Last spring, the Alumni Hall of Fame Selection Panel selected eight distinguished graduates for its Oiler Alumni Hall of Fame. After reviewing over 80 nominations from the community, the Panel selected the following alumni to be honored at the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Banquet, to be held on Saturday, October 15, 2011, 6:00 PM, in the East Building Courtyard:

The EAWR Alumni Hall of Fame was begun in 2009 to pay homage to alumni of EAWR who have gone on to distinguish themselves in their adult endeavors, as well as to recognize their accomplishments as Oilers. Prior to the selection process, several members of the community were asked for their input in constructing a master list of names of distinguished alumni. That list would not only serve the purpose of generating nominations for a later "hall-of-fame," but could be used as a sort of "Who's Who" in generating a Speakers' Bureau list. And, the list would serve as a testament and inspiration to current and future students about the opportunities they, too, could have with an EAWR education!

In the 2008-2009 school year, the Board authorized the superintendent to form the Alumni Hall of Fame, and to begin the selection process, budgeting, etc. Selecting the inductees began with the meeting of the Alumni Hall of Fame Selection Panel, which was composed of well-known community residents who were charged with reviewing nominations and making selections.

In March 2009, the Selection Panel received 80 nominations and selected its first class, which wasinducted on October 17, 2009. A dinner and awards ceremony was held in the East Building Courtyard, with over 170 guests and family members in attendance.

Below are the inscriptions on each of the 2009 Alumni Hall of Fame plaques. Go to the Hall of Fame Display or see them in person. The plaques are located in the Main Building, at the entrance to the Auditorium.

Dr. David Apple (EAWR Class of 1959) – Dr. Apple is a world-renowned ophthalmologist and researcher, especially well-known for his work on intra-ocular lens explants.  He is a member of the Ophthalmology Hall of Fame, and was honored by the University of Utah, where he is a professor at the University of Utah’s ophthalmology school, with its naming of the David J. Apple Laboratory for Ocular Biodevices in his honor. Dr. Apple was the only American ever selected to give the European Guest Lecture at Oxford University. He is the author of hundreds of scientific publications, and has authored 15 textbooks in the field of ophthalmology.   

Merle Bassett (EAWR Class of 1946) – Merle Bassett is a highly respected local attorney, practicing law for over 50 years in Wood River and in Madison County. He once prosecuted the infamous James Earl Ray as an Asst. State’s Attorney, and was appointed Special Asst. Attorney General to secure necessary legal work for the building of the new Clark Bridge in Alton. He has chaired various community and charitable boards and organizations such as: March of Dimes, Junior Achievement, Scottish Rite, Wood River Masonic Lodge, and the Alton Jaycees. He has also served as the City Attorney for Wood River, Hartford, Roxana, Foster Township, Brighton, and the Civic Memorial (St. Louis Regional) Airport Board.  

Dr. Roger Counsil (EAWR Class of 1952) – Dr. Counsil was the face of Indiana State University Men’s Gymnastics, where he served as Head Coach for 17 years. While at Indiana State, his team won the NCAA National Championship in 1977 and he produced 46 All-Americans (including eventual World Champion, Kurt Thomas). Roger was also the former head of USA Gymnastics. He was, himself, a standout gymnast and swimmer at SIU-Carbondale. He has also been inducted into the Indiana State and SIU Athletic Halls of Fame.  

Leroy Emerick (EAWR Class of 1944) – For 38 years, Leroy Emerick served as the Park and Recreation Director in Wood River. He operated the “Jiveland” teen center in the Wood River Roundhouse and planned and developed the current Wood River Aquatic Center. Leroy organized the first “After-Prom” event in the area. He also began the Wood River Khoury League baseball program as President of the Wood River Jaycees and organized the first Oiler Booster Club. He served as the elected Mayor and a City Council Member of Wood River. He is a member of the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame. 

