimmers. Brooke is active in the Howland Springs PTO as Secretary. She serves on the Anniversary Committee of the Warren Philharmonic Orchestra. She competes as a Tri-Athlete. Last year, Brooke was honored with the “Daisy Award” at the hospital for her caring and professionalism with patients. She still depends strongly on her amazing parents and now grandparents, Barry and Leanna, and thanks them for all their support.

David El’Hatton

David El’Hatton graduated from Youngstown South High School where he played football. He received a BS in Education from the Ohio State University where he was a walk-on heavyweight wrestler.

He earned both a Masters in History and a Masters in Secondary Education from Westminster College. He then earned a certificate in superintendency from Youngstown State University. David served the Howland Schools for over 30 years as a teacher, a football coach and a wrestling coach, a middle school administrator and a high school administrator. He was always fair, understanding and enthusiastic. He enjoyed canoeing, cycling, astronomy, and photography. After passing on, the David El’Hatton Wrestling Award was established to benefit the wrestling program by sending the recipient to wrestling camp. The award was established by Joe and Carl Patrnchak and further supported by donations administrated by his wife, Mary El’Hatton. David is survived by Mary, daughter, Shannah and son, David.

George J. Fetchko III

He is the son of 1976 HHS graduate. As a Howland Tiger, George III lettered 4 years in track and field and 2 years in wrestling. He was the Howland Invitational Champ in his weight class in 2001 and a District Qualifier in 2002. In track, he competed in the shot put and discus where he set the school record which still stands. Some of his awards include: Division I State Meet 5^th place (discus); All Ohio honors (discus); Div I District Champ (discus); Trumbull Co champ (discus); Trumbull Co Runner- up (Shot); Austintown Optimus Invitation Champ (discus); Ward Invitational Champ (discus); Girard Varsity Relays Co-Champ and the 3 man team set a record; West Branch Invitational Champ and record holder (discus). He was Co-Captain of the Track and Field team his senior year. George attended the University at Buffalo on a scholarship and was a success there as well. He was a two year Co-Captain of the Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field teams. Upon graduation he was named to the Top 10 Performance List of the U at B for Indoor Shotput & Weight Throw and Outdoor Shotput, Discus and Hammer Throw. In 2001, he placed 6^th in the discus at the USATF Junior Olympic Nationals in 2002 & 2003. George graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and he works as an engineer for the New York Power Authority at the Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Plant. Currently, he is a volunteer high school throwing coach at Middleburgh High School. He recognizes that he was fortunate to have had the opportunity to be coached by HOF coaches Ed Wilson, Jack Tominey, Brian Earich, Mike Pollifrone, and Barry Reinhardt at HHS and Jim Garnham at Buffalo. He, wife Danielle, and 2 year old daughter, Claire, reside in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Randy Gates

Randy earned 9 letters at HHS: 3 each in football (Coach Pierson), basketball (Coach McKay), and track (Coach Alberini). He was a 3 year starter in football and basketball where set several scoring and rebounding records. The teams on which he played won league championships. He was All-Conference in football and basketball multiple years. Randy earned a Division I football scholarship to Kent State University where he played for head coach Don James. The team won the 1972 MAC Championship. His teammates included Jack Lambert, Nick Saban, and Gary Pinkle. Randy is the owner of Allied Fasteners & Packaging Industrial Supply in metro Atlanta, Georgia. His daughter, Julia, was inducted into the North Cobb High School Hall of Fame and received All-American honors Division 3 in golf at Oglethorpe University, She is married and living in London, England. Randy sends his heartfelt best to all. He is unable to attend due to family travel plans made before he received this honor. He sends congratulations to his 1972 classmate, Bim Turner as well as to this talented group of Inductees of the Class of 2016.

Denise Lazor

Denise was one of many Lazors to attend the Howland School System. Denise earned 11 high school varsity letters as an athlete at Howland: soccer (4), basketball (3) and track (4) under Coaches Sue King, Gary Anderson, Jim Lowers, and Mike Pollifrone. Denise was a starter at the Varsity level as a freshman. She was a fierce competitor and led her soccer teams to numerous league championships and post season appearances. According to one of her soccer coaches, she could “bend it like Beckham” and often scored on direct kicks in key situations. Among numerous awards, she was named player of the year for the Tri-County area. In track and field she competed in the shot put and discus and qualified for the state meet her junior year. Never having run the hurdles, she ran them in a dual meet against Niles, placed second. She attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania on a soccer scholarship where she was a 4 year starter. Denise was named freshman of the year and was a 4 year regional All American. She graduated in 2000 with a degree in Human Resources Management and in 2001 with Masters in Industrial and Labor Relations earning a 4.0 GPA. She works at Menorah Park in Cleveland as the Assistant Human Resources Director. She ran in the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati in 2011 and qualified for the Boston Marathon. Currently she resides in the Cleveland area with her partner, Maureen Stayanchi, and 10 year old daughter, Brooke.

