The 2024 Waggener Hall of Fame Inductees were recognized and celebrated at a fabulous event held on Thursday September 19, 2024 at Big Spring Country Club.
VIDEO CHAPTERS
(Each link will open the video in a new window at that spot)
State of The School – Principal Dr. Sarah Hitchings
Introductory Emcee Comments – Dave Campbell (’78)
INDUCTEES
Robert “Lord” Hammond
Calvin “Butch” Baird (’66)
Sarah Fritschner (’72)
Bob Garrett (’72)
Boys AND Girls 1971 Golf Teams introduced by Bill Leavell (’71)
Jim Morris (’73)
David Spalding (’72)
Charles Traub (’63)
Inductee Profiles
Mr. Robert Anthony Hammond. Known as “Lord Hammond” Rob taught social studies and was a soccer coach at Waggener from 2018 through May 2022.
Butch was a standout athlete in football while at Waggener. He attended Western Kentucky University on a football scholarship. After graduation, Butch rose in the business world, to several metal manufacturing companies as President and CEO. He is generous in the community, especially with Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities.
Butch worked closely with the Alumni Association in its early days. He was a quiet donor towards various projects like the War Memorial at the football field and with summer camp for the football team.
Butch has been a big part of the scholarship program. He first started a scholarship, in memory of his sister, Gigi. He then went on to help Butch Riley and Wally Oyler establish a class contacts list for improving the efforts to gather funds for the Alumni Scholarships.
Sarah enjoyed several leadership roles while at Waggener. She participated in the Student Council all through high school, serving as officer in two of four years. She also participated in the Senior Play and the Chit-Chat.
Sarah was an integral part of the class of ’72. After graduating from University of Kentucky, Sarah embarked on a career of Food Editor, working for a variety of newspapers, but culminating with her career as the Food Editor for the Courier Journal for 24 years. During this time, Sarah modernized the paper’s food section, authored four cookbooks, and was a beloved fixture in the Courier, teaching the community about good, healthy, local food.
Bob was a cerebral student-athlete at Waggener. Graduating in 1972 in the Advanced Class and a National Merit Semi-Finalist, it was no surprise when Bob was admitted to Harvard.
He distinguished himself by being published in the Washington Post while still a college student.
After graduation he worked at The Dallas Times Herald, The Courier-Journal, The Sacramento Bee and for over 21 years at The Dallas Morning News. During his career Garrett made his mark reporting from the state capitals of Kentucky, California, and Texas.
Bob retired in 2024 after spending six years as bureau chief in Austin. Bob has won numerous awards over the years but like most of honorees, sharing the list would keep us here all night. Bob is an advocate and mentor for men with prostate cancer and is very active with his church in Austin, Texas where he currently resides.
On May 19th and 20th, 1971, both the Girls Golf Team and the Boys Golf Team won the Kentucky State Golf Championship. This was the first time that feat had been accomplished in the history of Kentucky High School Golf. The girls competed at Maysville Country Club and won in a
sudden death playoff over the Kentucky Home team. The boys’ 1971 team won their state championship at the Fort Knox Lindsay course by two shots over Madisonville High School.
They were recognized for this by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association on the 50th Anniversary, in 2022, and each awarded a medal.
Julie Baldwin, was a freshman on the 1971 Waggener Girl’s State High School Championship Golf Team. She continued playing on the team until she graduated in 1974. Julie started playing golf at age 12 enjoying both Woodhaven Country Club and Seneca Golf Club. She grew up in an active golfing family which included her parents and brother.
During the summer, she played in various state golf Tournaments including; Kentucky Junior PGA, various Women’s Golf Tournaments and Women’s State Amateur Tournaments. While in High School, she was active in the Girls Junior/Senior Football Team, Student Council, The Senior Prom Committee, Senior Play and Pep Club.
After high school graduation Julie attended Western Kentucky University on a golf scholarship. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Office Administration and Business Management and graduated in 1978.
After college Julie worked in the Healthcare Industry in Louisville and held various HR corporate Leadership positions which included: Training and Staff Development, Executive Level Recruitment, Employee Relations and Regional HR Director. She served as a Board Member of the Louisville Personnel Association and Board Member of The Louisville Dream Factory.
