Welcome to the Fine Arts Hall of Fame of London City Schools
The Fine Arts Hall of Fame was founded in 2014 by the London Music Boosters. Its primary purpose is to recognize individuals/groups with ties to London City Schools who have made an important, positive impact on the Arts community in our schools, the local community or the global community at large.
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Congratulations to Our 2015 Inductees!
- Clayton Burke - LHS Class of '89. Vocalist, director and local theatre performer. Clayton has performed in twenty five musicals and/or plays on the London, OH and Fayetteville, NC stage. He performed with and directed the thirty man military 82nd Airborne Divisions All-American Chorus. With that chorus he recorded two nationally distributed albums. Clayton has performed Long Live the USA on MTV and CMT, the national anthem at more than 15 NCAA, NBA, NFL and NHL sporting events, with Bob hope on the USO tour in 1993, for presidents George H W Bush and Bill Clinton and with Lee Greenwood and James Taylor. He sang on the national televised Coca-Cola 600 auto race to an audience of over 1 million. He has written and produced several radio commercial promos and many original works. Clayton has recorded demos for seven local bands/musicians over the last 10 years and has been a professional musician/sound engineer for the last 20 years. He has led the contemporary worship service at St John Lutheran Church in London for 14 years and has participated in Madison County Arts Council musical reviews. Clayton credits his success to his "extremely talented music and theater directors from London Schools in the late 80's/early 90's... Lon Beery and Joyce Hildebrand." Without their direction and mentoring, he says, he would not be the man he is today.
- Angela (Cain) Crawford - LHS Class of '80 - New Director of Public Affairs for the Indianapolis International Airport; WTHR Community Affairs Director; News Anchor/Health Reporter for KXAS-TV in Dallas plus Community Affairs Talk Show Host; Weekend News Anchor/Reporter at WRTV 6 in Indianapolis; Reporter at WHIO-TV in Dayton, Ohio. Winner of four regional Emmy awards, National "Gracie" Award from American Women in Radio and Television; National Hopeline Champion award from Verizon Wireless for leading a 10 year campaign against domestic violence; Several "Outstanding Community Service" awards from the Indiana Broadcasters Association and Indiana Associated Press. Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from Wright State University.
- Eleanor (Ellie) Grubbs - LCS Visual Arts Educator '68 - '94. Graduated with a bachelor of fine arts from Wittenberg University in 1950. Ellie was first an illustrator then later opened the "Licorice Door" art store/studio and gave art lessons in London. She was the first dedicated Art teacher at London High School and began teaching classes in 1968 at the London Community Arts Center. She continued teaching in London schools until 1994. She was the chair of the LCS Fine Arts Festival for many years. She was a founder/creator of the original Madison County Arts Council in 1977. The non-profit organization operated out of the former London Community Arts Center on E. High St., and was founded to "encourage and stimulate the practice and appreciation of the Fine Arts among people of Madison County, OH". She was active from 1961-1986 with the London School Community Theatre as a stage performer and set/costume designer. Ellie is remembered for being a major positive influence in the development of many high school students. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 85.
- Trula (Hoosier) Marcus - LHS Class of '78. Graduate of Wright State University. TV, Film and Theatre actress. She has many theater, film and television credits including a 4 year run as character Evie Sharpe on the CBS soap opera Guiding Light. She had guest starring TV roles on Star Trek DS-9, Dream On and Knots Landing as well as on-screen and behind the camera roles in movies Little Fockers, State of Play, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Fast and Furious - Tokyo Drift, Man’s Best Friend, Strictly Business, The Rainmaker, Sidewalk Stores and others. In 1991 Trula appeared in Daughters of the Dust, winner of the Excellence in Cinematography Award at the Sundance Film Festival. In 1985, she was the recipient of the Initial Award in Theatre from the Princess Grace Foundation. Trula also does voiceover work and can be heard on the video game World of Warcraft. Trula credits her success to her high school drama teacher and fellow Fine Arts Hall of Fame member, Joyce Hildebrand. Says Trula, “I love Mrs. Hildebrand. She changed my life”.
