L. Ray Appleman
Attorney Deanna Pealer accepting. Deanna is Mr. Appleman's granddaughter
Year of Graduation: Honorary Graduate
Significant career and professional accomplishments:
L. Ray Appleman was the oldest child of the marriage of Samuel Francis Appleman to Nellie Hess. He was born February 16, 1885, and was named Leslie Ray Appleman. He died February 9, 1963, just a week short of his 78th birthday. He married Emma D. Strauch on December 3, 1908, and they had two daughters, Ruth and Kathleen. Samuel and Nellie had six other children: Edith Florine Appleman, Reuben Glen Appleman, John Burr Appleman, Sarah Ellen Appleman, Ethel Vee Appleman and an unnamed child born in November, 1887, who only survived for twenty days. The nominee served in the capacity of principal of the Benton elementary and High School for 52 years. He was a graduate of the Bloomsburg Normal School, and received a Master's Degree from Bucknell University. The elementary school is named in his honor.
Dr. Frank C. Laubach
Acceptance by Dr. Bob Laubach, son of Frank Laubach
Significant career and professional accomplishments:
The nominee was born September 2, 1884, in Benton. He earned a B.A. degree from Princeton University where he received the McLean prize from the college president Woodrow Wilson for a speech on peace among nations. Earned M.A. degree in sociology from Columbia University in 1912 and married a local girl, Effa Seely. Graduated Union Theological Seminary in 1913. Earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University in 1915. He was commissioned by Union Congregational Church as a missionary in the Philippines and for 15 years he ministered and educated Philippine Christians. From 1935-54, he brought "Each One Teach One" literacy programs to Philippine communities and to Southeast Asia, India, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America. At Mahatma Gandhi's request, started Indian national literacy campaign. Instrumental in founding of World Literacy Committee, Committee on World Literacy and Christian Literature, and World Literacy, Inc. (now called World Education). He founded the Laubach Literacy and Mission Fund, now called Laubach Literacy. Continued world literacy tours during last 15 years of his life, spoke out across the U.S. on poverty and illiteracy as impediments to justice and peace. With son Robert S. Laubach, founded New Readers Press to publish instructional materials for growing U.S. literacy movement. In 1968, Dr. Laubach created the National Association for Literacy Advance, now called Laubach Literacy Action, to bring volunteer literacy efforts together in the United States. Died June 11, 1970, at age of 85. His wife Effa Laubach died March 28, 1973. Buried in Benton cemetery under the inscription: "World Missionaries."
Dr. John Herbert Laubach
Significant career and professional accomplishments:
The nominee is a 1947 graduate of Benton High School. He was a Political Science Major at Pennsylvania State University from 1949 through 1953, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and served as Student Body President in 1953. He was a Danforth Fellow for Graduate Study in Political Science at Harvard. At Harvard, he assisted Dr. Henry Kissinger by translating his German office correspondence for staff members. He received a Ph.D. in Political Science from Harvard University in 1958. John was a Fulbright Scholar from 1955-1957 at the University of Bonn, Germany, and University of the Saar. He served as Professor of Political Science at Otterbein College and Parliamentarian of the College Senate. He became a member of the Otterbein faculty in 1958. John has always had a special interest in constitutional law, politics of the European Economic Community, and computer applications as relates to instruction. He is fluent in German, and is knowledgeable in Fortran and Basic. He is the coauthor of the Westerville, Ohio, City Charter (1964). He was a member of the Westerville City Charter Commission during the period of 1963-1964. He was the Benton High School Commencement speaker, June 6, 1979. He served 25 years as college senate parliamentarian at Otterbein College, Westerville, Ohio, retiring in 1991. He was elected to membership to the Benton Borough Council in November 2001. He is a member of the Bloomsburg Kiwanis and Susquehanna Valley Barber Shop Chorus.
Percy Brewington, Jr.
Significant career and professional accomplishments:
The nominee spent two years on active duty as a Lieutenant. Has a B.S. in civil Engineering from Drexel, graduating in 1954. Married to the former Pauline Raski, class of 1947. Has three children, all graduates of the University of Tennessee. From his beginning on active duty with the Army Engineers in 1954, he worked as a civilian with the US Corps of Engineers in Mobile, AL, on NASA Test Stands and Ballistic Missile Defense Systems test facilities. From 1972 through 1985, he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission (now the Department of Energy), Oak Ridge; and at the Uranium Enrichment Facilities, the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
He retired from the Department of Energy in 1985 and later consulted with Bechtel, Tennessee Valley Authority. He retired as a Lt. Colonel, U.S. Army Reserve. He tells that he has not seen his high school class ring since 1948 when he turned it over to Paulene and she eventually stopped wearing it around her neck.
Russell M. Shultz
Acceptance by Mr. Shultz's sister, Margaret Ianthe Hess
Significant career and professional accomplishments:
The nominee was born in 1900 in Benton Township and attended a one-room school house there before graduating from Benton High School. He graduated from Penn State University in 1925 with a degree in chemistry. Began working for National Biscuit Company in New York City in 1926 starting as a baking foreman for $2,200 yearly. He worked his way up in the company, striving to improve the food industry through chemistry. He worked for the company in Buffalo, NY, Chicago, Missouri and New Jersey. He had helped perfect both the Ritz cracker and Lorna Doone shortbread cookies for Nabisco and spend much time in experimenting with frozen eggs. He reached the position of senior vice president and remained in that position until he retired because of his wife's illness--a total of 36 years with the company. He was an accomplished clock and furniture maker, and proficient at growing roses. He was an accomplished artist and photographer. Shultz is deceased, having died June 7, 2001, in Stuart, FL, at age 100. He is buried in Hamline Cemetery.
Dr. Ralph Sterling Johnson, Jr.
Acceptance by brothers Jim and Bill Johnson
Significant career and professional accomplishments:
The nominee was an active and well-respected student, member of school band and orchestra. He participated in school plays and musicals, while remaining an honor student. Ralph was born in Shickshinny in 1926 and moved to the farm when he was in the 7th grade and attended the Sugarloaf School to the 10th grade. He attended Benton High School during his Junior and Senior years graduating in the upper fifth of his class. He also played the trombone in the high school band. He spent two years in the Army Air Corps (1944-46, then attended Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for two years receiving an Associates Degree in Aeronautical Engineering (AE). Upon graduating, he went to work for Goodyear Aircraft Corp. in Akron, Ohio, and attended Akron University, receiving a BS in Aeronautical Engineering and an MS in Physics. He married his wife, Margie, in December 1951, and had one son, Ralph S. Johnson, Jr. He later worked on the Lunar Extravehicular Module (LEM) for Bendy Corp. in Ann Arbor, MI, and during his employment with Bendix he earned his PHD in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Later, he worked for Bechtel Corp. in San Francisco and in Saudi Arabia. He also worked for Arabian American oil Co. (ARAMCO), Standard Oil of Ohio in Anchorage, Alaska and Dallas Texas, and with Meade Paper Co. in Chillicothe, Ohio. He had numerous publications in various scientific journals and belonged to and held offices in various engineering and scientific societies. Ralph died April 22, 1999.
William C. Follmer
Significant career and professional accomplishments:
William Follmer began his career in 1956 at Philco Research Labs, specializing in semiconductor devices and circuit research. He developed unique low-noise components for the Doppler Radar employed in the Lunar Lander. As a Senior Technical Specialist for Ford, he pioneered developments in electronic controls for automotive systems linked to the engine, transmission, and braking. He is author of numerous technical publications and holder of several patents. In 1995, he retired from Ford and established his own consulting company, Automotive System Inc. in Livonia, Michigan.
