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Shelton District & Community Hall of Fam
By Gordon Weeks
gordon@masoncounty com
Six people who inspired lo-
cal youths in the classroom
and on the playing field were
inducted into the Shelton
School District & Commu—
nity Hall of Fame at a core—
mony Tues fly in the Shelton
High School Performing Arts
Center.
The inductees are Sheryal
Balding, Brian Fairbrother,
Mike Fox, Dann ‘ragnon,
Leslie Orme and Dick Wentz.
The hall recognizes stu—
dents, alumni, faculty, staff,
friends, benefactors and resi-
dents who have contributed»
to the success, tradition, in—
tegrity, development and pro-
motion of the district, and/or
excelled in athletics, fine arts,
academics and/or business.
Each of the honorees was
inducted with a speech deliv-
ered by a student.
Wentz worked for the
Shelton School District for
three decades starting in
1968. The history teacher
was the longtime head wres-
tling coach and also had
stints as the assistant fresh-
men football coach and ath-
letic director. He created the
Shelton Christmas Wrestling
Tournament.
“Mr. Wentz was not just a
coach, teacher or staff mem—
ber, he was and still is as
some people call him an icon,”
said student Madison McCla-
nahan. “His character and in—
tegrity were a shining exam-
ple of what a coach, teacher
and person should be.”
Orme taught English
at Shelton High School for
years and chaired or co—
chaired the department for
10 years. She also co—taught
history with John Tarrant
and coached volleyball. She
died in 2021.
“Mrs. ()rme was a trail-
blazer in providing inclusion—
ary learning before it became
mainstream,” said Shelton
High School junior Josephine
Simmons. “She had a way
to make every student learn
at their own pace and at the
level best suited for them be-
cause she saw every student’s
potential even when they
didn’t see it in themselves.”
Gagnon began his career
in the district teaching sixth—
grade students at Mountain
Clockwise from top, Mike
Fox, Sheryal Balding, Leslie
Orme and Brian Fairbrother
were among the six induct-
ees to the Shelton School
District Community Hall
of Fame during an induction
ceremony Tuesday evening
at the Shelton High School
Performing Arts Center.
Journal photos by Shawna
Whe/an
View Elementary School in
1974, and then moved to Shel-
ton Middle School and taught
sixth—graders. Every year
from 1974 to 2022, Gagnon
coached at least one sport for
Shelton High School, includ—
ing varsity girls basketball,
girls and boys tennis, varsity
bowling, and middle school
boys and girls basketball.
“Dann’s contribution to
keeping childhood sports
alive within the Shelton
School District will forever
be appreciated and remem-
bered by this community,”
said student Gwenny Smith.
“With the overview of 48
years of coaching, 38 years of
Thursday, May 9, 2024 — Shelton-Mason County Journal Page 13
teaching, thousands of stu-
dents taught, thousands of
children coached and commu-
nity members moved brings
a legacy that will never be
forgotten.”
Fairbrother
boys soccer program at the
high school in 1981, and
created the .
the girls team in 1985. He
coached for 27 years, includ—
ing boys and girls soccer at
Olympic Middle School.
“He won four league title,
coached for 27 years, but
most importantly, he was the
one to kick off the entire soc—
cer program at Shelton,” said
e inducts 6
Shelton High School senior
Sophia Nakhla. “His leader—
ship, compassion and desire
to win have proven to be ex—
ceptional qualities, all
which were necessary to the
success of his teams at the
high school.”
Fox spent 28 years with
district, coaching track, girls
volleyball, cross country and
basketball. He‘s also known
for his donations to the t ‘ack
program.
“Mike was a person who
silently helped promote the
sport,” said student Scott
Jordan. “The hard work and
dedication you’ve put toward
the cmnmunity and the Shel-
ton track program will not go
unnoticed. Whether you are
on the track you are truly an
amazing person.”
Balding‘s career with the
district began in 1976 as a
science teacher at Shelton
High School. She then was
hired as the assistant prin-
cipal at Oakland Bay Ju-
nior High School. She also
coached track,
“Under her guidance, stu-
dents not only excelled on the
field. but have also carried
these invaluable lessons into
every aspect of their lives,”
said Shelton High School se—
nior Filesi Ta‘usa. “But most
importantly, Sheryal Balding
embodies the‘spirit of service
and dedication that lies at
the heart of education.”
Nominations are now be-
ing accepted for the 2026 Hall
of Fame induction. Nomina-
tions can be submitted on»
line or in writing on an offi—
cial form, both available on
the district’s website at
sheltonschoolsorg, and upon
request at the district office
at 700 S. First St. in down—
town Shelton. People cannot
nominate themselves. Also,
no active members of the Hall
ofFame Selection Committee
are eligible for nomination.
Once nominated, a nomi-
nee remains under consider-
ation for three years. After
three years, if a nominee is
not selected, the nomination
expires and the candidate
is again eligible for another
nomination.
The induction ceremonies
are hosted every two years.
Nominations are due by Oct.
1 for the following year's
inductions.
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