Vikings of Distinction

Past Honorees

2009

• Karen Pflasterer Authier, Elkhorn, NE, class of 1960. Social Worker. Served at UNL Med Center, Girls and Boys Town, Lutheran Family Services and private practice.  Currently Director of Nebraska Children's Home Society

• Lee R. Chesney, Pacific Palisdades, CA, class of 1938. Well-known artist. Received a Fulbright Scholarship. Associate Dean of Fine Arts, University of Southern California, retired.

• Dr. Gregory L. Davis, Omaha, NE, class of 1971. DDS from Creighton University and currently a professor in the Dental College.  Maintains a private practice.  Serves the community throught the Charles Drew Center and county jail.

• Antoinette Scott Jones, Montgomery, AL, class of 1970. Educator. Attorney.  Served as Deputy District Attorney, Counsel for the Department of Revenue and assistant to the president of Trenholm College.

• John W. Nabity, Omaha, NE, class of 1964.  Landscaping and consulting. Serves on the faculty at Metropolitan Community College. A strong North Omaha community member.

• Karen Edquist Robey, Omaha, NE, class of 1960. "Friend of the School" recipient.  Dedicates many hours to North High throught the Alumni Association, the North High Foundation and the Vikings of Distinction.

2008

• Gary Christensen, Fort Worth, Texas. Class of 1961. Military career officer, lieutenant-colonel United States Air Force who flew 241 missions during the Vietnam War

• Clare Duda, Omaha, Nebraska. Class of 1972. Public servant, 12-year member of Nebraska's Douglas County Board and 28-year volunteer firefighter.

• Robert D. Fead, Los Angeles, California. Class of 1952. Public relations career with 35 years in the music industry, Member of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and President of Burt Bacharach Music Group.

• Janice P. Gilmore, Omaha, Nebraska. Class of 1962. Educator with Omaha Public Schools, columnist for the Omaha World-Herald, and children's book author.

• Carol Christensen Grossman, Scottsdale, Arizona. Class of 1958. Educator with Omaha Public Schools, Friend of North High School and original member of the Vikings of Distinction Committee.

• Rose Ostronic, Deceased. North High School staff member for 44 years, starting as the doors opened.  Secretary and office manager for numerous principals.

2007

• Bonnie Lefler Miley, Council Bluffs, Iowa. Class of 1964. Professor, dean, and VP of student services at Iowa Western Community College. Champion of international and disabled students.

• William L. Petersen, Evanston, Illinois. Class of 1956. Independent free lance artist for well-known corporations and celebrity clients.

• Pastor Vic Schoonover, Omaha, Nebraska. Class of 1951. Retired Lutheran pastor, founding member of Lutheran Pantry, and board member for numerous civic groups.

• Ward Schumaker, San Francisco, California. Class of 1961. Graphic designer, illustrator, and author. Published in magazines and written and illustrated children's books.

• Ruth Carson Sharp-Doyle, Omaha, Nebraska. Class of 1941. Teacher and administrator in the Omaha Public Schools. Published, lectured and consulted in the development of special education programs.

• Curlee Alexander, Omaha, Nebraska. North High Faculty 1984 - 2002. Retired teacher and wrestling coach. Member of UNO and Nebraska Wrestling Halls of Fame. Coached teams to five state titles.

2006

• Charlotte McGruder Abram, Omaha. Class of 1966. Pastor of Pearl/Asbury and Trinity United Methodist Churches. Past National Secretary of Black Clergywomen and active in community outreach.
• Gary S. Anderson, Elkhorn, Nebraska. Class of 1964. Nationally recognized sports information director. Author of a book on professional hockey in Omaha.
• Marcia Wetzler Hinkle, Omaha. Class of 1955. Violinist with the Omaha Symphony and Midlands String Quartet. Community/civic/philantropic involvement. Rea Estate Agent.
• Galen K. Lillethorup. Omaha. Class of 1949. Friend of North High School. Former member Omaha North High School Foundation and Vikings of Distinction Committee. News reporter, photographer, editor, producer, advertising supervisor.
• Richard Pitner, M.D., Omaha. Class of 1953. Friend of North High School. Orthopedic surgeon. Former department chairman of Omaha medical centers.
• Edward H. Stech, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Class of 1948. Former Omaha North High School Faculty. Retired educator. Former wrestling coach in Wisconsin.