In 1999, Julie married former NFL player Greg Caldwell. Julie and Greg are residents of Lake Forest and members of Lake Forest Country Club.
In their spare time, they attend college and NFL football games. They are supporters of Tunnel to Towers Foundation, Supporting Heroes and Down Syndrome of Louisville.
Vicki began playing golf at the age of 11. Playing on the Waggener golf team was a highlight of high school for Vicki. Vicki shares, “The comradery of our team was special and we never expected to win the state tournament. The play-off hole was nerve-racking for a 17 year old.”
After high school, Vicki went to college in New Orleans, Louisiana where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Vicki practiced nursing and administration for over 40 years.
Vicki is married to Lenny and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. She is retired, still enjoys golf, plays pickle ball, practices yoga and is active in her church.
I was born to MOVE. Growing up, I loved anything that had to do with physical games or competition. Athletic ability, just came so easily for me. My favorite Waggener High School coach, Miss Bates, nicknamed me, “Flash;” and, another coach, called me, “Bambi. “I lettered in four sports throughout my high school years. I made good friends, wonderful memories, and learned valuable life skills.
I continued to lead a very active life style, but, at age 34, while playing in an Old Timers field hockey game, I tore my right ACL. And, over the years that followed, I dealt with progressive weakness /pain, on the right side of my body. I knew something wasn’t quite right, but, I just learned to live with it, until finally, almost 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological MOVEMENT
disorder, for which there is no cure. My doctor told me “exercise is medicine.” So, I figured, that I could fix, manage, and control it, on my own, if I just exercised enough. But, it proved bigger than I was…. a Goliath in my life. And, after exhausting all my own efforts, I had no choice, but to surrender. I needed help desperately… I needed a coach….
I have an AWESOME COACH, now. His name is Jesus and He is unlike any other coach that I have ever had. He is into training the whole me: body, soul, and spirit. He is teaching me to be kind, gentle and patient with myself, when my body doesn’t do what I want it to do, or when it does what I don’t want it to do. He has me practice maintaining my peace and joy even in uncertain circumstances, He picks me up when I fall down. He understands and encourages me when I have an “off day.” And, He reminds me to never give up even when it looks hopeless…
because the best is yet to come…. a HEAVENLY HALL OF FAME.
And, my goal is to be in my best shape ever!!!
Marilyn was a great player in her time and considered one of the best female golfers in Kentucky. She shares:
“Thank you to Waggener High School for giving me this golf opportunity years ago. I was introduced to golf at age 8 thanks to my Aunt Mollie and Uncle Eddie Clark.
Below are highlights of my golf career.
– Won the Kentucky Junior PGA Championship four years in a row: 1966-1969
– First hole-in-one at Woodhaven Country Club at age 14
– Started playing on the girls golf team at Waggener in 1968 and won four individual regional titles from 1968 through 1971
– In addition to the State Golf Team title in 1971, I was on the Waggener Ladies Golf Team that won the high school state title in 1969 with teammates Gigi Baird, Jeanne Cox and Cynthia Russell
– Placed 2nd in the individual Kentucky High School State Golf Tournament in 1970 and 1971
After finishing at Waggener, I was offered a full golf scholarship to Florida State University. However, I did not want to go too far from home, so I went to UK and they did not have a ladies’ golf team at that time. However, I stayed busy successfully playing in the ladies’ invitational tournaments in Jefferson County and throughout KY with many top finishes and I still hold the record at Cherokee Golf Course for a 69 I shot there in the Jefferson County Tournament.
I have been married to Bob Niehoff for 50 years. Our son Matthew owns his own production company and is on the Wall of Fame at Walden School. Obviously, we are very proud of him.
Thank you to everyone who made this possible to be placed in the Hall of Fame here at Waggener as it was truly a privilege to play golf here.”
Faith, family, finance, and fun through sports have been the hallmark of Bill Leavell’s life. While at Waggener, Bill played football and basketball, and found his lifelong sport to be golf. It was late May in Bill’s senior year when both the boys and girl’s teams simultaneously on the same two days won the golf state championship. Their teams were honored at the 50th anniversary of that accomplishment by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association with each team member receiving a medal. It was from that experience where Bill learned that having both teams winning the same year had never been done before in the history of Kentucky High School golf. Bill decided that this was an accomplishment to be celebrated and honored.
