Xenia Community Schools Foundation Announces Hall of Honor Class of 2024
Congratulations are in order for the Xenia Community Schools Foundation Hall of Honor Class of 2024! Four new members will be honored this year. The Twenty-sixth Annual Hall of Honor Dinner and Induction Ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2024, 6:30 PM at Tecumseh Elementary School. The dinner will be preceded by the Tenth Annual Silent Auction for Grants beginning at 5:30 PM. Tickets are $45.00 each and are available at the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is located at 334 W. Market Street. Call: (937) 372-3591 for more information.
The Xenia Community Schools Foundation invites the community to celebrate the accomplishments of the 2024 Hall of Honor inductees:
Kent Edward Anderson, XHS Class of 1980, Teacher, Coach, Role Model, excelled at Xenia High School, both as a student and as an athlete. He was named 1st Team All Western Ohio League in both baseball and golf. He attended Wilmington College, where he played golf.
Kent was a educator and coach in Xenia Community Schools for forty years. He coached over 1500 games during his career in a variety of sports. He was named Varsity Baseball Conference Coach of the Year eight times and Southwest District Coach of the Year in 2009. He also coached both varsity boys and girls basketball to win four Conference titles. His Varsity Girls Golf Team won two Conference titles. The OHHSAA recognized him for over 300 varsity wins in basketball. Kent was inducted into the XCS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2023.
As a lifelong Xenia resident, who is devoted to his family, the youth of the community can look to him as a role model. His leadership, has led to many students becoming leaders and assets to the Xenia Community. He has been a servant educator, who exemplifies the “Spirit of Xenia”.
David W. Crandall, DDS, XHS Class of 1971, Dentist, Volunteer, Community Role Model attended Wright State University and enlisted in the USAF in 1972, where he served for four years in the Strategic Air Command. He returned to Xenia after graduating from the OSU College of Dentistry. While at OSU, he served as a student athletic dentist for two years. After returning to Xenia, Dr. Crandall was active in his church and provided dental services on a number of mission trips to Belize, as well as through local organizations.
He selflessly donated a kidney to his mother in 1989 in a “groundbreaking” procedure.
Dr. Crandall assisted with many restoration and maintenance activities at Collins School, a family-owned one room school house which provided thousands of Xenia elementary students a historical educational experience for a number of years.
He served as a member and president of Xenia Rotary, was active with his church, the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce and the Dayton Dental Society. Dr. Crandall was named a Paul Harris Fellow by his fellow Rotarians and was actively involved in many projects.
Dr. Crandall passed away unexpectedly in January, 2024. The community, patients, friends and family will miss his devotion to family, outgoing personality, sense of humor and kindness. He is a role model for a life of service, as well as a life well lived. He served his country, his church, his friends and his community. He also volunteered and donated dental services to those in need.
David S. Peterson, Esq., XHS Class of 1977, Attorney, Community Volunteer, Role Model, graduated from Ohio Northern School of Law, was admitted to the Ohio State Bar in 1984 and is the owner of Peterson and Peterson, LLC., a multi-generational law practice. He is a member and past president of the Greene County Bar Association, a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, a member of the Ohio Association of Justice, the American Association of Justice and the Miami Valley Trial Lawyers Association. He has served on various committees and in leadership positions in these groups.
David has also participated in a variety of community volunteer roles including: the American Red Cross, Greene County Board; St. Vincent DePaul at St. Brigid Church, Greene County Council on Aging, along with other groups. He has provided financial support to Athletes in Action and sponsored teams in the Xenia Soccer Club, along with providing legal and financial support to a variety of local charitable organizations.
David Peterson is a highly respected member of both the Xenia Community and the legal community. He is a devoted family man. He was the recipient of the F.M. Torrence Award in 2023. This award represents the highest honor awarded by the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce. It is a lifetime achievement award for prolonged voluntary service to the community.
Timothy Peyton, XHS Class 1998, Entrepreneur, Mentor, Philanthropist, attended Arrowood and Cox Elementary Schools, Warner Middle School and Xenia High School. He graduated from Ashford University in 2012 with a degree in Business Management. The nomination for induction was submitted by a group of Xenia teachers, who described Tim as an average student who became an outstanding adult. He began his career with a job at F & S School and Office Supplies in 1998. He eventually became the owner, having learned good customer service, quality product selection and entrepreneurial skills from the owner/mentors. He went on to launch other endeavors, including School Supply Connection, A Plus Graphics, Begin Again Toys and The Abstract Athlete. His businesses and toys been nominated and received over seventy toy awards from multiple products. Begin Again has been nominated for “Toy of the Year” five times. His products have received multiple awards including National Parenting Product Awards, Bio- Based Product of the Year Award, Dr. Toy Best Green Toy Award and Parents' Choice Award.
His nomination for inclusion in the Hall of Honor focused on his philanthropy in donating his time, talents and products to enhance the education experience of young students and to support teachers in the Xenia Community. He is highly motivated, recognizes the importance of education and is a champion of project-based learning. He has provided support through, mentoring and financial support, to the XTAR program. Tim would like to support initiatives focused on expanding the XTAR environment experience to other students.
Tim, additionally, has generously supported local swim teams, offered employment opportunities to young people, along with financial support and learning experiences. He also engages in other philanthropic activities to assist children in need during holiday seasons.
He was described in one supporting testimonial as “an unsung hero and just an amazing human being”.
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.
