Miami Valley Storytellers

Long time Yellow Springs resident, Harold Wright, was inducted into the 2009 Hall of Fame by his alma mater, Northridge High School, Dayton, Ohio, this last weekend.  Six people were inducted for 2009, a program which is in its eleventh year.   Harold was a 1949 Northridge graduate.  His former classmate, Bob Booher, currently living in Vandalia, Ohio, made the nomination.

Ceremonies began Thursday, October 2, 2008, as inductees spoke in assembly to students of Esther Dennis Middle School, this building housed Northridge students in grades 1 through 12 in 1949.  Then the Inductees spoke to students at Norhridge High School, Grafton Kennedy Elementary, Morrison Elementary and Timberlane Elementary.  A main purpose of honoring former graduates, teachers and important members of the Northridge school system is to bring role models into the lives of current students.  Inductees are to help motivate students into fulfilling their potential.  This part of Dayton began as an Appalachian area.  It continues to be largely people of Appalachian descent. It also includes many children with African American heritage.  Thursday ended with a special dinner for Inductees and their spouses with the Kiwanis Club of Northridge, Dayton, Ohio.

The Recognition Banquet was held in the high school cafeteria, prior to the Homecoming Football Game, on Friday, October 3rd.  Among the invited guests were eighteen members of the Northridge graduating class of 1949, and fifteen members of the Wright extended family.  Among the many distinguished speakers from the Board of Education and Civic Leaders were speeches by each one who nominated someone into the 2009 Hall and the six 2009 Hall of Fame nominees, who were inducted.  Many then went to the football game.

Saturday was the Homecoming Dance, and Sunday the 10th, was a parade.  The Hall of Fame Class of 2009, along with the Homecoming court, Nothridge football team, and scores of groups and floats from the schools and community participated. Hundreds of local citizens lined both sides of Dixie Highway along the mile from Northridge High School to Morrison Elementary to watch and cheer.  Sunday evening, the 2009 Inductees were treated to a special benefit concert for Northridge Hall Fame featuring country music stars Richie McDonald, Frank Myers and Eddy Raven.

Harold is looking forward to many invitations from the Nothridge schools to speak with and tell stories to the students in the years ahead.

Filed under: Article on October 10th, 2008