Bob Howe (EAWR Class of 1947) – Mr. Howe was the founder of Madison County Cablevision, which was the first cable TV system to operate in the entire St. Louis metropolitan area. He also founded or operated several local radio stations including WRTH (590) and WRYT Radio. He has also been a local TV personality in Madison, Wisconsin, where he was the star of “Uncle Bob’s Kiddie Show.” He also served for many years as play-by-play announcer for high school and college football and basketball games in Alabama and Bloomington, Indiana. Bob has also served as a former director of the Radio and TV Department at Arkansas State University. 

Gary Lane (posthumous) (EAWR Class of 1961) – Gary has been generally considered to be one of the best athletes to ever attend EAWR. He excelled in all sports. Mr. Lane had an 18-year career as an NFL official who was the Referee (the head official) at two Super Bowls. He was the star quarterback at the University of Missouri under Coach Dan Devine, where he led Mizzou to the 1966 Sugar Bowl victory over the University of Florida. He also won the Most Valuable Player Award at the 1966 Chicago Tribune College All Star Game held at Soldier Field. He also played three years as a quarterback in the NFL and one year in the Canadian Football League. After his retirement from business and officiating in 2000, Gary returned to his alma mater and served as an Assistant Football and Basketball Coach at EAWR, for no compensation, and was a superb role model for EAWR students and athletes, alike. 

Dr. Dana Mead (EAWR Class of 1953) – Dr. Mead currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Corporation, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and resides in Boston. He was the former Chief Executive Officer of TENNECO Corporation for many years.  Dana is a West Point graduate and holds a doctorate from MIT. Dr. Mead serves on numerous corporate and charitable boards of directors, including the The Royal Shakespeare Company of London; Pfizer, Inc.; and Chairman of the National Association of Manufacturers. He was a former U.S. Army line officer and a White House Fellow and advisor, and one of leaders of American corporate merger philosophy in the 1990’s. At EAWR , he was Salutatorian, Class President, outstanding football, baseball, and basketball player, and is tied for an IHSA state record with the longest rushing touchdown from scrimmage of 99 ½ yards.  

Howard Oetting (posthumous) (EAWR Class of 1925) – Howard Oetting was a legendary Chemistry and Physics teacher at EAWR for over 30 years, returning to his alma mater to teach. Countless numbers of EAWR alumni mention Mr. Oetting as having had a tremendous influence in not only their high school studies, but in their later careers and college education. Mr. Oetting was universally considered to be one of the most challenging teachers in the history of EAWR and demanded nothing but excellence from the thousands of students who took his classes. Mr. Oetting was a “life member” of the Wood River American Legion Post, and was an U.S. Air Force veteran serving in World War II.

William “Bobby” Schumacher (posthumous) (EAWR Class of 1946) – Bobby Schumacher was a renowned researcher and electrical engineer in the field of underwater acoustics and sonar. Indeed, his research made key contributions to the advancement of long-distance, underwater acoustics. Mr. Schumacher spent most of his career at the U.S. Naval Underwater Systems Center in New London, Connecticut and was a NATO exchange scientist in his field of expertise. Mr. Schumacher was a published author and member of the Acoustical Society of America, a supporter of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus and Orchestra; and, after retirement, taught at Thames Valley Regional Technical School. 

Dewayne Staats (EAWR Class of 1970) – Mr. Staats is the award-winning and highly touted lead play-by-play announcer for the Tampa Bay Rays on their television network, and has served as the team’s lead announcer since its inception in 1998. Prior to that, Dewayne served in the same capacity over many years with ESPN (1995-1997), the NY Yankees (1990-1994), the Chicago Cubs (1985-1989), and the Houston Astros (1977-1984), marking over 30 seasons as a Major League Baseball on-air announcer. Dewayne was recently nominated for the Ford C. Frick Award, which is the broadcaster’s path to the Baseball Hall of Fame, and was honored by SIU-Edwardsville, by having the Dewayne Staats Award for Broadcast Journalism named for him.