ELWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
The Elwood High School Alumni Hall of Fame exists to recognize exemplary Elwood High School graduates who contribute significantly to their communities and/or professions, who achieve academic or professional excellence, and who positively promote Elwood Community Schools. Nominations may be made by alumni,
parents, current Elwood students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members. Posthumous nominations are accepted.
Inductee Class of 2024
Wendell Willkie
Mr. Willkie graduated from Indiana University in 1913, taught high school history for a short time, before enrolling at the Indiana School of Law. Post-graduation, Willkie went to work for his parents’ law firm, but quickly decided to enlist in the United States Army.
After being discharged, Mr. Willkie pursued his career in law while also becoming highly involved with the Democratic party. In 1920, Willkie joined Akron, Ohio law firm Mather and Nesbitt, after which he became the President of the Akron Bar Association in 1925. Willkie moved to New York in 1929, and by 1932 was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. In the following years, Willkie became a rising star within the political elite, and his name was frequently mentioned as a potential candidate for the presidential election in 1940. Willkie changed his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, and during the Republican National Convention in 1940, he was unanimously chosen as the Republican nominee for President of the United States. Willkie formally accepted the nomination in Elwood, IN on August 17 before a crowd of at least 150,000, the largest political gathering in U.S. history to that point. Although he was not ultimately successful in his election bid, losing to a third term for Franklin D. Roosevelt, Willkie continued to stay very active in politics with a very strong civil rights platform.
After his sudden death in 1944, Willkie has been immortalized in many ways, including the World War II liberty ship SS Wendell Willkie being named in his honor, an 11-story residence hall at Indiana University named Willkie Quadrangle, and in 1992 the United States Postal Service marked the centennial of Willkie’s birth with a 75-cent stamp in the Great Americans series.
Inductee Class of 2024
Lou Gerig
Mr. Gerig first began his career as a middle school teacher, but quickly made the transition to working for the local newspaper.
Mr. Gerig went on to be appointed as press secretary to U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar from 1978-1981, before joining the White House staff under the Reagan Administration. From 1982-1987, he served as a lobbyist and head of the public and governmental affairs department for Merchants National Corporation, now PNC Bank Indiana. In 1987, he collaborated to create Sease, Gerig & Associates.
Mr. Gerig earned his degree from Anderson University, where he served as a member of the Board of Trustees for more than 30 years. He was chairman of the board for more than 20 years. Always involved in his community, Gerig has been appointed by Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb to the White River State Park Development Commission. He has previously served a variety of organizations, including Christian Theological Seminary, Wishard Foundation Board, Leukemia Society of North America, and Benjamin Harrison YMCA. He also chaired local, national and regional media coverage of the 1987 Pan American Games, which placed Indianapolis on the map as the “Amateur Sports Capital” of the world.
Inductee Class of 2024
Michael Bomholt
Mr. Bomholt earned both his Bachelor of Science in Education and his Master of Education degrees from Ball State University. He served as a Social Studies teacher at Elwood High School from 1973-1995, while also coaching multiple sports, most notably Varsity Baseball from 1977-1990. He then served as the Athletic Director for EHS from 1995 until his retirement in 2005. He was instrumental, along with Julie Johnson, in the creation of the girl’s softball field and the building of the Max Hoppel Tennis Complex.
Mr. Bomholt has also served his community extensively as a member of the Optimist Club, the YMCA board of directors, the library board of directors, and an active member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
Mr. Bomholt was the recipient of the Junior Achievement Applied Economics Teacher of the Year in 1993, the Olin W. Davis Exemplary Teacher of Economics 1991 and 1997, and the Madison County Service Award from the Athletic Association in 2005.
Inductee Class of 2024
Dr. Gregory Durm
Dr. Durm is a 2001 graduate of Elwood Community High School and was valedictorian of his class. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame, completed medical school at the University of Michigan, followed by the Indiana University School of Medicine, where he completed his fellowship.
Dr. Durm was the 2014 recipient of the George and Sarah Jane Fisher Young Investigator Award that is given by the Hoosier Cancer Research Network. Dr. Durm's practice philosophy is built around providing the highest level of treatment possible to help his patients fight their cancer and improve their quality of life. He has special clinical interests in lung cancer, clinical research, and head and neck cancer.
Dr. Durm serves as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and a researcher at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center.
Inductee Class of 2025
Thomas Austin
Thomas Austin was born and raised in Elwood, Indiana, and has dedicated his entire life to the betterment of his community. Austin started with Elwood Community School Corporation first as a teacher, then pursued principalship, and retired having served as the superintendent from 1994 until 2010.
​
During his tenure as superintendent, Austin guided the district through the remodeling of two elementary schools and the installation of geothermal looping systems at the elementary and high school campus. Austin was able to uphold the fiscal integrity of the school corporation, maintaining a record of financial stability without deficit, all while fostering positive relationships among staff and within the community.
