The Lehighton Education and Athletic Foundation will be hosting its annual “Graduates of Distinction” dinner on Oct. 23 at the Lehighton American Legion Home. LEAF honors graduates of the Lehighton School District who have achieved notable success in their chosen field of occupation or who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to society at the local, state or national levels.

The dinner to honor last year’s inductees was canceled because of the pandemic. This year’s celebration will honor the inductees from the classes of 2020 and 2021. Tickets for the event may be obtained at the Larry Markley Insurance Agency at Fifth and Coal streets In Lehighton or by contacting Tim Tkach at ttkach@lehighton.org or Hugh Dugan at hdugan@ptd.net.

With the addition of these two classes to the “Graduates of Distinction” Wall of Honor, the total number of inductees is now 31. With three inductees, the class of 1953 has the most members in our Wall of Honor. The classes of 1942 of 1948 and 1955 are close behind with two members each. Friends, classmates and relatives are welcome to attend the event to help honor the new inductees.

The candidates selected for induction this year are:

Roland Alger

Class of 1947

Roland worked for the Lehighton Area School District as a high school physical education teacher and guidance counselor. He also was a wrestling, football and baseball coach.

He served our country during the Korean War with the United States Army from 1951-53. He then attended East Stroudsburg University, where he was a graduate in 1956. Roland continued his education at Lehigh University where he obtained his master’s degree in guidance.

He was selected as the District 11 Wrestling Coach of the Year in 1975 and 1976. Roland was selected to the District 11 Hall of Fame in 1983, to the Carbon County Hall of Fame in 1996, and to the East Stroudsburg University Hall of Fame in 2004.

Roland was a member of Lehighton American Legion Post 314 and the Korean Last Man’s Club. He was a member of the Lehighton Elks Lodge, a member and past president of the Carbon County Chapter of PASR, a former manager, lifeguard and swimming instructor for Graver and Baer Memorial swimming pools. He was also a member and past president of the Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital and Auxiliary. Roland was a member of Zion UCC where he was active in the choir and taught Sunday school.

Roland was married to Janet (Daugherty). They were the proud parents of four daughters, Barbara Kirsch, Cynthia Wertman, Carol Easterday and Stacy Alger.

George Bibighaus

Class of 1941

After graduation from Lehighton in 1941, George enrolled at Muhlenberg College where he played football, basketball and baseball. His college experience was interrupted by WWII when he served 38 months in the U.S. Navy. He returned to college in 1945 and played on the 1946 Tobacco Bowl team and was named to the first team of the 1946 Little All American Football team. In 1946, he led the nation in pass receptions, total yards and touchdowns.

His career as a teacher and coach at Lehighton High School began in 1947 and lasted for 41 years. In 1965, he was named the junior high principal.

George served on the Lehighton Water Authority from 1951 until his death on Sept. 9, 2004.

He was a member of the Carbon County and Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame.

In 1947, George was honored at a testimonial dinner given by the residents of Lehighton in honor of his selection to the All-State Football Team and the Little All-American Team. He was also honored as the Conservation Educator of the Year by the Carbon County Conservation District.

George was a past Exalted Ruler of the Lehighton Elks and a past president of the Pennsylvania Association of Secondary School Principals.

Bibighaus is a past president of the Lehighton Area Education Association and past vice president of the Anthracite Chapter of Football Officials.

He was a member of Zion United Church of Christ, American Legion Post 314, AMVETS, Elks Lodge 1284, Lehigh Fire Co. No. 1 and was a well-respected PIAA football official.

George was married to Lucille (Romich) of Emmaus.

Neil Stubits

Class of 1978

After graduation from Lehighton High School in 1978, Neil attended Lehigh University where he received a BS in chemical engineering. Neil then furthered his education at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he received his Master of Science in mechanical engineering.

Neil had a 27-year career in the Navy, starting as a newly commissioned ensign in March of 1983 and rising to the rank of captain and holding a major shore command when he retired in 2010.

Neil held various positions in the Navy that focused on submarine maintenance, modernization and new construction. Some of these positions were Waterfront Project Superintendent, Charleston Naval Shipyard, Assistant Seawolf Project Officer, where he was the Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair at Groton, Connecticut, Assistant Repair Officer at the Naval Submarine Support Facility, Groton, Connecticut, Project Superintendent at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, Submarine Force Maintenance Officer at Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia, and Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian Head, Maryland.

Neil currently works for Patrona Corporation which is a defense contractor supporting programs for the United States Navy. He was initially hired as the Chief Operating Officer and has held the positions of Vice President of Operations, Vice President of Business Development, and his current position as Senior Financial Analyst.

Neil and his wife of 31 years, Theresa, are members of the Allentown Hiking Club, which supports 10.3 miles of the Appalachian Trail. Neil and Theresa maintain a 2-mile section of the trail themselves.

They have been longtime supporters of animal shelters and organizations supporting animals in need. Locally they have provided support to the Hillside SPCA in Pottsville and have provided donations, food treats, and supplies to the Carbon County Animal Shelter in Nesquehoning and the Lehighton Animal Hospital.

