Ray Tincher
By Ray Tincher | For The Times-Post
On March 30, a guy named John Hinkley Jr tried to assassinate President Reagan, shooting and seriously wounding himand two police officers. In addition, Hinkley shot and wounded Press Secretary James Brady. Brady was shot in the head and never completely recovered from the incident.
The Space Shuttle Columbia with NASA astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen launched on the STS-1 mission on April 12, returning to Earth on April 14, 54.5 hours later. It is the first time a crewed reusable spacecraft has returned from orbit. In July 1981, President Reagan nominated Sandra Day O’Connor for the U.S. Supreme Court. In September of that year, she became the first woman nominated to that office.
In August 1981, Major League Baseball finally ends its strike after 50 days. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that five men in Los Angeles had a rare form of pneumonia seen only in patients with weakened immune systems, the first recognized cases of AIDS. A worldwide audience of more than 750 million people watched the Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The first American test-tube baby, Elizabeth Jordan Carr, was born in Norfolk, Virginia. And near the end of the year, China became the first country to ever reach a population of 1 billion peoplef.
Back in Lapel, the Rev. Garfield Steedman, who was pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church from 1952-56, gave the sermon Sunday, Jan. 25. Jeana Pentz, representing Lapel High School, advanced to a state level contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Her topic was “My Commitment to My Country.”
An impressive flag raising ceremony took place on the last day of January, in front of the Lapel Town Hall building. Maxine Galliher, president of the American War Mothers presented the flag, which was flown over the Capitol on Jan. 27, 1981, to Bill Owens, Legion Commander at the Lapel Post 212. Owens in turn presented the flag to town board President Bob Chaney. There were representatives present from the Legion Auxiliary, War Mothers, Lapel Legion, the LHS band, town officials and other interested citizens. The flag was given to the town on behalf of Congressman Bud Hillis.
“1981 Senior Citizens of the Year” awards went to Bill Neese and Volney Rich. They were honored at a Lapel Golden Glows dinner meeting. Bill Neese was credited with starting the Lapel Little League. Both men were active in the Lions Club in Lapel. There were other volunteers honored by the Lions Club were Lois Woods, Marie Crooks, Lois Wright, Georgianna Renbarger and Grace Mills. Also, Marilyn Shaw received the Benefactor Award plaque from the Rev. Joe Wagner.
Here is the Lapel grocery prices in 1981: Wonder Bread — two for 79 cents; Charmin Bathroom Tissue (four-pack) — 99 cents; Best Ever Ice Cream ½ gal — $1.49; milk (gallon) — $1.59; bologna — $1.49/pound.
West Central Community School’s success was rooted in its leadership. The school board was comprised of Fred St. John, Charles Clark, James Waymire, Ron Stephenson, Gene Heinser, George Likens, Gerald Roudebush, David Woodward and Ken Hosier. Marvin Pike was principal, and his assistant was Jerry Kemerly. Peggy Stephens was treasurer, Judy Lane was secretary, and nurse Ruth Bahler served as health records keeper and care of students.
The faculty included Robert Adams, Michael Andrews, Steve Babbit, Joe Buck, Joan Casey, Dorinda Cassiday, Richard Cassiday, Bill French, David Fuqua, Denise Gray, Cheryl Hensley, Sue Herseberger, Caroline Howenstine, Dallas Hunter, Marianne Julius, Donald McDermit, Sharon McDermit, Charles McNew, Brenda Mills, Lucille Rockey, Larry Schuler, Gregory Scott, Joe Shepard, Steve Short, Jean Sigler, Jeannie Terhune, Zoe Ann Terhune, Donald Trisler, Ann Elizabeth Whalen, Cheri Williamson and Randy Wilson.
