Located in the main entrance to the High School, the S-E Wall of Fame is designed to honor Sherburne-Earlville graduates and staff who have made significant contributions to humanity, improved the quality of life, or achieved noteworthy recognition in their careers or educations.

The S-E Wall of Fame has honored 48 extraordinary people from 2009-2020. Future selections will be announced during even-numbered years as S-E Wall of Fame inductions alternate with Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies (odd-numbered years).

The S-E Wall of Fame Committee greatly appreciates nominations from the S-E community for future honorees. Click on the links at right to download a nomination form.

David J. Gale: Rear Admiral Gale is the Program Executive Officer for the U.S. Navy where he is responsible for the building of various ships. Soon to be retired, Gale rose through the ranks of the Navy, serving as auxiliariesofficer, engineer officer, executive officer, and the first commanding officer of the U.S.S. Mason, among other duties. Gale received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics degree from the University of New Mexico and a Master’s degree in National Resources Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He speaks warmly of his family and his teachers at Sherburne-Earlville.

Dolores Brown Kruchten: Currently the Vice President of Eastman Business Park in Rochester, Kruchten joined Eastman Kodak in 1981 and has held a variety of leadership roles in the company. According to Kodak, “Kruchten has decades of experience managing global, technical businesses, most recently as President of the Information Management division at Kodak Alaris.” In 2015, the Rochester Institute of Technology honored her as a Distinguished Alumna. She has also served on the Board of Directors of the Rochester United Way, the Monroe Community College Foundation, and the American Heart Walk. Kruchten is a 1979 graduate of Sherburne-Earlville.

Barbara Gay Smith: A 1962 graduate of Earlville High School, Gay served as a librarian in the S-E district for thirty-five years. Beloved by countless children, Gay communicated her love of reading and exploration through book talks to both school and community groups. Gay also helped design the Sherburne-Earlville Elementary library, served as president of the S-E teachers’ union, and was active in her local church and on the S-E Madhatters Relay for Life Team. After retirement, Gay served in the BOCES library system and as interim director of the Sherburne Public Library.

David Bensley: Bensley has devoted his life to helping students, both in the Sherburne-Earlville community and around the world. A 1963 graduate of Sherburne Central School, he taught social studies at his alma mater before becoming the high school principal. He served as a coach and advisor and was the former president of Sherburne Rotary Club where he coordinated the club’s Youth Exchange Program. Bensley was also Firefighter of the Year for both Earlville and Chenango counties and has served on a variety of community boards.

Nancy Heck: Heck’s former students remember her as the “best teacher in the world.” She taught kindergarten, first, and second grades at S-E for 26 years until her retirement. Known as the “glitter queen,” Heck kept track of her many students from their first days in her kindergarten class until graduation, showering them with glitter and mementos from their time together. She also hosted regular dinners for her pupils and their families at her home.

Joe Martinelli: Martinelli devoted over 30 years of service to the S-E school district, serving as English teacher, high school principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools. He was instrumental in supporting agriculture, special education, remediation, and talented/gifted programs. He was also responsible for numerous grants that benefited the district, setting a standard for excellence that has lasted to this day.

Betty Mayne: A member of the 1963 class of SCS, Mayne has been a volunteer leader in Sherburne Girl Scouts for over 40 years. She is an active member of the Faith Baptist Tabernacle where she has sponsored children each summer at Camp BaYouCa. She also volunteers in the kitchen at her church and helps organize a monthly dinner for senior citizens.

Rick Schroder: Schroder is a corporate diversity leader who has organized trainings at Fortune 500 companies for over sixteen years. A 1978 graduate of S-E, he currently works as a manager of Inclusion and Diversity at GlaxoSmithKline in Philadelphia. He has also worked as a hydrogeologist, consultant, diversity manager, and director of sustainable development for such corporations as the Campbell Soup Company, the Shell Oil Company, and Schroder and Associates. He is the author of “Finding the Energy: Coming Out in Corporate America.”

Carol and Keith Harvey: Carol and Keith were dedicated employees who served the S-E district in many ways. Keith was the teacher of S-E's award-winning Future Farmers of America program, a science and health teacher, and middle school principal. A Sherburne Central School graduate of 1961, Carol was also a beloved teacher's aide in the elementary school who cared for countless students on the playground.