​
Austin has served on the boards of St. Vincent Mercy Hospital Foundation, the Optimist Club, the Elwood Redevelopment Commission, Elwood Community Development Corporation and the Elwood Chamber of Commerce. Austin also continues to contribute to the growth of students with the Elwood Community School Corporation by continuing to coach golf, a sport he loves. Austin is a fierce advocate for the school system, and seeks opportunities every day to improve the lives of the students attending Elwood Schools through volunteerism and community service.
​
In the words of Mr. Austin, “I want to underscore how important Elwood has been to me and my family’s life,” he said, “and I will give back for as long as I can.”
Inductee Class of 2025
Hubert Richard Merritt
Hubert Richard Merritt earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Elementary Education and School Administration. Merritt dedicated this education to a career with Elwood Community School Corporation for 39 years. Merritt served as a teacher, principal, and finally, superintendent of schools.
Merritt was deeply devoted to education and the Elwood community. His words are a simple testament to his philosophy of education, “Stay on the side of the kids, and you usually win.” He also gave credit to his wife, Raeanna, who encouraged him to be involved in all aspects of Elwood Schools.
Merritt was a member of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents, Indiana Retired Teachers Association, Rotary International, Elwood Elks No. 368, and a 40-year member of the Elwood Country Club.
Merritt served on the board of directors of several organizations including The Madison County Center for Mental Health, Elwood YMCA, Junior Achievement of Madison County, Elwood Chamber of Commerce, Salvation Army, John Hinds Area Vocational Advisory Board, Elwood Community Action Council, Project Promise and Elwood Rotary Club.
Inductee Class of 2025
Terri Austin
Terri Austin earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Ball State University in 1977 and 1981 respectively. She then served as a teacher and then administrator for Anderson Community Schools from 1983 until 2001.
Austin made the decision to run for the Indiana House of Representatives in District 36, and won her election on November 5, 2002. She continued to serve in this role until January of 2023. During her 20 years in the House of Representatives, she served as the Assistant Democratic Floor Leader, the Minority Whip, and the Democratic Caucus Chair from 2021-2023.
During her time serving as a representative, Austin also worked as an Adjunct Professor for Anderson University’s School of Education.
Currently, Austin serves on the Advisory Board for the National Conference of State Legislators, as well as continuing her role at Anderson University. She serves on numerous community service committees, as well as participating in the Anderson Rotary Club, League of Women Voters, and American Association of University Women. Austin is a member of the Alexandria, Anderson, and Elwood Chamber of Commerce. She currently serves as the Chair on the Board of Directors for Women in Government, as well as the Director of the Madison County Community Alliances to Promote Education.
Inductee Class of 2025
Wilfred "George" Dudley
Wilfred “George” Dudley graduated from Wendell L. Willkie High School in 1949. As the
first in his family to attend college, Dudley graduated from Ball State University in 1953
with his BS in Education, 1960 with his MA of Education, and went on to achieve his
Lifetime Administrator License. Dudley proudly served his country in the US Army.
Corporal Dudley’s typing skills were in demand and were valued stateside.
Dudley’s first teaching job in La Crosse, Indiana, was teaching industrial arts, which he
loved, and typing, which he did not. He was then recruited by Assistant Superintendent
John Hinds after one year of teaching as an industrial arts teacher. He had a career in
this field which he loved. He was then promoted to Assistant High School Principal. In
1969, he advanced to principal of Oakland Elementary School and later retired from the
Elwood Community School Corporation after serving as Assistant Superintendent.
He loved teaching and students. He was patient and often used teasing and laughter to
connect. He was supportive of teachers and was always a strong advocate for them. He
had an open-door policy and was always respected and never feared. Mr. Dudley loved
his job; he believed in teachers and the power of education to change lives.
Dudley was a proud and active participant in the life of the First United Methodist
Church. He supported his community through several service organizations including
the Elks, the Masons, Shriners, Elwood Chamber of Commerce, and Kiwanis. While
with the Kiwanis, he served as the president of his local chapter along with serving as
Lt. Governor for 2 years and was recognized for 25 years of service with Kiwanis. He
was a strong supporter of the Elwood community.
George Dudley was best known for his love of children of all ages. He demonstrated
that love daily with positive thinking, kindness and generosity.
Inductee Class of 2025
Dr. Robert Helm
Dr. Robert Helm graduated from Indiana University Medical School in 1984 and completed his medical residency at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana. Upon graduation, Dr. Helm made the decision to return to his hometown of Elwood to practice medicine and support the citizens of Elwood.