2005

• John Carson, Ph.D., Norristown, Pennsylvania. Class of 1953. Senior Research Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry, McNeil Laboratories. Industry-wide acclaim for discovery of pharmaceuticals.
• Robbie Glover, Omaha. Class of 1965. Service Manager for Xeros since 1972. Host of foreign exchange students year-round and servers as a mentor for area youth.
• Roland L. Keaton. Claremont, California. Class of 1942. 40-year aerospace career, aiding in design of Titan and Minuteman missles and space probes to Jupiter and Venus.
• Dona Guy Lauritsen, Omaha. Class of 1941. Office manager (retired) for Dale Carnegie Courses and for AFLAC. Co-founder of United Support for Amputees and other volunteer work.
• M. Thomas Perkins, Ph.D., Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Class of 1952. Varied service career, including Director of Uta Hallee and mental health and drug programs. Director of Panhandle Mental Health Center.
• The Viking Ship, (formerly the Birchwood Club) and founder, June Staub Blair, Omaha. Class of 1960. Friend of North High School, Supporter of NHS programs for many years

2004

• Don P. Anderson, Omaha. Class of 1944. Founder and current president, Omaha North High School Foundation and charter member of Vikings of Distinction committee
• Pearl McCray Anderson, (deceased). NHS Faculty 1924-1956. Head of mathematics department and teacher of algebra, geometry and trigonometry.
• Mary Convey Caffey., Valley, Nebraska. Class of 1965. Valley High teacher for over 30 years. Nebraska Teacher of the Year for 2001 and current candidate for Valley mayor.
• Thomas R. Clanton, M.D., Ph.D., Worthington, Ohio. Class of 1967. Professor of internal medicine at Ohio State University. Author of many articles on physiology.
• Alice B. Crocker, (deceased). NHS Faculty, 1930-1968. Counselor, activities director and teacher of biology, physiology and health clases.
• Carol Jenkins Jackson, Ed.D. Omaha.. Class of 1966. Retired counselor and Omaha Public Schools teacher. Started African-American literature course for OPS.
• James R. O'Dell, M.D. Omaha.. Class of 1970. Physician and professor of internal medicine at University of Nebraska Medical Center. Pioneer in treatment of arthritis.

2003

• Ellen Parrish Hedlund, Ph. D. , Massachusetts. Class of 1961. Rhode Island Commissioner of Education.
• Virginia M. Nedley, Omaha. NHS Faculty 1968-1996. Taught Spanish, Latin, French, Japanese, English and Word Study.
• Byron B. Oberst, M.D., Omaha. Class of 1940. One of Children's Memorial Hospital's first "Legends in Pediatrics," author and medical consultant.
• Thomas A. Romberg, Ph.D., Omaha. Class of 1951. Bascom Professor of Education, Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, researcher, author, worldwide consultant .
• Annette Scott Sayers, Omaha. Class of 1970. Registered nurse, community and civic leader, wife, mother and inventor.
• William O. Wakefield, Ph. D. Omaha.. Class of 1961. Professional musician, university professor, auther and criminal justice authority.

2002

• Dorothy Denton Dennis, Class of 1941. College professor and Peace Corps volunteer
• John A. Gale. Class of 1971. Nebraska Secretary of State
• Steven R. Hogan. Class of 1971. PGA Teaching Professional
• Edgar Jerins. Class of 1976. Nationally-recognized artist and portraitist.
• Marcia Abbott Ochsner, Omaha, NHS Faculty 1985-1990.
• Philip W. Welch, Jr.,. Class of 1966. CEO, Kel-Welco Distributing, Inc.

2001

• Donald H. Archer, Santa Barbara, California. Class of 1942. Electronics Engineer. Refited after long career in missile satellite and microwave technology.
• William Bohannon, Omaha. Class of 1971. Actor, Director and veteran of more than 20 musical productions.
• Dwayne B. Ibsen, Omaha. NHS Faculty 1966-1982. Taught speech and drama and was a major uniting force during North's troubled years.
• Jack K. Lausterer Sr., Omaha. Class of 1939. Civic leader and retired president of CBS Real Estate Company.
• John L. Morgan, Wayzata, Minnesota. Class of 1959. CEO of row Biz International whose leadership led to funding of minority scholarships for North students.
• Noel Weimer, Chicago, Illinois. Class of 1964. Founded FirstNoel Consulting after a successful career as an advertising copywriter and creative director.

2000

• Joyce Fisher Ball, Dearborn, Michigan, Class of 1951. Educational Specialist. Taught in Alaska, Michigan and Omaha.
• John E. Carter, Omaha. Class of 1957. Friend of North High. Author of A Viking Odyssey
• George F. Haddix, Ralston, Nebraska. Class of 1957. President, CSG Systems
• Thomas L. Harvey, Omaha. Assistant Superintendent OPS and former North High School principal.
• John V. Hendry, Lincoln, Nebraska. Class of 1966. Chief Justice, Nebraska Supreme Court
• Kurt L. Jensen, (deceased), North High School faculty, 1973-1998
• Timothy O. Wahl. Omaha. Class of 1967 Physician - named "One of the Best Doctors in America."

