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Writer's pictureBethany Sheets

2022 Frankfort Hotdogs Hall of Fame Inductees

Updated: Jan 7


CHAD BUNTIN

(Alumni) Class of 1996

Chad was the first IHSAA State Wrestling Champ from Clinton County and played in the Indiana Football Coaches Association 1996 North/South All Star Game.


Chad attended Franklin College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Criminology. He played varsity football there from 1996 to 1999, earning notoriety for starting at positions on both offense and defense. After graduation Chad served as Assistant Wrestling Coach at Franklin High School and Graduate Assistant Football Coach at Franklin College. He capped off his football career winning the 2000 Arena Football League Championship as a key player on the undefeated Quad City Steamwheelers.


Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Chad joined the US Coast Guard where he was stationed on active duty in Juneau, Alaska, and Fort Mason, North Carolina. He became a noncommissioned officer, rising to the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class and serving as a Technician with a Top Secret Security Clearance working in the Suppor t Detachment. Chad retired from the Coast Guard in 2006 with multiple awards and commendations.


Chad returned to Indiana to work with Wolfe Diversified Industries, where he served as Chief Operating Officer of the company’s TicketTracker subsidiary, an early leader in event management software designed for the schools market. The company won the 2014 Mira Award as the “Emerging Tech Company of the Year” presented by Indianapolis-based TechPoint. In 2016 he became President of PAYK12, LLC, a provider of event management and payments processing software for schools across the country.


Chad lives in Franklin, Indiana, where his busy life is anchored by his wife Jenny and two daughters, Paige and Lydia.


KELLY J. GOOD

(Alumni) Class of 1986

Kelly graduated from Ball State University with Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of

Architecture degrees. He developed an extensive background in the field with decades of

experience at several design firms. His portfolio includes educational, municipal, commercial, retail, religious, multi-family, industrial, and dozens of multi-use building designs throughout the Midwest. Kelly has an extensive construction administration background, with specialties in schematic design, site planning, code research, and document review.


Kelly founded KJG Architecture in 1997 and has served as the President and Senior Architect

since the firm’s inception. Located in West Lafayette, KJG is comprised of four departments

which streamline work flow: Architecture, Structural Engineering, Interior Design, and

Residential Architecture, providing design, engineering, interior design and residential design services. KJG has 33 employees and completes more than 500 projects each year. KJG has architects and engineers that are licensed in many states and provide architectural and engineering services across the United States.


Kelly has maintained close ties with Frankfort working on several projects including the

Donaldson Co. addition and remodel, Frankfort Community Public Library, Frankfort BMV, Nickel Plate Flats, NHK Seating of America, and One80 Recovery Center.


KJG’s biggest Frankfort project to date is the 6-year 3 phase remodel of Frankfort High School. The project added a new state-of-the-art mechanical system, LED lighting, new fire sprinkler systems, energy efficient roof and wall system, new windows, upgraded communication and technical systems, 8 new classrooms and 14 enlarged classrooms, new secure entrance, administrative and guidance offices and science labs, plus expansion of the band room and a new entry facade. Currently KJG is working with the city of Frankfort on architectural and engineering of the new Frankfort Police Station on State Road 28 West.

In March of this year Kelly purchased the 7-acre former Riley School property from the Community Schools of Frankfort and has begun developing single family homes on the property that will blend in with the existing neighborhood.


Outside of the office, Kelly enjoys the hobby of flying, and taking his wife Susie and their daughter Anna to different vacation destinations around the country. He also enjoys exercising, playing tennis and ping pong, boating, and riding wave runners and motorcycles.


MARY GORHAM HERRICK

(Alumni) Class of 1912

Mary Gorham Herrick is recognized as a pioneer of women’s golf not only in Indiana, but

nationally as well. A supporter of many and varied local causes including the Frankfort Community Public Library, Mary’s commitment to Frankfort is undeniable.

Tragically, Mary’s mother died in childbirth. She was raised as a child and adopted as an adult by Abraham and Viola McClamroch. Mr. McClamroch was one of the founders of The Farmers Bank.


