June 22, 2005

Award honors hall of fame careers

Central High School Trojan Hall of Fame inductes Ken Bell, Mel Gee, Hal Johnson, Mel Larimer and Bob Lober

By Carol South
Herald contributing writer

       The Trojan Hall of Fame inducted five new members earlier this month, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Ken Bell, Mel Gee, Hal Johnson, Mel Larimer and Bob Lober.
      A mix of Central High School alumni and others who contributed to the school in their own way, this year's Hall of Fame class was acknowledged during a ceremony at the school as well as at graduation. They will also be recognized at a football game next fall. A display about each Hall of Fame member is featured in the school's main lobby.
      Current teachers Larry Nykerk and Steve Lockman inaugurated the Hall of Fame last year to give current students a sense of the school's rich history and tradition. Community members nominated the five inductees; in one case, students instigated the honors.
      For more information on the Trojan Hall of Fame, to make a contribution or a future nomination, contact Nykerk at 933-7453.
      - Ken Bell
      A 1928 graduate of Traverse City Senior High, Bell served solo as the sports department for the Traverse City Record-Eagle for 20 years, from 1953-1974. During his tenure as sports reporter and editor, he extensively promoted the sports programs of the school. He also gave equal coverage to the teams at St. Francis High School, the only other high school in town at the time. Bell frequently rode the bus with Trojan teams to away games.
      He also penned the popular "Second Guesses by Ken" column in the Record-Eagle.
      Bell, who still resides in Traverse City, supported Trojan teams for more than 70 years. Bell served as a track and field official for years. An annual track meet is named after him, the Ken Bell Invitational, to honor his contributions. In addition, a Ken Bell Award has been granted annually for the past 34 years to a track team member who exhibits "commitment, leadership, character and ability."
      Bell is also a charter member and past president of both the Trojan Athletic Boosters Club and the Music Boosters Club.
      - Mel Gee
      A 1945 graduate of Traverse City Senior High, students at Central High School nominated Gee for the Hall of Fame because of his devotion to the school. A familiar figure in the hallways in his Trojan 45 letter sweater, Gee shares Traverse City and Senior High history with students, usually singing the Trojan fight song with classes. He also regularly visits Oak Park Elementary school.
      Gee sang in the Traverse City Senior High school choir and also played the clarinet in band. After graduation, he owned Mel Gee's Music Shop on Union Street for 35 years, taking care of the instrument needs of generations of students. He has been a member of the school's music department for 68 years.
      A member of the First Congregational Church Choir for 68 years, Gee has also been a National Cherry Festival volunteer for 52 years. A lifetime resident of Traverse City, Gee was thrilled to be added to the Trojan Hall of Fame.
      "I had a chance to wear a gown after 60 years," said Gee of being honored at the recent Central graduation ceremony. "It's been a wonderful experience and something I'll remember for many, many years to come."
      - Hal Johnson
      A 1951 graduate of Traverse City Senior High, Johnson's classmates voted their senior class president "Most Likely to Succeed." And succeed he did, retiring in 1972 as a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force after a 28-year career as the Air Force "Band of Flight" director.
      That position took "Red" Johnson all over the world and he also performed for presidents from Eisenhower to Reagan. Johnson directed other Air Force bands in the United States, Europe and Africa in addition to the Air Force Band that played at the signing of the Salt I Treaty in 1972
      Very active in high school as a member of the debate club, ski team, chess club and Black & Gold staff, Johnson maintained his ties to Traverse City during his Air Force years. He brought his band to perform at the National Cherry Festival when possible.
      After returning to Traverse City, Johnson played piano in local jazz bands and also directed the local Rotary Club Show from 1998-2004. Johnson, who died last year, was widely admired as a first-class musician.
      - Mel Larimer
      Credited with laying the foundation of the Traverse City Area Public Schools music program district-wide, Larimer joined Central High School in 1962 as music director. He found a strong choral program but deep cuts in music staff at all levels plus minimal high school band and orchestra programs.
      "I inherited a choir of 115, awfully talented kids and highly motivated, but the band and orchestra programs were very weak at the time," Larimer recalled. "It wasn't an intentional thing but it was just the way things were."
      Things weren't that way for long. By the time Larimer left he had boosted music staffing to 15 full-time teachers and reinstated the elementary band and orchestra programs. This foundation of excellence in all three components of music, at all levels, reflects Larimer's vision today.
      Larimer left Traverse City to teach at Olivet College, from 1970-76, and at Albion College, from 1976-96. He steered many a promising music educator into the Traverse City Area Public Schools system in that time.
      Larimer and his wife, JoAnn, returned to Traverse City after he retired. After taking a year off from directing commitments, he signed on as director of the First Congregational Church Choir in 1997, a position he held until this month.
      "I've always felt tremendously privileged to teach music, it's always been a joy and they even paid me for it!" Larimer said.
      - Bob Lober
      Bob Lober joined the faculty at Traverse City Senior High School in 1972, teaching industrial arts and technology there for the next 27 years. An avid sportsman, he coached the Traverse City Central Boys Golf team from 1983-2004 and also established the Girls Golf team, serving as it's first coach.
      Over the years, his teams racked up wins and recognition, ranging from nine regional titles and eight straight Big North titles to winning a total of 137 invitational tournaments. His teams qualified for state competition 17 times and won one state title and were runner up four other times. Lober was named Michigan Boys Golf Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1997 and he was also named regional coach of the year five times. Lober was also named National Regional Golf Coach of the Year in 1999 and National Boys Coach of the Year in 2000.
      Lober also founded the Traverse City Junior Golf Association in 1984 where he and a team of coaches share the game with up to 600 younger students a summer.
      "I was so fortunate to be able to do something I love to do at an exception place to teach and coach all those year. I was very fortunate, very fortunate," Lober said