- George Peyton - George Peyton - LHS Class of ‘81 – Graphic design, photography, videography. Learned his love of Art from Mrs. Grubbs at LHS. George learned the art of screen printing while living in Napa California where he also did custom mural painting on tiles for use in kitchens and bathrooms. George is the past owner of Howling Wolf Studio in London. One feature of that gaming business was a room where customers could paint their own models and lead miniatures. George himself has painted several thousand custom miniatures. He founded White Tiger Graphics in 1988. White Tiger provided printing, graphic design and product distribution to clients around the world. He also operates Lost or Forgotten Photography and has done book and CD covers for authors and musicians. He also shoots music videos and short films. George was the visionary behind the beautiful State Theater restoration in downtown London. Most recently he opened his newest venture, Malleus Guitars, custom designing and producing guitars.
- Ruth and John Sawyer (nominated as a couple) - Community Theatre and supporter of the Arts. Ruth and John performed in many of the casts of London School Community Theatre productions beginning in 1961. They were responsible for many set designs and construction. In the 1960s the Sawyer's generously donated the use of a historic brick home on East High Street as the site for the London Community Arts Center. From 1968 until the new high school was opened in 1981 this facility housed the first Art classes offered to London High School students. They did this at no cost to the school or students. Throughout their time in London as the owners/operators of Orleton Farms, Ruth and John financially backed and encouraged Art, Instrumental Music and Theatre in London Schools and in the community. They did this with little to no fanfare and made huge differences in individual student lives and in the success of many programs. They continued to support local theatre upon relocation to Cincinnati where John was president of the Cincinnati Bengals. Ruth passed away in 2013 and John still lives in the Cincinnati area at the age of 90.
Our Inaugural Inductees in 2014!
- Joyce Hildebrand – LCS educator from ‘67 to ’92 - '46
graduate of Marion Harding High School, bachelor’s degree in speech from Ohio
Wesleyan University in '50, bachelor’s degree in education from Ohio University
and Wittenberg University, and a master’s degree in theatre from the University
of Michigan. She worked as a teacher
instructor at Miami University, as entertainment director at the Army Chemical
Center in Maryland, as a teacher at Madison South High School, and as a teacher
at London High School from 1967 until her retirement in 1992. Directed over 150 plays for the Army Special
Services and high schools and 25 London community plays. She was a co-founder
of the London School-Community Theater and designed the theater and classroom/work
area at London High School. She taught
public speaking, dramatic literature, oral communications, play production,
English and American government. She also composed a speech textbook, “Won’t
You Say a Few Words,” which was adopted by the London school board and
copyrighted. Member of First United
Methodist Church of London, where she directed the adult choir for seven years
and the children’s choir for eight years.
- Robert (Bob) Le Beau – LHS Class of ’52 – Professional
saxophonist. Bachelor degree in
education from Wilmington College, Masters in HS Administration from Xavier
University, Post-masters work at The Ohio State University. Principal at Franklin Heights High School for
over 30 years. While in the U.S. Army he
played in the show band with the "Second Army Showmobile", a touring
variety show group. He also toured every major army command in the world with
the famous "Rolling Along" All-Army Revue. Bob has worked with Steve
Lawrence, Margaret Whiting, Pat O'Bryan, Myron Floren, the Jimmy Dorsey
Orchestra directed by Lee Castle, and the Bob Crosby Orchestra. Locally he has
played with Riley Norris, Howdy Gorman, Bruno Masdea, Doc Everhart, Lincoln
Village Big Band, Freedom Sound and the Rick Brunetto Big Band. Additionally,
he has co-lead the small group "Timeless". Currently plays in four
professional bands: Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Rick Brunetto’s Big
Band, Dwight Lenox’s Lenox Avenue Express, and John Vermeulen’s Octet backing
Brian Michael Smith.
- Robert (Bob) Lukens – LHS Class of ’36 – Graduate of The Ohio State University in 1940 with a
degree in mechanical engineering. A
self-taught musician, Bob learned to play the piano by ear and had no formal
lessons. He then took up trumpet lessons
and performed in several ensembles throughout high school including the London
Creamery Marching Band and a dance band where he earned $3 a performance. Bob was a 17 year old freshman trumpet player
in The Ohio State University marching band when the band first performed the
greatest college marching band tradition of all time - Script Ohio - on October
10, 1936. He was a member of TBDBITL for all 4 years at OSU. Following
graduation Bob returned to London to operate the family funeral business and
was also a math and science teacher for London City Schools. He later served 25
years as the district treasurer and was also a member of the Board of
Education. Bob passed away March 26, 2012 at the age of 93.