Rosemary Jaytanie: The first female member of the S-E Board of Education, Rosemary was also a dedicated math teacher, tutor, and substitute teacher for many years. A native of Iowa, Rosemary is widely known for her musical skills. She has accompanied school concerts, musicals, community bands, choruses, and school competitions throughout the Chenango Valley.

Robert Osowski: A 1950 graduate of Sherburne Central School, Bob “Dutch” Osowski has been a beloved S-E community volunteer for over sixty years. A member of the Sherburne Fire Department and Welcome Center, Bob has also coached generations of students in a variety of sports. Bob's optimism and determination helped him defeat cancer in 1979.

James F. Taylor: A member of the S-E Class of 1959, Jim Taylor is a well-respected local attorney who has remained loyal to his alma mater in several ways. An S-E Booster of the Year and a certified teacher, Jim sponsors the Marion K. Taylor Award for a deserving eighth grade student. He also directed the Mock Trial team and coached the Varsity Girls' Basketball team.

Rosemarie L. (Rose) Tenney: A 1977 graduate of Sherburne-Earlville, Rose is an active supporter of her school and community. The mother of four S-E students, Rose helps organize the Alumni Band and is a board member of the Save the Sherburne Inn Restoration Project. Her energy and enthusiasm have sustained a variety of church and community groups.

Robert Benedict: A beloved teacher and counselor in S-E for many years, Bob helped countless students adjust to the rigors of the classroom and the real world. Bob is also an active member of several community groups and has graciously donated his time after retirement as an assistant in the S-E attendance office.

Benjamin Busch: An S-E graduate, veteran of two tours of duty in Iraq, actor, and writer, Ben Busch is the author of the memoir Dust to Dust. As an actor he has appeared in numerous television shows, including Party of Five, Homicide: Life on the Street, The West Wing, The Wire, and Generation Kill. He is also the writer/director of two films, Sympathetic Details and Bright.

Thomas M. Lotz, Sr.: Called “The Dean of Chenango Valley,” Tom Lotz was the driving force behind the consolidation of the Earlville and Sherburne School Districts. He served as principal and superintendent in the district for twenty-four years, oversaw the construction of the current middle-high school, and served on many local boards and organizations.

Gina Utegg: A former senior pharmaceutical executive who specialized in infectious diseases, Gina Utegg is the epitome of perseverance. Hit head-on by a drunk driver in 2001, Gina recovered from brain, back, and neck injuries. In 2009 Gina was diagnosed with breast cancer but has bounced back after extensive chemotherapy and radiation. She is now an avid cyclist and has participated in numerous charity races and fund-raisers.

Elizabeth Fagan: A highly respected member of the Sherburne-Earlville High School English department, Betty Fagan is remembered not only for her remarkable teaching skills, but also for her genuine concern for her students. Whether she was leading a discussion on a novel, illustrating a point in English grammar, helping a student choose a college, or advising former students after her retirement, Mrs. Fagan guided and inspired hundreds of students over a long career.

Lenny Sue (Mayne) French: A member of the S-E Class of 1985, Lenny Sue French is a middle school math and science teacher in North Carolina. The recipient of numerous teaching awards from several national organizations, Ms. French and her sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students won a national contest to design an experiment for the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Their experiment on the effects of micro-gravity on a living organism flew on the next-to-last mission of the space shuttle program.

Dr. Nicky J. (Williams) Leeborg: An S-E graduate from 1994, Dr. Leeborg is a hematopathologist and assistant professor at the Oregon Health and Science University. After graduating from Clarkson University and SUNY Upstate Medical University, Dr. Leeborg was a pathology resident and surgical pathology fellow in Oregon. She has won numerous awards, including the Lee C. Van Wagner Scholarship, the Department of Pathology Photomicroscopy Award, and the Oregon Health and Science University Rose Award. 

John McDaniel: It would be hard to find a more dedicated public servant than John McDaniel. The owner of The Sherburne News, Mr. McDaniel was the Town Clerk of Sherburne for fifty-five years and was honored by the New York State Senate for his many years of dedicated service. A veteran of World War II, he received the Silver Star for gallantry in action in 1944. Mr. McDaniel still resides in his family home on East State Street and is a strong supporter of many community groups.