Dr. Helm has provided healthcare access and hometown support to his community for over 40 years. He regularly volunteers his services to provide free sports physicals to the students of Elwood Community School Corporation so that those who cannot afford them can still participate in athletics and extra-curricular activities. Additionally, Dr. Helm has been recognized for officiating wrestling at the local and state level as well as umpiring baseball locally for many years.
In addition to his current practice, Dr. Helm also serves as an Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine for Indiana University School of Medicine.
Inductee Class of 2026
Dr. Thomas Moser
A 1971 graduate of Elwood High School, Dr. Thomas Moser earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Doctor of Optometry degree, both from Indiana University. He then became a consultant at the IU Optometry Clinic. After graduation, Dr. Tom along with his wife, Dr. Becky, returned to Elwood in 1978 to open an optometric practice to serve patients in his hometown.
Faith and music have played an important role in his life. A longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, his love for music led him to sing in choir, be an occasional organist, and teach and lead the youth handbells. His support of youth followed through with his participation as a mentor in the Kids Hope Project. As a founding member of the Mercy Hospital Foundation Board, he was able to support the staff at the hospital for their extra needs. While active with the YMCA, he was instrumental in the planning, development, and building of the current YMCA facility. Dr. Tom's involvement with the Lions Club spans over 49 years, and he supports the Lions Club mission of sight by performing vision screenings of children in the Elwood Community school system. Dr. Tom has been blessed to be part of the Elwood community where he was born and raised.
Inductee Class of 2026
Tadd Miller
Tadd Miller is Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Milhaus SRG, a vertically integrated multifamily real estate company focused on development, ownership, operations, and property management across the United States and Canada. As of 2026, Milhaus SRG owns approximately 10,000 apartment homes and manages more than 60,000 units, with corporate offices in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Newport Beach, California. Tadd leads the company's vision, business development initiatives, and corporate strategy across all operating divisions. In addition to his leadership at Milhaus SRG, Tadd serves on the boards of Onyx+East, a homebuilder specializing in infill and build-to-rent communities, and Stakkd Rack, a manufacturer and developer of automated storage and logistics solutions.
Over the course of his career, Tadd has directed the development, financing, and construction of more than $4 billion in multifamily and mixed-use real estate projects. What began as a focus on Central Indiana evolved into a broader vision that helped shape the renaissance of urban living in downtown Indianapolis and influenced residential development across numerous growth markets throughout North America. Tadd has received numerous industry and business honors, including Indianapolis Business Journal's "40 Under 40," "Who's Who in Commercial Real Estate" and "Who's Who Behind the Scenes in Real Estate." He was recognized with Ball State University's College of Architecture and Planning Outstanding Achievement Award, named to Urban Land Institute's 40 Under 40, and was a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Midwest Award. From 2023 through 2026, he was recognized annually as one of the Indianapolis Business Journal's Indiana 250 Most Influential Business Leaders.
He earned a Bachelor of Urban Planning and Development from Ball State University, completed executive education studies at Harvard Business School, earned a MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, a Juris Doctor from Indiana University, and a Master of Aviation Safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. An active industry leader, Tadd is involved with the Urban Land Institute, National Multifamily Housing Council, and International Council of Shopping Centers. He also serves on the Alumni Board of the Indiana University Robert H. Mckinney School of Law. Outside of business, Tadd enjoys traveling with his wife, Julie, and their children, Ethan and Ellie, exploring cities, flying throughout North America and internationally, and pursuing his passion for aviation. He is a commercial pilot and flight instructor, holding advanced ratings and certifications including instrument, multiengine, seaplane, turboprop, and turbojet qualifications, along with Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Certified Instrument Instructor (CFIl), and Multi-engine Instructor (MEI) credentials.
Inductee Class of 2026
Steve Hembree
Steve Hembree was born and raised in Elwood and graduated from Elwood High School with the class of 1983. He was a member of the boy’s varsity basketball team from 1979-1983, where he became a member of the 1000 point club, going on to score 1126 points during his high school career. Steve earned his bachelor's degree in Business Administration at Marion College, while also playing on the basketball and golf teams.
Upon graduating from college, Steve joined his father in working at Hembree Motor Sales, and went on to purchase the business in 2000. He has been voted as Madison County's best used car dealer and Madison County's best used car salesman. Steve deeply believes in giving back to Elwood Schools and the greater community through his support of the Morrisett Center, Elwood High School clubs and athletics, youth sports, the YMCA build committee and several other local clubs and organizations. Along with this honor, Steve has also previously been recognized as citizen of the year through the Elwood Chamber of Commerce. He is currently volunteering on the Elwood High School basketball coaching staff and continues to operate Hembree Motor Sales, a local business proud to be celebrating 52 years in the community.