1999

• Earl E. Erwin (deceased). NHS Faculty, 1929-1963.
• John C. Furstenberg, Omaha. Class of 1960 Executive Director, Omaha Home for Boys
• Dr. Orville R. Matzke, Omaha North High School Faculty, 1954-1966 and 1981-1990
• Gail Williams Sheddy, Canton Township, Michigan District Sales Manager, United Air Lines
• Howard T. Swain, Omaha, Class of 1967 Programming Manager, Cox Communications, Inc.
• Lee C. White, Washington, D. C., Class of 1941 Former staff member of President John F. Kennedy and counsel to president Lyndon Baines Johnson.
• Outback Steakhouse. Friend of North High School

1998

• Butler-Gast YMCA. Friend of North High School
• William C. Duffack, Sumter, South Carolina, Class of 1949 Retired USAF Command Pilot and veteran of 177 combat missions.
• Loyson L. "Skeets" Mahoney, Mesa, Arizona, Faculty Member Retired faculty and North High Band Director from 1965 - 1973.
• Calvin J. McGruder, Omaha, Class of 1962 Metro Area Transit Finance Director
• Sue Ewing Perkins, Omaha, Class of 1956 Veteran stage, radio and television actress
• Alfred G. Thomsen, Omaha, Class of 1953 Civic leader and president, Alfred G. Thomsen company.

1997

• Michael Adams, Class of 1957 - Director of Affirmative Action, University of California
• Mary S. Brown, NHS Faculty, 1956 - 1983
• Donald H. Erickson, Class of 1940 - Partner, Erickson & Sederstrom
• Kay Erwin Mayberry, Class of 1960, Principal, Catlin Elementary School
• Norwest bank Nebraska, Friend of North High School
• Gordon L. Severa, Class of 1947 - Senior Vice President, InterNorth Corporation

1996

• Ralph W. Adams, Class of 1955 - Executive Director, Central Security Service
• Keith B. Edqust, Class of 1962 - Civic leader, Airport Owner/Manager
• Robert Murray, Class of 1947 - NHS Faculty, 1962 - 1993
• North Omaha Foundation - Friend of North High School
• Sandra Vondra Platone, Class of 1956 - Principal, Joslyn Elementary School
• David Sokol, Class of 1974 - Chairman, CalEnergy Conmpany

1995

• Mark O. Gautier, Jr., Class of 1948
  Journalist and Communications Specialists
• Frank Hobbs
  NHS Faculty, 1955-1984
• Suzanne L. Miles, Ph.D., Class of 1971
  Associate Dean of Instruction, Pima College
• Daniel L. Miller, Class of 1963
  Administrative Manager, City of Oakland
• Robert C. Schleiger, Ph.D., Class of 1943
  President, Chesapeake College
• Leo Taylor
  NHS Faculty, 1956-1974

1994

• Leonard Bond, Class of 1941
  NHS Faculty, 1948-1985
• Arthur Bradley, Class of 1939
  Civic Leader, former Omaha City Councilman
• Clide Cook, Ph.D.
  NHS faculty, 1966-1974
• Jacqueline V. Henningsen, Ph.D., Class of 1962
  Senior Advisor to the Department of Defense
• Omaha Chamber of Commerce
  Friend of North High School
• Charles D. Platt, Class of 1949
  President, Alamo Rent-A-Car
• Harold Sorensen, Class of 1938
  Senior Vice President, Fluor Corporation

1993

• W. Albert Black
  NHS Faculty, 1957-1981
• D. Nick Caporale, Class of 1946
  Justice, Nebraska Supreme Court
• Dick C.E. Davis, Ph.D., Class of 1965
  Chairman, Davis Insurance and Bonds
• First Data Resources
  Friend of North High School
• Louise Tucker Sutton
  NHS Faculty, 1935-1969
• Ann Ahlstrand VanDemark, Ph.D., Class of 1955
  Director, Special Tree Rehabilitation Center
• Stephen R. Wylie, Class of 1961
  Director, Oklahoma City Zoological Park

1992

• Deon F. Bahr, Class of 1956
  Architect, Bahr, Vermeer and Haecker
• Thomas O. Davis, Class of 1955
  Executive Director, Boys Clubs of Omaha
• Arlo Grafton, Class of 1959
  Video Producer, Envision Communications, Inc.
• Jesse W. Jackson
  NHS Faculty, 1924-1936
• Dale A. Johnson, Th.D., Class of 1953
  Professor, Vanderbilt University
• Margaret A. Nielsen
  NHS Faculty, 1938-1965
• Sandra J. Suttie, Ph.D., Class of 1956
  Associate Professor, Oregon State University

