By STEVEN MURREY
Managing Editor
smurrey@cherryroad.com
Last Friday, four graduates from Willkie High School and Elwood High School were celebrated as the first inductees into the school’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Those honored included Lou Gerig, Mike Bomholt, Dr. Gregory Durm, and Wendell Willkie.
In their opening remarks, Elwood Superintendent Dr. Troy Friedersdorf and Director of Student Services Heather Anderson said the creation of Elwood’s Hall of Fame was a shared vision between them. Friedersdorf highlighted the school’s accomplishments over the last few years, with the support of the school board. Some of these highlights include repainting the swimming pool, renovating the gymnasium, the grand opening of the new weight room, new lights at the football field, and new restrooms for the intermediate school. Other recent projects include a new roof on the high school, new heating and cooling systems at the intermediate school, and the renovation of the Hinds Career Center and the Central Office building.
“It’s been a really busy two years,” said Friedersdorf. “We’ve had some really nice additions that are helping bring back pride for our schools and our community.”
Lou Gerig, a graduate of the class of 1964, was inducted by Stacey Bock. In her remarks, Bock noted Gerig’s long list of accolades and experiences.
“I love being from a small town,” said Bock. “I love that we get to honor people who grew up here and have gone into the world and changed it in amazing ways. My sister and I would occasionally hear stories about Lou Gerig—an Elwood kid who had gone on to do great things in life, according to my dad, Max Hoppel.”
According to a biography of Gerig framed and hung on the school’s Hall of Fame wall, Gerig first began his career as a middle school teacher before quickly transitioning to the local newspaper. He went on to be appointed press secretary for Senator Richard Lugar from 1978-1981. He then joined the White House staff under the Reagan administration.
“I know you’re all expecting me to tell you who in the class of ‘64 painted the toenails of the statue outside the principal’s office,” Gerig joked during his acceptance remarks. “I’m not going to do that.”
“I really want to say this is not about me,” said Gerig after praising the work teachers do for their students. “I accept the award in honor of them.”
Mike Bomholt was inducted by Bob Savage. Bomholt, a graduate of the class of 1968, taught Social Studies at Elwood Middle School from 1973 to 1995, while also coaching multiple sports, most notably varsity baseball. In his final years with the school system, Bomholt worked as the Athletic Director.
During his induction speech, Savage said he had long hoped to see the Alumni Hall of Fame established. He emphasized that the most important thing we can teach children is hope, and the Hall of Fame will grow to include many successful alumni, inspiring hope for future students.
“Mike is an Elwood boy, tried and true,” said Savage. “Mike became an excellent Social Studies teacher, and he was always coaching something. I know Mike well enough to know he was an excellent teacher because whenever I saw him, he’d teach me something.”
“Mike became Athletic Director in 1995 and held that position until he retired in 2005,” Savage said. “He took over as Athletic Director at a time when Elwood’s programs weren’t doing so well. Mike brought us out of that down period and built the programs up to achieve competitive success—you might say that Mike is sort of the Ryan V. of his time. He was always on the side of the students.”
“This is a surreal moment for me,” said Bomholt as he delivered his acceptance remarks. “I’ve had a lot of great things happen in my lifetime, and almost every single one of them has been connected to the school community in some way.”
Bomholt spoke of meeting his wife Judy at Ball State University, who helped him see he could do better than what he was doing. From that point on, he excelled in college. After graduation, he applied for a job in Elwood.
“I said, ‘Judy, why don’t we go over to Elwood? They’ve got everything—Wards, Penney’s, Sears… we had everything uptown,’” Bomholt said. “So I took this girl from the big city and transplanted her here in Elwood, and we’ve been here ever since. I don’t think I’d be here today if it weren’t for Judy pushing me in the right direction.”
Laura Groover inducted Dr. Gregory Durm, a graduate of the class of 2001. Durm was the valedictorian of his class and a standout athlete. Dr. Durm was the recipient of the 2014 George and Sarah Jane Fisher Young Investigator Award, given by the Hoosier Cancer Research Network.
During her induction speech, Groover said she’s known Greg Durm most of her life.
“We grew up in the same neighborhood, attended the same church, went to Sunday School together, and rode the same bus to school. We were in most of the same classes, clubs, and organizations. Greg has always been a remarkable human being. He was a three-sport athlete and a star in every sport he participated in.”
Groover said Durm’s legacy cannot be erased. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame, attended medical school at the University of Michigan, and completed his residency at Indiana University.
“If you haven’t Googled Greg Durm, you should,” said Groover. “Publications, clinical trials, awards, and accolades galore. I went down the Greg Durm Google rabbit hole, and it was extensive. In my own line of work in education, I’ve used Greg Durm as an example. You do not have to be from a big school to do something great. Greg came from little old Elwood, yet that guy right here, who may very well someday cure cancer, was born and raised in Elwood, went to Elwood schools, and set out to accomplish the world. And he’s doing just that.”
During his acceptance speech, Durm said he almost didn’t answer the phone call informing him of this honor, but when he saw the 552 number, he recognized it.
“I’m honored to be here, and humbled to be a part of this group,” said Durm. “An Indianapolis PR legend who worked for the president of the United States and a political icon… it’s humbling to be a part of this.”
Finally, Abbey Grondin inducted Wendell Willkie, a graduate of the class of 1910.
“It’s a lot of pressure to speak about a man who is synonymous with our town,” said Grondin. “Growing up in Elwood, I’ve heard about Wendell Willkie my entire life.”
Grondin said Willkie taught high school before going to work for his parents’ law firm and then enlisting in the Army. Willkie later pursued a career in law, became the president of the Akron Bar Association, and rose among the political elite. He was nominated as the Republican candidate for president in 1940, accepting the nomination in Elwood before a crowd of more than 150,000 people—the largest political gathering in U.S. history at that time.
Accepting on behalf of Mr. Willkie was his grandson, David.
“Congratulations to everyone tonight,” said David Willkie. “You’ve never really made it until your hometown says you’ve made it.”
“What Elwood does is grow good people,” he continued. He spoke of his extended Willkie family, which included the state’s first female lawyer, an Olympic athlete, and more. “What you may not know about Wendell Willkie is he also worked with 20th Century Fox. He was the headline speaker at the 1941 Oscars.”
Congratulations to the inaugural inductees into the Elwood High School Alumni Hall of Fame!