Bill continued his education at University of Kentucky where he majored in business administration and eventually began a 43 year career as a financial advisor. Bill is married to his wife Sherry and they have two daughters and now soon to be six grandchildren. Bill was actively involved in coaching sports for his daughters and spent many years, both coaching and as a referee, for girl’s lacrosse. Bill is a University of Kentucky Fellow and a member of the UK Kappa Sigma Hall of Fame. He is the treasurer of Wayside Christian mission and is actively involved with taking food and supplies to the homeless during cold winters days. He has served the last six years as an elected commissioner of the city of Hurstbourne. Additionally, Bill serves with the new member ministry and on the investment committee of his church and is active in Bible studies, Sunday school and the Men’s Book Club.
Bill‘s lifelong enjoyment of golf over the last six decades has included winning club championships and senior club championships at Hurstbourne country club. He is also a part owner of Midland Trail Golf Course. At one point Bill carried a scratch handicap and to this day he continues to play in senior golf tournaments. He enjoys playing golf, but he also enjoys being a Kentucky State Golf Association rules referee, especially when helping with junior tournaments.
Jim Leavell: “Our first honoree from the boy’s team tonight who was my best friend in high school is fellow 1971 graduate Jimmy Hutson.
Jimmy was a Great golfer and a wonderful guy. When Jim graduated from Waggener he went on to play golf at the University of Kentucky but died in a tragic car accident in the spring of our freshman year.”
His sister, Suzy Hutson Tonini shares the following:
The story of Jim Hutson, golfer, as told through the eyes of his little sister…
“We were a GOLF family! I don’t remember us ever NOT playing golf! Dinners were planned around when we would get home from golf and the conversation always revolved around how everyone had played (and who had practiced putting that day). My dad was a good, self-taught golfer and in turn taught my mom and Jim and me to play. I guess he did a pretty good job – we all won our share of competitions, but Jim was particularly talented and dedicated to the game. Weather and school permitting he spent all available time at Big Spring CC, hanging with his golf buddies, playing, practicing and maybe stirring up a bit of mischief.
I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t winning. In 1970 he won the Junior Club Championship at Big Spring. On the “Wall of Champions” at Big Spring today, the plaque listing all past and future Junior Club Champs is named in his honor. Jim won the Junior Falls Cities tournament in 1970, defeating Mark Lenihan in a sudden death finish. In 1971, he was fortunate to be part of the Waggener High School Boys State Championship Team!
Following his graduation from Waggener, Jim was awarded a golf scholarship to UK. He enrolled in the pre-Dental program, planning to follow in our father’s footsteps. He fully enjoyed the social scene and Greek life at UK, joining the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Sometimes though, life is not fair. In the spring of his freshman year Jim was involved in a car accident. He lost his life on March 2, 1972 at the age of 18.
I am greatly appreciative that Jim and his teammates are being remembered and being honored by induction into the Waggener High School Hall of Fame.”
It was Kim Bleven’s junior year when the two teams won their state titles. In addition to 3 years on Waggener’s Golf Team, Kim also wrestled and played soccer. Kim says, “He studied enough to get into the University of Kentucky where he met his future wife, then Vicki Ploetner their junior year at UK. Kim received a Chemical Engineering degree and Vicki a teaching degree.” It was there that Kim felt the calling to be a Doctor and attend Medical School. He and Vicki returned to Louisville where they married in June before Kim began medical school at UofL and entered the Air Force under a scholarship for his medical education.
After receiving his medical degree from U of L in 1980, the first of their three children, Gwen, now living in Atlanta was born. It was there Kim began his pediatric residency at Kosair Children’s Hospital. This was completed in the summer of 1983 before he began Air Force active duty and their family moved to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he provided care for Air Force children for four years. Shortly after that move their second child, Eric, now living in Brooklyn with his wife and twin four year old sons, was born.
