published Sunday, June 16, 1996, in The Herald, Sharon,
Pa.
THUMBS UP
Clary brings out students' best
By James A. Raykie Jr.
Editor, The Herald
THE HERALD AND NEWSPAPERS across the
country are criticized by their readers for a lack of good news. Gleaned
from pages of The Herald, these are people deserving a round of applause.
- To WILLIAM A. ``Bill'' CLARY of Hermitage, who was named the recipient of Sharon High School's 1996 Elizabeth McMullen and Anna Grace Smith Teacher Appreciation Award. He is drama director at Sharon High. Clary, 54, has been with the district for 30 years. He teaches art to students in grades 9-12 and has taught art to students in grades 4-12 throughout the years. As drama director, he has directed 63 plays and musicals including several through the school's Crisis Theatre Troupe. This spring, he presented his final musical, ``South Pacific.'' In his role as advisor to Sharon's Masque and Mike Club, Clary has coordinated trips to New York City that have enabled hundreds of students, faculty, alumni and residents the wonderful opportunity to see The Big Apple and many of the performances on Broadway. In accepting the award, which carries a $1,000 prize, Clary offered a variation to his pep talk he has given to hundreds of students throughout the years before every play he has directed: ``God loves you. I love you. And break a leg in everything you do.'' He and his wife, Carol, have two sons.
- To MERVIN GEORGE of Worth Township, who at 86, remains one of the state's top horseshoe pitching despite a layoff of nearly 50 years. As a youth, George learned to pitch shoes in his father's blacksmith's shop, and as a teenager, won the state championship in the event. That large silver trophy still hangs proudly in George's Millbrook Road home. But he gave up the sport in the 1930s after moving to the farm, and it was only in the early 1990s after he retired that he started pitching again. After finding his horseshoes and cleaning them, it didn't take long to get back in the swing of things. He travels to competitions around the state and plays in a Butler County league.
- To ANDREW K. BROWN of Greenville, who has named the 1996 winner of the annual T.C. Gibson Award. He was given the 41st award at Greenville High School's commencement exercises June 1 at Thiel College's William A. Passavant Memorial Center. He plans to attend Pennsylvania State University. The award, possible through a trust fund established by Greenville businessman Frank Gibson on his death in 1955, goes to the Greenville High graduate with the highest grade-point average over four years. The award, which provided $4,579 for Andrew to use as he pleases, was named for Frank Gibson's father.
- To GEORGE GERHART of Sharon, who went to a Sharon High School ceremony to watch his daughter accept an award, and to his surprise, ended up getting an award himself. Gerhart was the first person to receive Sharon Lifelong Learning Council's Spirit of Lifelong Learning Award. The award, to be given annually, recognized service to Sharon City School District. Gerhart was cited for his work with the Sharon Academic Boosters Club for the last several years. Gerhart is an administrator at the Shenango Campus of Pennsylvania State University.
- To BRIAN BEIL of Grove City, who got to carry the Olympic Torch for more than a half mile June 10 in Erie. Brian, a soccer enthusiast, was nominated by his father, Gary, who picked up an application in Beaver County, where he works. ``His father nominated him due to his determination and dedication in soccer,'' said Brain's mother, Karen. ``And that's what he wrote on the nomination _ though he didn't even think to keep a copy.'' Brian is a freshman at Grove City High School.
- To JOHN ZEBROSKI of Brookfield, who was the winner for the eighth time at the annual Punch McDowell Memorial Cup golf tournament at Sharon Country Club. Zebroski, who won his first crown when he was 16 years old, shot a 72, four strokes better than last year's champion, Todd Lenhart of Hermitage. ``I can't tell you how good that 72 was,'' said Dennis Dolci, golf pro at Sharon. ``He played early when the wind was really whipping.''
James A. Raykie Jr. is editor of The Herald. This column appears on page
A-2 each Sunday.
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