Senior class sponsors were Zoe Terhune and Bill French. Senior class president was Brent Lee Arnold; along with Vice President Todd Boyll; Secretary Jeana Lynne Pentz and Treasurer Kelli Jo Scott. The other seniors are as follows in alphabetical order: James Abbott, Dennis Anderson, James Andreatta, Mark Arnold, Lisa Ashbury, Douglas Banning, Jr., Richard Barker, Brenda Barnes, Sheldon Benedict, Richard Benefiel, Larry Bilbrey, David Bodenhorn*, Casey Brandenburg, Shelly Busby, Ruth Carey, Rick Carter, Tammie Coffee, James Copeland, Melinda Cox, Mila Jo Crooks, Sherri Lynn Daffron, Laura Deeter, Denise Dennemann, Kimberly Denny, Todd Ellis, Tammy Elliot, Lisa Faulkner, Rob Fetty, Edith Fisher, Curt Flowers, John Charles Fort, Tracy Foster, Daniel Gadd, Michael Green, Teresa Green, LouAnn Hazelbaker, Tami Diane Hazelbaker, William Helterbrand, William Henderson, Deanna Hoover, Tracy Lynn Howell, Gracile Hudson, Rebecca Huffman, Jewel Eliane Hughes, Larry Humphrey, Kristina Jacobson, Carol King, Robert Kirchenbauer, Mark Kluesner, James Knight, Christine Large, David Lewis, Ronald Lloyd, Julia Dee Lynch, Mary McIntire, Mark Milburn, Lisa Millikan, Kevin Mills, Mark Mills, Rose Murray, Eddie Newton, Chris Nunley, Tina Odem, Maura Pearce, Mike Perry, Darrell Pettigrew, Terri Jo Pittser, Leslie Ramsey, Kevin Rector, Bruce Reed, David Reed, Darrell Richardson, Greg Riley, Susie Russell, Timothy Schoettmer, Jenny Shaw, Perry Shinholt, Jay Sigler, Chris Simmerman, Glen Smart, Rob Stalets, Theodore Stichler, Forrest Stinson, Scott Stump, Jason Sylvester, Dorothy Tackett, Gary Teeters, Jeffery Vanasdal, Sandra Wagner, Skip Watkins, Aissa Irene White, Laura Willis, Laurie Wise and Catherine Clare Zink.
The Homecoming Queen was Jeana Pentz.
LHS had a strong baseball team with 12 wins, eight losses and one tie. In football, it was tough season. During each of the first four games, LHS scored seven points total. There were three other games they failed to score.
The wrestling team finished its season with five wins and eight losses, placing fourth in the White River Conference. Todd Snyder was honored for the most pins.
In basketball, LHS had some games they lost by one bucket. They finished the season 7-13. Their first game in the sectional was lost to Alexandria 46-65. You would call their season, “a building year,” with not much varsity experience. Darrell Richardson was named MVP. He made 81% of his free-throws.
The Bulldogs varsity volleyball team had several shinning moments during the season. Their season record was 7-13, but the record doesn’t support how good this team was. The next year was bound to be very interesting, as the team lost only two players to graduation. Mental Attitude awards went to Jama Hackleman and Rick Benefiel.
National Honor Society Lapel Chapter inducted new members with a candlelight ceremony. Ann Whalen was the chapter sponsor. Students inducted were Brenda Andreatta, Brent Arnold, Karen Bodenhorn, Beth Cookman, Brenda Due, Faith Edenfield, Brad Garrison, Karen Gray, David Kimmerling, Angie McIntire, Janie Muse, Ron Nunes, Jill Sandala, Vickie Snyder, Shelly Stallets, Joan Zink and Lisa Bodenhorn.
Georgiana Kay Pentz won the Lapel Optimist Club Oratorical speaking contest. Skip Watkins, Jenny Shaw and Brent Arnold served as pages for State Rep. Richard Dellinger (R-Noblesville). Lisa Bodenhorn and Brenda Due were selected as Girls State delegates.
WCS Superintendent Gerald Roudebush retired. He started his career of 43 years in 1938. He was a teacher and a basketball, football and baseball coach at Fishers, Indiana, for three and one-half years. Then he went to Clayton for one and one-half years. Next, it was Morocco for another five years. In 1948, Roudebush came to Lapel, where he taught social studies and coached basketball and baseball. In 1957, he was named assistant principal; one year later, he became principal and remained in that position for 17 years. He was superintendent of West Central School corporation for six years.
Gene Heniser served as assistant superintendent for six years and replaced Roudebush.
* I would be negligent if I didn’t mention that David Bodenhorn has been my son-in-law for more than 30 years and a shining light in my life. When I questioned him about why he was in only two pages of his yearbook, he responded, “I had so many credits my senior year, I only had to attend class for two-hours and then return home and work on the farm. We were still milking cows in 1981.” Today, Dave farms about 3,600 acres with the full-time help of my grandson James Bodenhorn and part-time with my other grandson, Joey Bodenhorn.