- Alfred (Al) Mancini – LHS Class of ‘50 – Stage, TV and film actor. 65 Television/Movie credits to his name, was a
regular UK TV and stage performer in London's West End productions. He also
performed in many TV shows and films in the US. His most notable film role was
as Tassos Bravos, one of the 12 prisoners in The Dirty Dozen with Lee Marvin,
Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, etc. Some of his other roles include; Babe:
Pig in the City, NYPD Blue, The Rockford Files: Godfather Knows Best, Falling
Down, Miller's Crossing, Loose Cannons, Turk 182!, and All in the Family. His
last role, in 2005, was on an episode of Joan of Arcadia. He was an acting instructor for over 30 years
at the Beverly Hills Playhouse. In 2002, he won the Los Angeles Ovation Award
for his performance in The Time of Your Life. He passed away in 2007. He is the brother-in-law to Clint Morse, another Hall of Fame inductee.
- John Markus – LHS Class of ’74 – Emmy
Award-winning writer. Graduate of Stanford University. Following college he moved to Los Angeles
writing for a revival of the animated "Mighty Mouse." Accepted into
Paramount's apprentice program, he was a staff writer on "Working
Stiffs," a sitcom starring Michael Keaton and Jim Belushi. After an assignment on Paramount's
"Taxi", Markus joined the original writing staff of "The Cosby
Show." He became the series' supervising producer after six episodes and
was promoted to co-executive producer for the second season. He remained as
show runner with the acclaimed series until 1990. During his tenure, he wrote
or co-wrote 67 episodes, earning an Emmy, a Peabody and two Humanitas
prizes. He also co-created the Cosby
spin-off "A Different World," which ran for six season on NBC. Markus next co-created critically acclaimed
"Lateline" with Al Franken for Paramount Network Television and
NBC. He was consulting producer on
"The Larry Sanders Show," co-writing the Emmy-nominated Ellen
Degeneres episode, "Ellen: Is She Or Isn't She?" His play "Sons
of Liberty," a prototype for an NBC television series, was produced at the
American Place Theater and directed by Jerry Zaks. Most recently, he created and executive
produced the half-hour comedy "Kristin", a Markusfarms production in
association with Paramount Network Television for NBC-TV. Since 2009 John has been busy as creator and executive producer of BBQ
Pitmasters on TLC and Destination America. Markus lives in New
York City with his wife, Ardith, a painter.
- Chick McGee (Charles (Fout) Hayes) - LHS Class of '76. Radio personality (The Bob and Tom Show). He began his career at a small, 1,000-watt
radio station in West Virginia and held various on-air positions at stations in
West Virginia and Ohio. Prior to joining the Bob and Tom Show he went by the
name Chuck Michaelz. On April 1, 1986,
Chick joined The Bob & Tom Show as the announcer, eventually expanding his
duties to sports and humor. In January
1995, Chick left The Bob and Tom Show to become co-host of a show called Kevin
& McGee at KGB-FM in San Diego, California. In July 1995 he returned to his
former job on The Bob & Tom Show. He
started podcasting Off the Air with Chick McGee on July 24, 2012.
- Clinton (Clint) Morse – LHS Class of ’52 –
Played trombone in the high school band. By his senior year, he had learned to
play all the instruments in the band in addition to piano: guitar, mandolin,
banjo, and string bass. He began playing
gigs at the age of 15 with a square-dance band. Studied jazz piano with Bobby Pierce, and composition and arranging with
Dave Wheeler. He has been in many bands around Columbus, such as Howdy Gorman,
The Graduates, Freedom Sound, Timeless, and Bone-fide Swing. He performed with Pat O'Brien, Margaret Whiting,
Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Myron Floren, Cab Calloway's daughter Chris, and has
toured with the Stars of Lawrence Welk. He has written arrangements for all the
groups he has belonged to. Some of his
orchestrations have been performed by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. Clint
has had his choir compositions published. He taught students from Japan and Pakistan how to speak English. He
taught high-school mathematics, was Deercreek Elementary School principal and
later director of curriculum for London City Schools. He was also assistant high school football
coach. He is the brother-in-law to Al Mancini, also a Fine Arts Hall of Fame inductee.
