Xenia Community Schools Foundation Announces Hall of Honor Class of 2019

Xenia Community Schools Foundation Announces Hall of Honor Class of 2019

Congratulations are in order for the Xenia Community Schools Hall of Honor Class of 2019! Four new members will be honored this year. The Twenty First Annual Hall of Honor Induction Ceremony and Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2019, at 6:30 PM at Tecumseh Elementary School. The dinner will be preceded by the Fifth Annual Silent Auction for Grants beginning at 5:30 PM. Tickets are $35.00 each and are available at the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce, located at 334 W. Market Street. Call: (937) 372-3591 for more information.

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation and this year’s Presenting Sponsor, Greene Memorial and Soin Hospitals, invite the community to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2019 Hall of Honor inductees: Gary L. Allen, XHS Class of 1961, Educator, Community Volunteer and Role Model; Scott J. Anger, XHS Class of 1981, Law Enforcement Officer and Role Model; Elaine J. Hughes, Retired Nurse, Community and School Volunteer and Role Model and Douglas W. Yates, XHS Class of 1976, Karate Instructor and Competitor and Role Model.

Gary L. Allen was a member of the Xenia High School Class of 1961. He is being honored as an educator, community volunteer and role model. Gary Allen is a proud product of public schools. He worked for 40 years at the district, state and national level to improve public education and the lives of children and their families. He was educated in the Xenia Community Schools, graduated from Central State University with a degree in Education, and later earned a Masters’ Degree from Wright State University. He taught at McKinley Elementary School for 27 years. During that time as a leader in the Xenia Education Association he helped establish what the Xenia Community Schools Foundation is now. He has been active in his church and other community organizations. Gary was honored with the F.M. Torrence Award, inducted into the Xenia Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1959-60 Basketball Team, and installed into the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame. He went on to serve as the Vice-President and President of the Ohio Education Association, the largest public employee union in the State of Ohio. For his work in public education he has received much recognition for his service.

Scott J. Anger was a member of the Xenia High School Class of 1981 and is being honored for his achievements as a law enforcement officer and role model for the youth of Xenia. Scott Anger served his country in the Ohio Army National Guard, attended Clark State Community College and began his successful 30 year career in law enforcement with Xenia Police Division. He held several positions and ranks and finished his XPD career as the Captain in charge of the Criminal Investigations Section. He went on to work with the Greene County Sheriff’s Department as the Director of the Agencies for Combined Enforcement (A.C.E.). He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice and psychology from Capital University, and graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2008. He earned many awards and commendations, the highest being the Casey Elliott Memorial “Xenia’s Finest” award. He spent time as the DARE officer for Xenia students, and served as a youth sport’s coach for several years. He was past President of Greene County F.O.P. #37 and a longtime board member on the Mental Health and Recovery Board of Clark, Greene and Madison counties. He has given his time and efforts to assist individual community and school leaders throughout his career. Scott Anger has made a career of helping others in the community and is a fine example of a product of the Xenia Community Schools.

Elaine J. Hughes is a retired nurse, who is being inducted for her service as a community and school volunteer and role model. Elaine Hughes has spent her career as a community health nurse working with children. Because of her love of children and the community, she has spent over 15 years as a volunteer in the Xenia Community Schools as a PTO member, reading coach, and a member of the Visioning, Finance and levy committees. She volunteers for Greene County Parks and Trails and is Mrs. Claus each year at Santa's Holiday in the Park. She has received the Jamestown Citizen of the Year award, Greene County Health District's Employee of the Year, Barb Zajbel Xenia Ambassador Award, and is an inductee into the Greene County Women's Hall of Fame.

Douglas W. Yates was a member of the Xenia High School Class of 1976. He is being honored for his endeavors and achievements as a karate instructor and competitor and the example he has set as a role model for students in Xenia. Doug Yates began studying karate in 1973. In 1976 as a senior at XHS he opened his own karate school. He has had a very successful career training thousands of children and adults in the study of Martial Arts. He was a World Rated Professional Kickboxer from 1981-1985. As a member of the United States Karate Team won a Gold Medal at the 1994 Goodwill Games in St. Petersburg, Russia. As a coach he has produced 2 students who went on the make the United States Karate Olympic Karate Team, his son D.J. Yates and Nicole Fisher. To date the Doug Yates Karate school athletes have won over 500 medals in National and International competitions. Since 1994 he is the President / Founder of the Miami Valley Karate Tournament Association providing Martial Art competition all across the Miami Valley Area. He was recently inducted into the United States Karate Federation "Hall of Fame" as an Athlete who helped make Karate an Olympic Sport for the 2020 Games in Tokyo, Japan. He is a member of the World Karate Union "Hall of Fame" and the Ohio Black Belt "Hall of Fame".

The Xenia Community Schools Foundation is dedicated to enriching the academic pursuits of all students, faculty and staff within the Xenia Community Schools. The Foundation has provided grants for classroom enrichment programs and scholarships from donations and investment income of the Foundation for more than thirty years.