FAYETTEVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS : Adams, Bittle, Blackwell inducted into Hall of Honor
Posted on Friday, October 10, 2008
Three friends of the Fayetteville School District were recognized for their fidelity, honor and service Thursday night at 2008 Fayetteville Public Education Foundation Hall of Honor ceremony.
The honorees were J. Alan Adams, Larry Bittle and Oma Blackwell. Each year, the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation selects three to four individuals to induct into the Hall of Honor because of their contributions or affiliations with the district.
Alan Wilbourn, Fayetteville School District spokesman, said the Hall of Honor was basically started as a way to show students that there's a life after high school and they too can accomplish what the people inducted into the hall have.
"It's just some of the pillars of the community that have put their time and energy into the school system," Wilbourn said. "This is one of my favorite nights of the year."
Adams was recognized as a successful graduate of Fayetteville High School. He was born in Fayetteville and attended Washington Elementary School before moving to the high school.
While a student at FHS, he was a letterman in football, basketball and track and a member of National Honor Society. He graduated in 1953.
After high school, Adams attended the University of Arkansas then entered the Air Force.
Adams went on to become a longtime professor of mechanical engineering at the U. S. Naval Academy, where he holds the rank of professor emeritus.
Adams told the audience about his time as a professor at the academy, stating he taught pupils such as Michael Smith, pilot of the space shuttle Challenger, and Jim Calvert, commander of the first nuclear submarine. Still, he said Fayetteville still holds one of the higher spots in his heart.
"I accept this recognition from the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation," Adams said. "I am proud to be a bulldog, purple, not red."
Bittle, an insurance agent who has lived in Fayetteville since 1970, was recognized for his contributions as a district volunteer over the years.
In the 1990 s, Bittle served as chairman for two successful millage campaigns. One was to construct the Holcomb and Vandergriff elementary schools, and the other was to add a mill dedicated to technology.
He also helped develop the Holiday Hoops Basketball Tournament in 1995.
He told the cheering crowd that he's an ordinary man who, throughout his life, has been surrounded by extraordinary people.
"I am humbled to stand here and accept this award which places me in the company of some amazing people," Bittle said.
Blackwell is a retired educator for the district, most noted for her 20 years working as principal of Root Elementary School until she retired in 2001.
Blackwell was also named Principal of the Year in 1986 by the South Central Association of Elementary School Principals. That same year, she was also honored as a Distinguished Principal of the Year at a Washington, D. C., ceremony.
On a video shown during the ceremony friends described Blackwell as a "visionary person that got things done".
Blackwell simply said she looked back at all her years at Root Elementary School and realized it was not about the budgeting or curriculum planning.
"You had to find time to be able to love students," Blackwell said. "I accept this wonderful honor and thank you very much."
Since the ceremony was first held in 1997, 42 people have been inducted into the Hall of Honor.
Brett Bennett of the Northwest Arkansas Times contributed to this story.
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