Mary’s interest in golf began when she attended the 1st Indiana Women’s State Amateur Golf Championship in 1922, held at Lafayette Country Club with 30 contestants representing 14 clubs. Mary immediately started lessons and the next year entered the state tournament. She was motivated by the love of sport and competition and thus began her love of golf. When she attended the 50th tournament in 1973, there were more than 100 competitors.

Mary was a life member of the Frankfort Country Club, the Highland Golf and Country Club of Indianapolis, and the Indiana Women’s Golf Association. In addition, she was a 30-year

member of the Rules Committee of the Women’s Western Golf Association and traveled throughout the country officiating at tournaments.


For many years both the Highland Golf & Country Club and the Frankfort Country Club staged an annual “Mary Herrick Day”. In 1959 Indiana Women’s State Golf Association honored her as a life member.


Always community-minded, Mary was a life member of the Clinton County Humane Society, the Friends of the Frankfort Community Public Library, First Presbyterian Church, and supported the Clinton County Boys and Girls Club and the Paul Phillippe Human Resource Center.


Mary donated her unique collection of Oriental Art to the Frankfort Library and through the generosity of her estate, a new 3-story wing was added to the original Carnegie library building. Opened in 1989, the Mary Herrick wing at the Frankfort Community Public Library now houses an Art Studio, Art Gallery, 200-seat Theatre, Meeting Rooms, and a Coffee Shop. Mary Herrick’s philanthropy has touched thousands of adult and children’s lives in Frankfort and Clinton County.


TOM MILLER

(Alumni) Class of 1981

While a student at FHS, Tom lettered all 4 years in basketball and was named to the All Sagamore Conference Team for 3 of those years. He led the Hot Dogs in points both his junior and senior years, and ranks twenty-first on the Hot Dog all-time scoring leaders list with 1003 points. He received his undergraduate degree from Rice University in Houston, Texas where he played Division I basketball.


Tom received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis in 1989. While at IU he received the Roy Norman Rheinhart Award for high standards in performance in obstetrics and gynecology. Tom completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology in 1993 at the MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He received a teaching award in 1992 and was named Executive Chief Resident in 1993.

A member of the Indiana State Medical Association, Tom holds a State of Indiana medical license. He is also a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners, a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.


Tom, his wife Pam and their five children April, Megan, Mackenzie, Macy, and Quinn have lived in the Fort Wayne area since 2005. Tom practices obstetrics and gynecology at Parkview Regional Medical Center where he is also the physician executive of the Women’s and Children’s service line.


LT. COL. JAMES (JIM) RENTSCHLER

(Alumni) Class of 1951

After graduation from FHS in 1951, Jim went on to attend Ball State University, then enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1953. Upon completion of Officer Candidate School, he attended Basic Pilot Training in 1959. After several Air Force flying assignments including 3 years in Germany, Jim earned a B.S. in mathematics from Colorado State University in 1968.

In 1969, then Major Rentschler was Aircraft Commander of a C-47 “Spooky” gunship flying in support of U.S. ground troops in Vietnam. The Major and his crew made an emergency takeoff from Bien Hoa Air Base when the base came under heavy attack from enemy fire. Once airborne, the mission was to provide air support for two separate Army ground units also under deadly mortar & rocket attack. Under Major Rentschler’s direction, the C-47 provided flare illumination and mini-gun fire enabling both Army units to repel attacking enemy soldiers. For his heroic efforts, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Major Rentschler was also awarded the Air Medal with Six Oak Leaf Clusters for his service in Vietnam.


From 1972 to 1977 he continued his Air Force career, serving Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Gerald Ford in the White House. His assignment was to ensure the Presidents had around-the-clock communication with the National Command Center in the event of a national emergency, and which included traveling with the Presidents on both domestic and international trips. Upon his retirement from the Air Force, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster) from President Ford for managing, developing and implementing sophisticated computer systems supporting the White House and National Security Council. Jim also made significant contributions to implementation and enhancements of the White House Telecommunications System which provided world-wide record communications for the President.


After retirement Jim worked as an IT Director for the American Gas Association and worked with Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship ministry. In 1993 he and his wife Betty (also a Frankfort native) moved to Colorado Springs where he became Head Concierge of the 5-star Broadmoor Hotel.


Jim loved Frankfort and returned many times during his career and retirement crediting his life success to the love and support of the people of Frankfort and his “Old Stoney” teachers whose values he epitomized throughout his life. Jim passed away on July 1, 2021.