After leaving the Air Force, they lived in Shelbyville, KY for a short period before moving to Warner Robins, Georgia for Kim to join a pediatric practice, where he provided care to children of Middle, Georgia, for 30 years until retiring 5 years ago. Vicki, an elementary educator, had taken time from teaching to raise their first two children, but after their third child Kyle, now living in Seattle, was born in 1992, Vicki returned to teaching and taught over 20 years there.
After Kim’s retirement he and Vicki moved to a community 20 miles south of Atlanta. They live on Eagle’s Landing golf course, host of an LPGA event, and Kim still manages to keep his single digit handicap earned since high school. His sister, Beth, her husband and two children still live in Louisville and Kim and Vicki are fortunate to share Christmas with all their children every year, as well as seeing them many other times during the year.
Ed is currently and has always been a stellar golfer and was a very large part of the reason we qualified in regionals for the state tournament, and then won the state championship. The second and final day of the state tournament, Eddie shot 71 to future PGA player Madisonville’s Brad Fabel‘s 81. This 10 stroke difference allowed us to win the championship by two strokes. I like to joke for years that Ed Lowry won the state tournament for us and Bill Leavell has been talking about it ever since!
Waggener High School introduced Ed Lowry to a diverse and talented group of teachers and students, providing the foundation for a successful college experience.
Ed was named Mr. Cardinal at U of L as its most outstanding graduating senior and finished second in his law school class at UofL. Ed was a four year letter winner in golf during college and has continued to enjoy playing golf since graduating. For Ed, his primary focus has been on building a successful law firm and family. One of his sons joined Ed in 2016, and now Lowry & Lowry is a third generation law firm. Ed stays busy. He and his wife Susan enjoy spending a lot of time with their 3 children and 7 grandchildren who all live nearby.
Jim was involved in sports, the Chit-Chat and the Boy Scouts and during his time at Waggener, he was a National Merit Semi-Finalist, scoring the highest number in a single WHS Class!
Jim continued his education at UofL and began his career, writing and producing in a variety of locations…Kentucky, Maryland, Washington, California, and New York.
Along the way, he covered the China Olympics, travelled with President Ronald Reagan to Europe and oh yeah, he won a Peabody Award.
In his career, he was with ABC News and later became producer of ABC Prime Time Live. He joined Bloomberg News New York, retiring in 2023 after 17 years with the company.
David spent his years at Waggener on the debate team, serving as captain for 3 of the 4 years. He also found his place in the Senior Play as Elwood P Dowd, in the production of “Harvey.”
He was well-rounded with student council and team manager for Cross Country and Track teams. David represented on Hi Q team, and this brought him to a State Debate Championship.
After Waggener, he continued his education at Dartmouth College and acquired his MBA in finance from NYU.
Over the years, David has served on several corporate boards and nonprofit organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Metro New York, Ames Economic Development, and United Way.
In his role at Iowa State University as Dean of the Ivy College of Business, he led the effort to secure more than $140 million from donors. During his time as dean, the college has added five undergraduate majors, six new Master’s programs, helping the University to grow nearly 40% in ten years.
David has had three careers, first achieving success on Wall Street, then serving in high-level capacities at Dartmouth College, then becoming Dean of Iowa State’s business school, where he has led numerous innovations.
Charlie Traub made his way at Waggener, participating in Student Council, Beta Club, French Club, and football manager. He was voted BEST DRESSED his senior year.
Charlie Traub is an educator, publisher, and critically acclaimed photographer. He has come a long way, from first grade, where his teachers labeled him as “retarded.”
He wasted no time getting started with his education after Waggener…first off to University of Illinois for his undergrad and to the Chicago Institute of Design for his Masters.
Charlie co-edited and was part of a team of volunteers who created HERE IS NEW YORK, which assembled, collated, and managed 5,000 contributed photographs, depicting the events of 9/11. The photos were displayed in galleries around the world, including Louisville! Individual prints and a collection in book form were sold, resulting in sales of over one million dollars, with all proceeds donated to surviving children of 9/11 victims.
Charlie is currently the Chairperson of the Photography Department of the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Thanks to Cathy Duffy (’90) for the cool slideshow that played during the social hour (below), and the slides that introduced each inductee, and to Lisa Marcellino (’75) and Nina Yussman (’75) for the photos during the event.
Inductee Introduction Ceremony
Social Hour and Groups