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PUTNAM — May 5 the Putnam High School Wall of Honor Class of 2018 will honor five individuals for their high standard of citizenship; David T. Breault, M.D., Ph.D. ’86; Dr. James W. Hall III ’66; and Dr. Louise C. Pempek ’51. The class also includes two posthumous inductions, Charlotte G. McCulloch-Greenhalgh ’36 and Stanley A. Scraba Jr. ’50.
The event starts with a social at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner in the high school cafeteria. The induction ceremony will take place in the Black Box Theater immediately following dinner. Tickets are $40 per person — call 860-963-6900.
These honorees join the initial class, which included former Governor of Connecticut John N. Dempsey ’34; former Board of Education chairperson Rose Bove LaRose ’30; and renowned author and teacher Gertrude Chandler Warner. Also in the first class were 51st Assembly District Representative Daniel S. Rovero ’55 and international environmental affairs advisor William H. Mansfield III ’50.
The wall of honor maintains the heritage and tradition of the school by honoring alumni and others who have brought honor to themselves, the school, and their communities. The award honors individuals who have demonstrated spirit and leadership in their life’s work or service to their community.
Dr. David T. Breault is a national and international endocrinologist and associate professor of Pediatrics at Harvard School of Medicine. He currently oversees research and teaching related to stem cell studies at Boston Children’s Hospital. He is a recipient of the Presidential Early Career Award for Science and engineering from President Barack Obama.
Dr. James W. Hall III is an internationally recognized audiologist who has authored more than 150 journal articles and nine textbooks. He is the first recipient of the Braintree Award for outstanding research in traumatic head injury. He’s also the recipient of the Presidential Award.
Dr. Louise C. Pempek enjoyed an illustrious 62-year career in education. The author of several publications on the history of Putnam, she’s the recipient of the prestigious Connecticut Education Award from the Milken Family Foundation for innovative educational programming.
Charlotte G. McCulloch-Greenhalgh dedicated 41 years of her life to education. She entered her career as a classroom teacher and exited as the first female principal in the history of Connecticut. A graduate of the former New Britain State Teachers College (currently Central Connecticut State University) she was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an honorary sorority for women educators. She also served on the Putnam Board of Education and as a director of Putnam Savings Bank, now Putnam Bank.
Stanley A. Scraba Jr. was a graduate of Bryant University and longtime educator/coach in the Putnam and Brooklyn school systems. He enjoyed a distinguished 36-career in the Connecticut Army National Guard, retiring at the rank of brigadier general. As a member of the National Guard he served in Governor William O’Neill’s Foot Guard and as the first commandant of the Connecticut Military Academy. Scraba served on the Putnam City Council, 14 years as a police commissioner and the first chairman of the Putnam Special Services District.
“The Wall of Honor Committee is honored to present this class of distinguished Putnam High School graduates. These individuals have all proven themselves in their respective fields. The evening is another sign of the quality education provided by Putnam High School,” said committee chairman Ronald P. Coderre.
In addition to Coderre, Wall of Honor Committee members include, Nelson King, vice chairman; Susan Johnston, secretary; Jeanne Benoit, treasurer; and Robert Garceau, Stuart Neal, Dr. David Gaudreau, Lee Konicki and Sandra Ames. Superintendent William Hull, Carrie Blackmar and Edward Perron represent the Putnam Board of Education.