Inductee Class of 2026
Candy Gootee Goens
Candy Gootee Goens, a beloved member of the Wendell L. Willkie Class of 1973, completed grades K-12 in Elwood schools and never stopped being a proud Panther. She attended Ball State University and then returned to Elwood as a devoted community leader. She was a gifted head majorette and went on to train hundreds of future baton twirlers. Her twirling teams won numerous awards in competitions and parades.
Candy raised her daughters in Elwood and participated in every organization they joined. After they graduated, she continued to support musical, athletic, and educational programs in whatever capacity was needed. Her generosity was not limited to the school corporation but extended to the community. It would be difficult to list all examples of Candy's community involvement because she was often a silent giver. Never one to boast about her philanthropy, she was often happiest when no one was aware of her good heartedness. Candy had a soft spot for children and the elderly and was often the first one to suggest a plan to provide supplies or activities for them. She was a driving force in Kappa Delta Phi Sorority which specifically addressed the needs of children; she taught a Silver Sneakers class because the community offerings for senior citizens were lacking. She hosted numerous craft nights at the nursing home and donated all needed supplies, and the residents loved it.
Candy, along with her daughter and husband, created Harvest Table Creations and initiated the Business of the Month award which identified a worthy Elwood business owner and gifted each a handcrafted sign displaying the business name. As a board member of the Madison County YMCA, Candy was responsible for initiating several new events to benefit the community and was always a lead volunteer to ensure that each program ran flawlessly. Upon joining the Elwood Main Street Organization, she served for two years as co-chair of the Taste of Elwood. In addition to her unselfish giving of material items, Candy's willingness to share her time and talents made Elwood a better place. She served as a true role model for others as a giver with no expectation of public praise; something that should be emulated by all.
Inductee Class of 2026
Fran Hutcherson Reichart
Frances (Fran) Hutcherson, a graduate of Elwood High School and Purdue University, was instrumental in the success of starting a local business that is now known as Red Gold. To help the war efforts, in 1942, Fran and her father obtained a loan to purchase and rebuild an old cannery near Elwood. In those years it was not common or an easy feat for a woman to be active in starting a business. Through her determination and leadership, the cannery thrived and the goal of working with farmers to supply food for the troops continued well beyond the war.
In 1948, along with her husband, Fran and Ernie Reichart continued their close relationships with the farmers and the business grew. By 1976, the company was expanding, their product was getting well known, and Fran and Ernie officially changed the cannery's name to Red Gold.
Today, Red Gold is a national brand and distributes tomato products all over the world as well as a source of employment for many people across the state of Indiana. Fran always maintained a visible presence throughout all areas of the business. Her work ethic, determination, demand for quality and belief in the community has stayed with the company all these years and are the keys to Red Golds' success. Fran was very instrumental in ensuring Red Gold's philanthropy and support of the Elwood area would always continue.
Along with being a mother, wife and business owner, Fran continued her passion for helping the community by being active on the Elwood Hospital and Madison County Foundation Boards, sponsoring scholarships and even organizing the Elwood Chili Cook-off that began in 1988 and is still going strong. Fran and Ernie's three children now oversee the EA and Frances Reichart
Charitable Foundation in their honor. Fran's commitment to education prompted the funding for the creation of the Ernie and Fran Reichart Preschool for the Elwood Community School Corporation as well as support for many other community needs.
Inductee Class of 2026
Dr. Kelly Everling Bruhn
Dr. Kelly Bruhn earned her doctorate from Michigan State University in Media and Information Studies, a master's degree from Ball State University in Public Relations, and a bachelor's degree in Communication from Valparaiso University. She is accredited by the Public Relations Society of America and is a member of the Kappa Tau Alpha Journalism and Mass Communication Honor Society.
Bruhn is a dedicated educator, administrator, and professional, serving as dean of the Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is a national leader in the public relations industry, serving on the Universal Accreditation Board, president of PRA lowa and chair of the PRSA Educators Academy. She was honored as national Outstanding Educator in 2024, an award given annually to one PR professor in the country. Prior to teaching, she worked for corporate clients and various nonprofit organizations in Chicago and Indianapolis. She was inducted into the PRA College of Fellows, one of the highest honors in the industry that recognizes senior PR practitioners and educators who have made a significant, lasting impact on the PR and communications profession.
Dedicated to a life of serving others, Bruhn proudly serves as an advocate for multiple nonprofit organizations, particularly those supporting students with autism and special needs. Her college classes include work with community partners, creating high-impact educational experiences for students and providing nearly 3,000 hours of strategic communications counseling annually to nonprofit organizations. She was named the 2022 Madelyn Leavitt Mentor of the Year, one of only two faculty awards presented annually at Drake University, recognizing the "faculty or staff member who best demonstrates excellence in advising, an outstanding commitment to student success, and integrity in personal relationships." She was named the Drake University Teacher of the Year in 2026.