Saturday evening at the Oakfield-Alabama High School, the late 1st. Lt. Harmon J. Norton, Dr. Kenneth Bradt, Dr. Robert B. Diasio and Donald R. Carroll were inducted into the O-A Hall of Fame.

The Hornets' gymnasium was filled with about 100 friends and family of the inductees.

O-A students, Jennie Beverly, Leah Snyder, and Ashley Colopy introduced each inductee with a short bio. Wess Audsley, CEO/Director of the Genesee/Wyoming YMCA introduced Donald Carroll.

First Lt. Norton’s grandson, Harmon Norton accepted the award on behalf of his grandfather. He came all the way from Texas because of a quick Google search on his grandfather's name. 

He said the first thing that came up was the article from The Batavian. Once he started reading, he realized it was about his grandfather. He contacted Joe Cassidy, the Oakfield Town Historian, and arranged for a visit.

It seems as though he's been following his grandfather around, from enjoying the same hobby of airplanes and piloting, to being where, a 100 years earlier, his grandfather grew up -- in Oakfield. He thanked The Batavian for its story.

"Without your article, I would not be here today.”

When Dr. Bradt came to the podium, he not only got the audience laughing but enlightened us about the impact others have on your life and decisions. He started with a joke about making just a few notes for his speech while pulling out paper upon paper. Then he joked about his popularity with his female classmates, but sweetly gave the credit for his happiness to his wife of 62 years, Thelma.

He ended his speech challenging the audience to give some thought to the people who have made a difference in your life and to tell them how they influenced you.

Dr. Diasio was unable to attend the event. His classmate, Jan Witkowski,  who accepted the award for Diasio, said “We all knew Bob was destined for great things. We called him Doc from the very beginning.”

YMCA official Audsley shared memories of  Carroll and the struggles Carroll had as a child.

“He will do just about anything for people looking for help,” said Audsley. He said Carroll’s drive to help others is so they don’t have to go through what he went through.

The picture above is of previous and new inducted members. Below are this year's inductees by themselves.

The audience stood up as Carroll walked up to the podium with tears of gratitude flowing down his cheeks.

I got goose bumps. The moment seemed magical.

I felt hopeful and strenghtened as I listened to comments about Carroll's community contributions, and knowing all the inductees -- past and present -- have given above and beyond for others.

My husband even felt uplifted. The ceremony made me realize that people don't remember the material things as much as they do the moments spent with those they really care about.

The office of Alumni Affairs at Genesee Community College has named Jacqueline Kay Christenson as the new alumni coordinator. "Jackie" began her new position earlier this month after the retirement of Patti Pacino.

Previously, Christenson  was director of alumni programs at Roberts Wesleyan College, where she also served as the assistant director of alumni relations. She was responsible for organizing the Homecoming events, as well as many other alumni initiatives and communication efforts. In addition, she served in other capacities, including office manager and tutor coordinator.

She received her bachelor's degree in organizational management and a master's degree in business from Roberts Wesleyan College. She attended college as a nontraditional-aged student and started her professional career later in life. As an adult student, she had to balance the responsibilities of home and family with her college studies. She enjoyed being around students of all ages. She's eager to hear about the success of nontraditional Genesee students who have graduated and started their own careers.

"I'm really looking forward to connecting Genesee's alumni," Christenson said. "It will be interesting to meet the many different graduates and hear their stories. I hope to bring as many alumni back to campus as possible, so they can see how much the college continues to grow and how their support and involvement with their alma mater adds an incredible dynamic to the life and times at Genesee."

One new opportunity she plans to develop in her first year is an Alumni Mentoring program. Funded by a grant, she hopes to match successful alumni with current students to foster relationships and help to guide students with career advice and possible job shadowing.

Christenson is a resident of North Chili and has two sons, Jeff (34) and Steve (29). She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two granddaughters, Claire and Maggie. She also enjoys camping, Cajun Zydeco music and swing dancing.

For further information, or to contact the Office of Alumni Affairs, please call 585-343-0055 x6265 or email at alumni@genesee.edu.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our everyday tasks, we tend to forget those who've helped create the life Americans enjoy.

Like the late 1st Lt. Harmon J. Norton, for example, who served his nation admirably during the Great War.

He graduated in 1913 from Oakfield-Alabama High School and served in the Marine Corps. He was widely regarded as one of the best fliers in America. Joe Cassidy, the Town of Alabama historian, will be representing Norton at the O-A Hall of Fame induction ceremony at 5 p.m. Oct. 3.