MARK SAWICKI

(Alumni) Class of 1975

Mark graduated from Ball State University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts in marketing and finance. Joining the United States Navy, Mark began pilot training, spending the next 12 years on active duty and in the Naval Reserves flying the A7E Corsair and F/A18 Hornet aircraft. He made deployments aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz supporting military operations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and North Atlantic oceans logging more than 350 aircraft carrier landings.


Mark is a graduate of the prestigious Navy Fighter Weapons School, also known as Top Gun, and was nominated as the Navy Flight Instructor of the Year in 1988.

Mark was hired by American Airlines in 1989, where he is currently a Boeing 737 Captain based in Miami. In his 33-year airline career, he has logged more than 20,000 hours flying the Boeing 727, 737, 757, and 767 aircraft throughout the U.S., Europe, South American, Central America, and the Caribbean.


Mark is currently involved with mission work in Guatemala, building schools and houses and supporting educational programs for children located in the Guatemala City dump region. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife Janet. He has 4 grown children: Kyle, Kris, Konner, and Klaire.


RANDALL (BOE) WORKMAN

(Alumni) Class of 1970

Boe graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelors, Masters and Ph.D. in speech communication. While at IU he was a four year member of the IU Marching 100 band. As a graduate student, he taught undergraduate courses in communication and managed the IU Speakers Bureau.


Upon graduation he taught at East Tennessee State University, Mount Vernon College and at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C. Boe served as speechwriter in the Reagan-Bush National Campaign. Following the election of President Ronald Reagan, he served on the Presidential Transition Team at the National Transportation Safety Board receiving a Recognition of Exemplary Service certificate from President Reagan. During the Reagan Administration, he continued writing speeches for members of the White House staff and two members of the Cabinet.


In 1993, he joined the staff of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), the nation’s largest organization serving the needs and interests of people aged 50 and older. As Director of CEO Communications, he has written for every CEO for the past 30 years, including current CEO Jo Ann Jenkins.


Boe’s speeches have appeared in Vital Speeches of the Day, the Business Speaker’s Almanac, Representative American Speeches, and numerous business and industry publications. He has co-authored several books including Jo Ann Jenkins’ national best seller, Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age. His articles and op-eds appear in major publications including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, Boston Globe, For tune, Barron’s and The Saturday Evening Post. Boe previously served on the Public Affairs Advisory Committee of the National Capital Division of the American Red Cross. He currently serves on the Professional Speechwriter’s Association Advisory Board and is a founding member of the Executive Communication Council.


Boe and his wife, Carol (Sutton, FHS Class of 1974) currently reside in Virginia.


STEVE MULLEN

(Honorary Inductee)

Steve graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1964 and from Ball State University in 1968. Steve’s coaching story began when he organized a team for the first new swimming pool at Rensselaer High School. After 10 years and a winning record of 82-50 in dual meets at Rensselaer, Steve and his family followed Superintendent Robert Ayres to Frankfort in 1978.

At Frankfort High School Steve was named Boys Swimming Sectional Coach of the Year in 1980, 1995 and 1999. The FHS Boys Swim Team won the Sectional in 1995 and seven Sagamore Conference titles. At the 1989 Western Boone Girls Swim Sectional, Steve was named Sectional Coach of the Year. The Girls team won conference in 1993 and 2004.

Along with coaching boys and girls at FHS, Steve also dedicated many years of time and talent to coaching middle school and summer age group teams. The Frankfort Swim Club age group team won their conference invitational numerous times, including over 10 in a row at one point. Throughout his coaching career, he was able to coach his own four children and a daughter-in-law.


In 2008 after coaching swimming and diving at Frankfort High School for 30 years, Steve retired with a 320-197 Boys Team record making him Frankfort’s all-time winningest coach. Frankfort High School honored Coach Mullen by dedicating and renaming the FHS swimming pool the “Steve Mullen Aquatics Center.”


Steve has been active in Habitat for Humanity since 1989 and continues to dedicate immeasurable time and talent to the cause in his retirement. In 1997 he was named the Clinton County Citizen of the Year for his work with Habitat.


Steve and his wife Jan have 4 children and six grandchildren and recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary.

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