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After COVID postponements, the Putnam High School Wall of Honor induction ceremony will be Oct. 23 and five will be honored.
After last year’s COVID postponement, that class will become the Class of 2021, bringing the overall total to 20 former Putnam High graduates. The current class includes: Ira Cutler, Class of 1885; Ronald Coderre, 1959; Jeffrey Jankot, 1965; Jeffrey Macdonald, 1976; and William Lychack, 1984.
Cutler is a posthumous inductee who was the only male graduate in his class. As rare as a high school graduation was in that period, he headed west to attain his advanced degrees and became a professor at Denver University. He was a nationally recognized scientist who was included in Who’s Who in America and honored with an Endowed Chair at Denver.
Coderre has been involved with many aspects in the Putnam community including politics, business, health services, youth activities, sports journalism, education and veteran affairs. His efforts were a major factor in the establishment of the Hale YMCA in Putnam.
Jankot was an outstanding high school golfer who later received a degree from Boston College. He became a First Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division. While in Vietnam, an enemy explosion cost him his eyesight, but not his passion for golf. In 1976, he won the National Blind Golf Association Championship, and then continued to be an advocate for disabled veterans despite his handicap.
Macdonald’s early interest in flying led to his ultimate career path in the military. He began by flying search and rescue missions on medical evacuation assignments for the U.S. Air Force. He taxied many of our nation’s leaders to various locations leading to various military awards, including two Legion of Merit medals. He retired as Colonel Macdonald but continues to pilot for commercial airlines.
Lychack is an associate professor in the writing program at the University of Pittsburgh. This position as writer and teacher was achieved through a lifelong pursuit of journalism and a desire to instill in others the qualities of honesty, clarity and empathy in their writings. He has garnered numerous awards for literary achievements from published articles to novels.
The Wall of Honor Committee hopes to return to its April induction celebration in 2022. Application forms are available at the office of the Superintendent, Putnam Public Library, WINY and online on Putnam’s Public School website and must be returned by Jan. 15.
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