William L. Shepherd
During the last half of the twentieth century, what little notoriety or publicity the town of Hope received, was usually tied to the name of 1945 Hope High School graduate Bill Shepherd. Bill is known throughout the state and nation as an outstanding educator, coach, athletic director, and family man. The 1945 Hope Red Devils won the sectional and regional basketball championships led by Bill Shepherd. He was subsequently named to the Indianapolis Star's All-Sectional, All-Regional and All Semi-State teams. When the season concluded, Shepherd was named to the illustrious Indiana All Star Basketball team, the only person from Hope, Clifford or Hauser to ever win that honor. Bill continued his education at Butler University and played for Hall of Fame coach, Tony Hinkle. Bill lettered in basketball for three years and twice in baseball while at Butler.
While at Butler, Bill married his high school sweetheart, Edie Perry. After graduation the couple moved to Mitchell, Indiana where Bill taught, coached basketball and conducted summer camps from 1949-1958. Bill and Edie have three sons and a daughter. "Shep" was courted to become the basketball coach at many Indiana high schools. He accepted the coaching job at Carmel High School, which today is the largest high school in Indiana. During his tenure as coach (1958-1970), he led the Greyhounds to the State Runner-Up title in 1970 and two of his sons were named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 1968 and 1970. His coaching record was 336 wins and 146 losses. Bill was also Carmel's athletic director from 1961 until his retirement in 1992. Under his guidance, Carmel's athletic program became the biggest and most successful sports program in Indiana. While serving as Athletic Director, Bill was an important member of the Indiana High School Athletic Association Executive Committee. For his success in sports, Bill Shepherd was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 and to the Butler University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 in both basketball and baseball. Bill Shepherd has constantly maintained his small town values even while he was working the realm of big time sports.
Thomas L. Thayer
Thomas Thayer grew up in Flat Rock Township and graduated from Clifford High School in 1933. He then attended Danville Normal School for 18 months to obtain a teacher's license. Later, he took night classes to complete his Bachelor's degree and Master's degree from Butler University. Tom taught at St. Louis Crossing, Taylorsville and Clifford before World War II broke out. Mr. Thayer enlisted in the Army Air Corps and ultimately became a navigator of a B-17 flying fortress bomber. In one famous incident, Tom's plane was returning from a mission when the plane iced up causing the pilot to order all crew members to bail out. Tom bailed out, but before any other crew members bailed, the pilot got the plane under control. Mr. Thayer eventually returned to his base, and his adventures were reported by the famous war correspondent Ernie Pyle. Tom's story eventually went nationwide and appeared in Pyle's book, Here is Your War.
After the war, Thayer returned to Hope to marry his sweetheart, teach, and farm. He and Mary had three daughters. Tom taught a total of 40 years mostly in the Columbus school corporation. After retirement, he became one of Hauser's most devoted sports fans. He was a member of the Hope Volunteer Fire Department, and a 50 year member of the American Legion. He served on the original committee for the Hope Heritage Days. He was instrumental in the relocation of the Simmons School to the educational complex and made several worthwhile donations to that cause. Tom Thayer's life can be summarized by what his friends often said of him, "He was a person who would help anyone with anything." His was a life of service, teaching, farming, family and friendliness.
Glen S. Keller
Glen S. Keller graduated from Hope High School in 1951 and earned a Bachelor's degree from Indiana Central College in 1957 following his service in the U.S. Army. He later earned a Master's degree from Butler University and earned certification in Secondary Administration, Elementary Administration, Guidance, and Superintendent of Schools. Glen began his career teaching at Petersville Elementary School and was the school's principal from 1959-1965. In 1965 Mr. Keller began his illustrious career as principal of Hauser Jr.-Sr. High School until he moved on to become the corporation's superintendent in 1985, a position he held until 1995. One of his former faculty members referred to Glen as "Mr. Hauser," a title he richly earned while changing the lives of his students through his tough love, his humor, his encouragement, his notes, his poems, his hugs and his willingness to listen. His faculty was fanatically loyal to him. Throughout all his work and achievements, he has been supported by his wife, Jane, and their three children.
Glen Keller's resume of awards earned is impressive. One of his most noteworthy honors is that of Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash given by Govenor Bayh in 1995. He was the Hope Kiwanis Man-of-the-Century, Bartholomew County Rural Service Award winner, Hope Heritage Day Parade Marshall, and Kiwanis Riley Hospital Service Award winner. Glen has been active in the Moravian Church as an elder, teacher and district executive board member. In his "spare time," Mr. Keller has been a farmer, an auctioneer, and appraiser and liaison for an architectural firm. Glen Keller has committed his entire life to earnestly serving the various organizations of the Flat Rock and Hawcreek Townships.