Ted Opalka

Ted was the first of 6 children to graduate from Howland High. His father, Ted Sr., was one of the founding members building Lombardo Stadium. Ted earned 3 letters in football under Coach Alex Vuchak, 2 letters in basketball under Coach Joe McKay, and 3 letters in track under Coach Fred Alberini. He set several kickoff/punt and receiving records. He currently holds the school record for touchdown receptions in a game with four. He played on the undefeated freshman football team under Coach Alberini and was a member of the National Honor Society. Ted earned one of the first Division I football scholarships from HHS, attending Rutgers where he led the undefeated freshman team in scoring as a WR. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers, his Doctor of Dentistry from Case Western Reserve, and his Doctor of Orthodontics from Case as well. He and his wife Pati Gewak Opalka (Class of 1967) returned to Howland in 1978 where he began his practice in Orthodontics. Ted has served as president of the Warren Dental Society and the Corydon Palmer Dental Society, a tri-county organization. He has been on the staff of Akron Children’s Hospital for over 20 years, as a volunteer on the Cranio-Facial team, treating children with facial deformities. For many years, Ted has been voted the “Best of the Best” in the Tribune Chronicle in the orthodontic category and was most recently listed in Pittsburgh Magazine as one the of the best orthodontists in the region. Ted and Pati have been married for 40 years and have two daughters. Elisabeth and husband, Kevin, live in the Boston area with their two children, Lilly and Kevin. Emily resides in Los Angeles.

Lance Smith

Lance comes from a huge football family, where all 3 boys had the opportunity to play Big Ten football. Maurice (class of 2003) attended Michigan State, De’Veon (class of 2013) is currently the starting running back for the University of Michigan, and Lance attended the University of Wisconsin. Lance was a star running back for the Tigers earning 3 letter under coach Dick Angle. Some of his career highlights include holding the rushing record of 406 yards in a game, holding the record of 7 TDs in a single game and leading the Tiger freshman basketball team to a MAC Championship with an average of 20 pts per game. Some of his other stats are as follows: rushing career - 491 carries gaining 3853 yards with an average of 7.8 yds/carry and 39 touchdowns; receiving career – 16 catches for 128 yds which is 8 yds/catch; kickoff returns career – 20 attemps for 509 yds with an average of 25.5 yds and 1 touchdown. He was also named All-County and 1^st team in the conference. At the University of Wisconsin as a true freshman, he scored 5 touchdowns. During his sophomore year, he had 3 touchdowns and close to 500 yds rushing with limited playing time. He transferred to the University of Memphis where he obtained his degree in Communications. He then lived in Chicago where he managed an energy company. He also lived in southern California and led youth football training sessions. Lance, his wife, KandL, and daughters Leela (8) and Ilah (2) live in Detroit, Michigan. Lance manages the Joe Dumars Fieldhouse.

Jack Tominey

Jack is a 1970 graduate of Niles McKinley High School and a 1974 graduate of Denison University where he was a talented runner. His love of track and field continued into his career as a teacher and coach. Jack taught English and history at HHS for 39 years, retiring in 2013. Coach Tominey has been coaching Howland High School cross country and track and field for over 40 years, with 30 plus years as the head coach. He started the indoor track and field program there. He also started the girls cross country program. He was inducted into the Trumbull Co Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He has been named Trumbull Co Coach of the Year 12 times. In 2003 he received the Northeast Ohio Coach of the Year award. Jack has coached more Tiger female and male athletes at the state level than any other HHS coach. The award that epitomizes Coach Tominey is the Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award from the Ohio High School Athletic Association which he received in 2003 and 2005. He lives in Niles with his wife of 41 years, Debbie. They have a son Scot.

Bim Turner

William “Bim” Turner is a 1972 graduate of Howland High School, where he lettered in football under Coach Jack Pierson and track under Coach Fred Alberini and later Coach Jim Restuccio. He is also a 1976 graduate of Kent State University. Bim has been active in the community, serving as President, Coach and Lifetime Trustee of the Howland Little Tigers (29 years). He is a founding member and Lifetime Trustee of the Howland Quarterback Club. Bim served as President of the Northeast Ohio Youth Football League and Little Mid-America Football League. From 1981-83 and 1997-99 he was an assistant football coach for the Howland Middle School, and he coached baseball for the Howland Athletic Club. Bim is in his 32^nd year as the “Voice of the Howland Tigers”. He has been the announcer for the Howland Invitation Wrestling Tournament as well as the Howland Boys Varsity Basketball team. He is also a past member of the Howland Rotary Club. Bim is employed as the executive Director of the Trumbull County Workforce Development Board. He also serves as the Chairman of the Trumbull Community Action Program Board. He is an Elder with Howland Community Church. He is single and resides in Howland.