James W. Carrier: A leading advocate for veterans, Jim Carrier serves on the boards for the Navy SEAL Warrior Fund, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and the Hope for the Warriors organization. The founder of the Veterans Appreciation Council of Greenwich, Connecticut, Jim also serves as a trustee for Fisher House Foundation which donates comfort homes on the grounds of major military and medical centers. Jim is a Partner and Director of Marketing at Edgewood Management and was the Salutatorian of the Sherburne-Earlville Class of 1980.

Randy Glasbergen: A nationally-known cartoonist, Randy Glasbergen is the creator of “The Better Half,” a comic panel syndicated by King Features that appears in newspapers seven days a week around the globe. Randy's cartoons have appeared in many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Good Housekeeping, Boys' Life, Glamour, Better Homes and Gardens, and the Syracuse Post-Standard. His work also appears on greeting cards, websites, and newsletters. The author of many books of cartoons, Randy is a member of the Sherburne-Earlville Class of 1975.

James Hoefler: A professor and former chair of the Political Science Department at Dickinson College, James Hoefler has won several awards for teaching, including the Excellence in Teaching Award from Omicron Delta Kappa, the Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award at Dickinson College, and the Distinguished Faculty Member Recognition from Kappa Sigma / Pi Beta Phi. Jim specializes in American politics and public policy analysis and is the author of four books on issues related to health, death, and dying. Jim is a member of the Sherburne-Earlville Class of 1973.

Janette Nigolian: A beloved former secretary at Sherburne-Earlville High School, Jan Nigolian has the respect and affection of countless community members. Whether she was helping a new faculty member or administrator adjust to life at S-E, or assisting a student with a personal problem, Jan truly cared for all the people who approached her desk. The mother of four S-E graduates, Jan has been an active member of several community groups and was a graduate of Sherburne High School.

Albert Whitney and Frank L. Miller: A local business owner, Albert Whitney was inspired by a gala band presentation during World War II to contact Frank L. Miller, a music teacher at Sherburne, about an event for local bands. With help from the local fire department, Albert and Frank began the pageant which draws thousands of visitors to Sherburne each June. Their tireless commitment to their school and community has enriched the lives of generations of Sherburne-Earlville students.

Charlie Palmer: Renowned chef, businessman, author, and a graduate of Sherburne-Earlville, Charlie Palmer proves that a small-town boy can make it big on a national scale. Charlie's restaurants on the East and West Coasts have won numerous awards from James Beard, Wine Spectator, Food Arts, Michelin Guide, and others. His “Progressive American” cuisine uses fresh ingredients from local producers in variety of flavorful dishes. A frequent guest on NBC's Today Show, Charlie is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and the owner of several hotels, boutiques, and wine shops. 

Isaac Plumb: Isaac Plumb, a graduate of the Sherburne Academy, volunteered to serve in the Union Army in 1861. He fought in twenty-one engagements during the Civil War, including the battles of Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. Mortally wounded during the battle of Gaines Mills in Virginia in June of 1864, Captain Isaac Plumb died for our country and for its most important principles in Washington D.C. on July 4, 1864 at the age of twenty-one. He did his share.

Lytle and William Stackhouse: Lytle and William Stackhouse have devoted their lives to assisting and supporting their parents during a time of family need. Willingly changing their own goals in order to help the parents who always supported them, they serve to remind us of the important life lessons of fraternal loyalty, self-sacrifice, responsibility to friends, and devotion to family.

Andy Straka: An award-winning crime novelist, Andy Straka was the co-salutatorian of the Sherburne-Earlville Class of 1976 and a graduate of Williams College. His fictional detective Frank Pavlicek, the hero in a series of novels including Cold Quarry, A Witness Above, A Killing Sky, and Kitty Hitter, gives new life to a popular genre. Andy is the winner of the 2004 Shamus Award for the best private eye novel as well as a devoted husband, father of six children, licensed falconer, and licensed private investigator. A star on the Sherburne-Earlville basketball court, Andy was also the co-captain of Williams' basketball team.