Timothy M. Andrews
Timothy M. Andrews graduated from Hauser High School in 1980. At Ball State University he earned a degree in journalism and economics. Tim received recognition from Ball State University's Journalism Department as an Outstanding Alumnus and was inducted into the Ball State University Hall of Fame. Mr. Andrews began his career at Dow Jones & Co where he served in a variety of senior management, editorial, marketing, technology and product development positions. He joined Primedia Inc. in 2000 as president of Industry Click, an online division of the company. Later, he became chief executive officer of Primedia Business Magazines & Media. Mr. Andrews currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Advertising Specialty Institute, Inc., the largest marketing and media organization serving the advertising specialty industry. He also serves as the President at ASI Show! Inc. Tim Andrews has been profiled in The New York Times business section and has authored a number of articles which have appeared in publications such as Computer World.
Even though he lives on the East coast, Tim actively supports community programs in Hope. He is the founder of the Hope Area Food Bank Endowment Fund, and he is a contributor to the Hawcreek Flat Rock Endowment Fund. For his humanitarian contributions and indivdual success, Tim was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Hope Heritage Days in 2009. Tim now lives in Princeton, New Jersey where he sponsors several cultural and education events. He is president of the Board of the Arts Council of Princeton and is a Circle of Humanitarians Award winner given by the National American Red Cross. As a former teacher said of Tim, "He has been blessed to be a blessing to others."
Steven W. Workman
Steve Workman graduated from Hauser High School in 1980 and received a Bachelor's degree at Ball State University. He obtained a Masters in Christian Education at Christian Theological Seminary. In 2001 he earned his Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary and was ordained. After graduating from Ball State, Steve became the high school choral director at Twin Lakes High School in Monticello, Indiana. During the time he was in college and teaching high school, Mr. Workman served as the church organist and musical director at several chruches. Steve worked as Minister of Christian Education at First Christian Church in Frankfort, Indiana. He was called to Hannibal, Missouri where he was the Associate Minister at the First Christian Church. At both churches he worked with the youth ministry, led mission work trips, directed church camps, and oversaw church-based preschools.
Reverend Workman accepted the call to become senior pastor at First Christian Church in Macomb, Illinois and spent the last ten years of his life serving God among the people of Macomb. In his capacity as senior pastor, Steve organized and funded internships for college students and served as president of the board of Samaritan Well, a women's homeless shelter. He expanded that program to include homeless men. His ministry extended to mentoring young ministers in grief counseling. He served on the board of the local food pantry, was president of the ministerial alliance, and served on the Macomb School Board. Steve and his wife, Connie, served the people of Macomb selflessly. She said of Steve Workman, "He made a difference living his life reaching out to help people."
Brad Johnson
Brad Johnson graduated from Hauser High School in 1989 and then graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Huntington University in 1993. While attending Hauser, Brad was active in many activities, especially tennis, basketball and track and field. He gained most of his success as a thrower for the Jets as he set both the school shot put and discus records which still stand. He won the Mid-Hooiser Conference in shot put and discus, the sectional in discus and qualified for the state meet in both events his junior and senior years. At Huntington, he competed in the hammer throw for the Archer's track team where he won the National NCCAA hammer throw in 1993. For his efforts and character, Brad was named the NCCAA Track and Field Athlete of the Year in 1993.
As a young man, Brad accompanied his parents on many mission trips to Haiti. After college, Mr. Johnson visited Haiti in 1997 and felt the Lord's call to found a mission work in Hati. In 1998, he founded Mission of Hope. Today, that mission includes an orphanage housing and caring for 66 orphans. The mission's School of Hope which includes grades K-12 has an enrollment of over 2500 students and is considered by the Hatian government to be one of the top 5% of schools in the nation. Through the orphanage, over 54,000 meals are provided to children daily. The Hospital of Hope treats 70-100 patients per day and provides an outpatient clinic, a mobile clinic, a prosthetics lab, and a community health program for all citizens. In addition to all of these works, The Church of Hope has over 1500 attendees and members. The church is now building homes for Haitians who lost homes during the recent earthquake. As of now, over 350 homes have been built. Brad and his wife, Vanessa, have four children. The scope of their ministry is constantly expanding. He has proven to be an outstanding minister, fund raiser, public relations director, and administrator. Brad Johnson has given his life to serving God and the people of Haiti.