October 2005

Seven Named to Johnstown High School Hall of Fame
Seven graduates of Johnstown High School have been elected to the 2005 Class of the Hall of Fame. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Frederick Vosburgh, Stanley A. Bown, Eric L. Steenburgh, Frank Steenburgh, Karl F. Steenburgh and William A. Steenburgh are the individuals that were honored.

The Hall of Fame Recognition Ceremony took place on Sunday, October 16 at 2 p.m. in the Johnstown High School Auditorium. Superintendent John Whelan opened the ceremony with welcoming remarks and then introduced the School Select Choir, under the direction of Sarah Corrigan. Musical selections, which were performed a cappella, included “The Star Spangled Banner,” together with “Abide With Me” and “Elijah Rock” as arranged by Moses Hogan.

Board of Education President and Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Richard McGuire acknowledged past honorees Capt. John Dennison Knipple, USN (dec.) (Class of 1939), Arlene M. Sitterly (Class of 1941), William Pollak (Class of 1953), Harry E. Fear (Class of 1944), and Donald R. Ruch, DMD (Class of 1974). He then read the biographies of the newest members, which will appear on engraved plaques to be displayed in the High School, and presented them with crystal pyramids containing the Johnstown High School medallion and the date of the induction ceremony. Senate citations were also presented to the inductees on behalf of state Senator Hugh T. Farley (R,C – Schenectady).

Ms. Coline Jenkins, great-great granddaughter of the late Elizabeth Cady Stanton, traveled from Connecticut to accept the award on behalf of her family. Ms. Jenkins gave several anecdotes from Mrs. Cady-Stanton’s early life and spoke of the renowned suffragette’s life-long passion for women’s rights, including the right to vote and a married woman’s right to own property.

Former National Geographic Editor Frederick G. Vosburgh (dec.), was represented by cousins Henry and Richard Baker, who provided a letter from his granddaughter, Julie Vosburgh Agnone, which cited the commencement address he gave to the JHS Class of 1972, 51 years after his own graduation, entitled “Three Wishes for a Happy Life.”

Theresa Sweet spoke on behalf of her former co-worker, the late Stanley A. Bown, and read a portion of a letter from his nephew, Gary Kilroy, who remembered that his uncle always had a kind word for everyone he passed. Mrs.Diane Donnan accepted the award on Bown’s behalf and announced its donation to the Johnstown YMCA for public display.

Brothers Eric L. Steenburgh, Frank D. Steenburgh, Karl F. Steenburgh, and William A. Steenburgh, who are all serving, or have served as key senior management executives for the Xerox Corporation, each paid tribute to their mother, Mrs. Dora Steenburgh. They credited her for instilling in them the strong work ethic and family values that have contributed to their successes. They also recounted fond remembrances of their hometown and high school, and of fellow honoree Stan Bown.

Following a rendition of the JHS Alma Mater, an open reception was held in the JHS Café.

Find out more about the Johnstown High School Hall of Fame