After graduating high school, Norton studied law at the Detroit College of Law. For two years during college he was a clerk for the New York State Legislature and the Constitutional Convention of New York State. In 1916, he joined the military and two years later he was appointed as an officer in the air branch of the Marine Corps.

During World War I, Norton served as a flying instructor at various air bases throughout the country.

The lieutenant was known as an able and skilled aviator, an "ace" famous among his fellow officers and aviation enthusiasts.

Along with piloting planes, Norton also represented defendants in court martial trials. His success in court had him traveling to different parts of the country to defend men facing court martial.

In 1923, his focus was back on aviation. He was appointed to command a newly established land airplane squadron at Pensacola, Fla.

Captain J.J. Raby, Navy Commandant at the time, described Norton as a pilot of long experience and sure ability especially in landing planes. Raby also noted him as an exceptional all-around officer particularly valuable to aviation.

Norton became the aviation liaision officer in the Marine Corps of the expeditionary forces. This position is responsible for handling all matters between the force and its flying section. His skill at making short trips quickly and manipulating safe landings on hazardous fields were the primary reasons he was selected for the job.

Norton was going to compete in the Schneider Trophy, a prize competition for seaplanes. But he died in 1926 when a military plane he was testing crashed into the Potomac River.

Norton's grandson, who lives in Texas, and granddaughter, who lives in Florida, plan to attend the ceremony.

Kenneth Bradt, Ph.D, is one of four inductees for the Oakfield-Alabama High School Hall of Fame ceremony the first weekend in October.

They will be introduced to students at a pep rally Oct. 2 and recognized publicly at that night's football game.

The Hall of Fame honors will take place Oct. 3 at the O-A Middle-High School. Dinner begins at 5 p.m. with the ceremony following.

Bradt has had an illustrious career. To prepare for it, he attended Syracuse University with an interest in chemistry but found he was more intrigued by people’s decisions and behaviors. He quickly switched his major and earned his bachelor's and master’s degrees in psychology.

In 1951, he earned his doctorate in psychology at Illinois' Northwestern University.

After getting his education, Bradt achieved the rank of first lieutenant in the Army Medical Service. He served as chief clinical psychologist at the Army Hospital at Camp Atterbury, Ind., and later became a research psychologist with the Department of Defense in Washington, D.C..

During the '70s Bradt counseled CIA employees coping with unfamiliar, unpredictable and potentially dangerous situations. For his work, he received the Intelligence Medal of Merit from the CIA director for outstanding contributions to agency management.

For 21 years, Bradt shared his knowledge and wisdom with students at George Washington University, the University of Virginia and George Mason University.

In 1981, he was teaching at George Mason University and originated one of the first graduate-level courses in organizational leadership in the country.

In 2004, he was elected Fellow in the American Psychological Association in recognition of outstanding and unusual contributions to the science and profession of psychology. 

The other inductees are Dr. Robert Disasio, Donald Carroll and 1st. Lt. Harmon J. Norton, who will be represented by Joe Cassidy, the Town of Alabama historian. Some previous inductees will also be attending.

Tickets go on sale in late August at the school’s main office or from committee members. The public is welcome.

Dr. Robert B. Diasio continues to make an everlasting footprint in the medical field. He has traveled all over the United States sharing his knowledge and passion in medicine and pharmacology. But his education started here in Genesee County where he graduated from Oakfield-Alabama as valedictorian in 1963.

Since then he has received recognition from colleges and major medical centers and was selected twice as "Best Doctor in America." And the recognition keeps on coming. On Oct. 3 at Oakfield-Alabama Middle School he will be one of four inductees attending the O-A High School Hall of Fame ceremony.

His passion may have come from his parents, Joseph and Clara Diasio, who were longtime physicians in Oakfield.

After high school he ventured on to receive his B.A. from the University of Rochester and an M.D. from Yale University School of Medicine in 1971.

Then he came back home to do internal training at Strong Memorial Hospital. He was a Fellow in Medical Oncology and in Clinical Pharmacology at the National Cancer Institute. For eight years he was a professor at the University of Alabama School of Medicine and was also the Newman H. Waters Chair and director of clinical pharmacology.

He has published more than 200 manuscripts, written reviews and has contributed chapters in several major medical textbooks.

He is the Director of the Mayo Clinic Center in Minnesota and holds the positions of William J. and Charles H. Mayo Endowed Professor as well as Consultant and Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. His work at the center includes research on pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics as applied to cancer therapeutic agents. His lab is now beginning to expand into other cancer therapeutic agents and other neoplasms.

Check back tomorrow for a closer look into Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Kenneth Bradt.