- Larry Peters – LHS Class of ‘65 – Played in the
high school band. Bachelor’s degree in
secondary education from Xavier University. Teacher at West Jefferson High School. Worked evenings and weekends as a wedding photographer. Opened Main Street Photography in 1974 in the
living room of his home. Creative new
approaches made his portraits unique in the industry. Peters Photography became the first studio in
Ohio to offer outdoor senior portraits. In 1982, Peters Photography was recognized as a leader in the field of
senior portraits. Larry Peters has lectured in 46 U.S states and
internationally about his methods and studio practices. He is recognized as the
father of contemporary senior portraiture. In 1984, Larry and a partner started a prop company called JL Originals.
The company is known for its unique wooden creations, such as the first
commercially available “numbers” for senior photographs, as well as the
Patented “Eyelighter”, known across the U.S as one of the most creative
lighting tools around. In 1986, he
introduced High Contrast Black and White Glamour photographs. Peter’s latest
innovation has been the incorporation of real underwater portraits for seniors
and children. No other studio in Ohio offers this creative session for
seniors. Larry Peters has created
techniques and trends that are often copied throughout the country.
- Phillip (Phil) Shipley – LHS Class of '74 - Past
percussion instructor for LHS Marching Band. Principal percussionist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, he is the
nephew of Clint Morse. Has performed as
a member of the CSO since 1982. Prior to
the CSO, Phil toured and performed with various musical groups and Broadway
shows throughout the U.S. and abroad. As
a recording artist, Phil has performed on national television themes as well as
commercials. Aside from his Columbus
Symphony performances, Phil is now involved in a new electronic music project
combining hip hop, Hindu, and Klezmer music.
- Diane (Sisterhen) Slagle – LHS Class of '73. Adjunct instructor of music and staff
accompanist for Wittenberg University. Performs concerts and recitals with students and faculty, with guest
artists, and as accompanist of Wittenberg Singers, Wittenberg Choir and
Wittenberg Opera Studio. She previously taught elementary music and has
directed several adult and children’s choruses. Diane maintains a private piano
studio from her home in London, Ohio. She served as Children’s Choir Director,
Christmas play director, and substitute organist for the First United Methodist
Church in London for many years and is now accompanist for Columbus Chamber
Singers. Diane graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education
degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and she
earned Orff-Schulwerk Certification from the Lamont School of Music at the
University of Denver.
- James (Jim) Smith – LHS Class of ‘54 – Graduated in 1959 from
The Ohio State University College of Civil Engineering. Retired from the Ohio
Department of Transportation. A fixture in the local community theatre and arts
scene since 1979 with his first community theatre performance in George M. Jim
has participated in many London School Community Theatre, London Players,
Madison County Arts Council, Grandparents Living Theatre, ICON Studios, Inc.,
WCMH Channel 4, London Public Library, Columbus State Community College
productions as well as MCAC musical reviews. He is perhaps best known as the
ultimate character actor and his vocal readings are among the most requested at
the Arts Council’s annual holiday events. Member of the First Presbyterian
Church Adult Choir 1983-2006 and Men's Ensemble 1983-2013 .Has
performed/acted/narrated in multiple productions with the Columbus State
Concert Band and First Presbyterian Church Choir. Jim has also been a football
(LMS & LHS) and golf coach for London City Schools.
- David (Dave) Trent – LCS music educator '81 - '05. Taught band and choir for London, previously band director at West Jefferson and Bloom Carroll High Schools. '65 graduate of Neshannock High School in New Castle, PA. Spent 4 years in the US Navy including playing with the US Navy Band in Naples, IT. Received bachelor of arts degree from Youngstown State University in 1974. Began competition era for marching bands at London. Took the band to State Marching Band Finals 18 times during his tenure. Also traveled with his bands on the road performing in Washington DC, New York City, Orlando, Atlanta and Toronto. Dave has been an OMEA marching band adjudicator for 32+ years and regularly visits the current LHS marching band to lend his advice and guidance.
Nominations for the Fine Arts Hall of Fame
Nominees are accepted each year for induction consideration into the London City Schools Fine Arts Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame's primary purpose is to recognize individuals/groups with ties to London City Schools who have made an important, positive impact on the Arts community in our schools, the local community or the global community at large.
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