1991

• Thomas W. Ash, Class of 1958
  Executive Director, Cornhusker State Games
• Terry G. Forsberg, Class of 1958
  Public Events Manager, City of Omaha
• D.J. (Jim) Friesen
  NHS Principal, 1978-1986
• Robert W. Henkel, Class of 1948
  Editorial Director, CMP Publications
• Nathan R. Mohar
  NHS Faculty, 1941-1972
• Cecilia Douthy Willis, Ph.D., Class of 1967
  Psychologist, Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Rigel Corporation
  Friend of North High School

1990

• Carol R. Gast
  NHS Faculty, 1941-1959
• Ellen H. Gast
  NHS Faculty, 1945-1971
• Karen Judson Hapgood, Class of 1957
  European Federation of Intercultural Learning, London, England
• Rene E. Hlavac, Ph.D., Class of 1943
  Assistant Superintendent, Omaha Public Schools
• Gilbert A. Holmes, Class of 1938
  Marketing Manager, Northwestern Bell
• Melvin Perelman, Ph.D., Class of 1948
  Executive Vice President, Eli Lilly

1989

• Floyd L. Chase
  NHS Faculty, 1936-1969
• Cliff H. Hollestelle, Class of 1958
  Wildlife Woodcarver
• Preston H. Love, Class of 1938
  Musician, Composer, Columnist
• Marjorie E. Magner, Class of 1938
  Administrator and Teacher for the Deaf
• Samuel F. Thomas
  NHS Faculty, 1935-1964
• Frank Tierney
  Friend of North High School

1988

• Ruth Barrett
  NHS Faculty, 1937-1968
• Richard E. Collins, M.D., Class of 1961
  Chief of Cardiology, Immanuel Hospital
• James H. Dorsey
  NHS Faculty, 1924-1959
• Joe T. McCartney, Class of 1955
  President, The McCartney Group
• Charles M. Geisler, Ph.D., Class of 1948
  Director, 3M Company
• Eleanor Knoll Swanson, Class of 1943
  Attorney
• Union Pacific Railroad
  Friend of North High School

1987

• Gloria Rees Dunbar, Class of 1944
  Musician, Lyric Soprano, TV Hostess
• Elmer E. Helligso
  NHS Faculty, 1925-1964
• William R. Hunter, Class of 1944
  Director, George A. Hormel Company
• William C. "Spec" Nelson
  NHS Faculty, 1943-1974
• Edward M. Strauss, Jr., Class of 1936
  Executive, Aluminum Company of America
• Mutual of Omaha
  Friend of North High School

1986

• Kenneth Burkholder, Ph.D.
  NHS Principal, 1952-1963
• Don R. Boyd, A.B., A.M., Class of 1928
  Minister, United Methodist Churce
• Gary D. Penisten, Class of 1949
  Vice President, Sterling Drugs
• Jack Reilly, Class of 1943
  Producer/Director, National Television
• Nona A. Robinson
  NHS Faculty, 1924-1954
• Lozier Corporation
  Friend of North High School

1985

• Donald R. Benning, Ph.D., Class of 1954
  Assistant Superintendent, Omaha Public Schools
• Vernon H. Ekfelt
  NHS Faculty, 1946-1974
• John W. Henderson, M.D., Class of 1930
  Chairman, Mayo Clinic Ophthalmology Department
• Charles R. Larson, Class of 1954
  Rear Admiral, Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy
• Edward E. McMillan
  NHS Principal, 1924-1942
• North Omaha Commercial Club
  Friend of North High School

1984

• Gladys Reddan Gies
  NHS Faculty, 1924-1967
• Alfred D. Hollingsworth, Class of 1960
  President, Al Hollingsworth Enterprises
• Herbert C. Modlin, M.D., Class of 1930
  Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Menninger Clinic
• Donald B. Walker, Class of 1930
  President, Archer Daniels Midland
• North Omaha Kiwanis Club
  Friend of North High School

1983

• Harold W. Andersen, Class of 1941
  President, Omaha World Herald
• Henry C. Meents
  NHS Principal, 1942-1952
• Elizabeth Pittman, Class of 1938
  Omaha Municipal Court Judge
• Henry Roose, Class of 1934
  Vice President, United States National Bank
• William Strauss, Class of 1940
  Chairman, InterNorth, Inc., 1966-1984
• Robert Turner, Class of 1938
  Vice President, Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical
• Austin Vickery, M.D., Class of 1937
  Professor, Harvard Medical School, Surgeon
• North Side Bank
  Firend of North High School