Wednesday, March 20, 2002
|
Wednesday, March 20, 2002 |
|
Fayette County High names distinguished alumni By CAROLYN
CARY
The Fayette County High School Athletic Booster Club and Fayette County High School administration officials have announced its selection for its Distinguished Alumni in Achievement for 2002. Named were Sara Sams Goza, Randall Johnson, and James B. Smith. Goza graduated in 1942 and was class president in her junior and senior years as well as valedictorian. She graduated from Mercer University in 1946, taught in the Fayette County School System and retired in 1991 as principal of Booth Middle School. "Fayette County High School was great in 1942," she said, "and it's great now." Randall Johnson, who has been the sheriff of Fayette County for 26 years, can trace his family back to his great-grandfather, who was born here in 1843. A 1960 high school graduate, the first jail he oversaw had a capacity of 20 prisoners. When the new one is complete, it will house about 480 prisoners. "It's been a great 26 years," he said. "This county has always supported its sheriff's department and I have always appreciated that support." James B. Smith, now a brigadier general in the United States Air Force, graduated from high school in 1970. Appointed to the United States Air Force Academy by local congressman Jack Flynt, he graduated in 1974 and then earned a master's degree in history from Indiana University in 1975. He has approximately 4,000 flight hours and flew T-38 and F-15's during combat sorties during Desert Storm. "It's good to be home," he said. "I noticed in a local newspaper that it said, 'General comes marching home for FCHS's Hall of Fame.' Friends, let me tell you. The reason that I joined the Air Force is so I wouldn't have to march anywhere! "Please remember our thousands of men and women serving us throughout the world, so we can do these wonderful kinds of things like we are doing here tonight." He is currently the deputy commander, Joint Warfighting Center, United States Joint Forces Command, Joint Training Analysis and Simulation Center, Suffolk, Virginia. Nearly 200 people were on hand to honor these alumni and eight sports figures who were inducted into the high school Sports Hall of Fame.
|
||