While in the military, Neil received two Navy Achievement Medals, two Navy Commendation Medals, four Meritorious Service Medals, and The Legion of Merit.

Clarence Smoyer

Clarence Smoyer enlisted in the United States Army prior to graduation from high school. He rose to the rank of corporal during WWII where he was a gunner in the 3rd Armored Division, 32nd regiment.

The book “Spearhead” by Adam Macos and a movie filmed by Jim Bates recounts the exploits of Clarence and his tank crew during the Battle of Cologne. The film is available on the internet along with interviews and stories about his tank crew. With the passage of time, Clarence has become known as the “Hero of Cologne.”

Some of the awards and medals Clarence has received are the Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, French Medialle de la Legion d’ Honnear, the European Middle-Eastern Medal, and Army of Occupation Medal.

After the war, Clarence obtained employment with the Waylite Co. He retired as a foreman after nearly 40 years of service. He donates generously to his favorite charities, especially PA Wounded Warriors and the VFW.

Clarence and his wife had three children. In 2019, the Lehighton Area School District awarded him an honorary degree.

Kevin Blauch

Class of 1976

Kevin Blauch, class of 1976, is a B.A. graduate of George Washington University and a 1983 J.D. graduate of American University, Washington College of Law. He is a partner in the Sidley Austin Law firm in New York City. Kevin is a member of the firm’s executive committee and serves as the global leader of Sidley Austin’s Global finance Practice.

His legal focus is on a wide range of commercial-backed securities (CMBS). He has been recognized for his work in The Best Lawyers in America (2013-2020). Blauch is regularly listed in Chambers Global and Chambers USA for his expertise in representing major financial institutions in high-value transactions.

Every year he awards four $2,000 scholarships to deserving graduates of Lehighton Area High School. Also, every year he awards two full scholarships to George Washington University students.

Dr. Mary Jane (Shirar) Hanson

Class of 1971

Dr. Mary Jane (Shirar) Hanson, class of 1971, received her B.S.N. from Cedar Crest College in 1982 and attended the University of Pennsylvania where she obtained her M.S.N. and her Ph.D. She has been a professor and program director for the University of Scranton since 1996.

Hanson has published more than 30 papers in national and international peer-reviewed journals. She is currently serving as the chair of the Commission on the Collegiate Nursing Board. Hanson developed “the Fishbein-Ajzen Hanson Questionnaire” used by researchers, clinicians, and doctoral students in Nursing, Sociology, Psychology, and Medicine in the United States, Canada, and England.

George I. LaRose

Class of 1938

George I. LaRose, class of 1938, owned and operated the George I. LaRose Insurance Agency in Lehighton.

He was a past president of the Lehigh Association of Insurance Agents.

In the early 1950s, he and three other community leaders formed the Lehighton Industrial Development Corporation to encourage development in the Borough of Lehighton.

LaRose was a founder and commander of the American Legion Post 314 and vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 256. He was also a founder and first vice president of the Lehighton Baseball Association and of the Lehighton Recreation Commission.

In 1977, LaRose was named Distinguished Citizen of the Year for his contributions to the Lehighton area.

Dr. Charles ‘Jack’ Lusch

Class of 1953

Dr. Charles “Jack” Lusch, Class of 1953, received his A.B. degree from Lafayette College in 1957 and his M.D. from Temple in 1961.

He has been a clinical professor of medicine at Penn State College of Medicine and adjunct professor at Penn, Temple, and Drexel Medical Schools.

He was a co-founder and later vice chair of the PA State Hemophilia Program. He was the principal investigator in the National Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Program. Dr. Lusch is the author or co-author of more than 20 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Lusch has received the “Hero in Fight Against Breast Cancer” Award from the Susan H. Korman Foundation, has been recognized as a “Pioneer in Oncology” and has been elected to “Best Doctors” 1996-2014.

In retirement he has served as a consultant to the Jefferson Kimmel Cancer Center. His lifelong interest in automobile engines led him to a side career as a racing doctor for NASCAR, CART and USAC.

Paul R. Smith

Class of 1955

Paul R. Smith, Class of 1955, was a graduate of Mansfield State Teachers College. He taught music for four years in the Spring Grove School District and for twenty-nine years in the Lehighton Area School District. He was in charge of the Lehighton Junior High Band and Chorus and later the High School Chorus. From 1965 until his death in 2016, Paul was the conductor of the Lehighton Band.

He was the choir director at Zion UCC from 1964-2008. In 1970, he and his wife, Linn, started the Zion Opera Workshop, which presented a musical on the stage at the church. They continued this group for 38 years until they retired. Paul received the Lehighton Area Chamber of Commerce “Educator of the Year” and the Lehighton Area Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year.”

David Werner

Class of 1964

David Werner, Class of 1964, graduated from Lehigh University. He began his first career as a teacher in the Lehighton School District teaching math, science, and special education.

His next career led him to becoming a financial consultant for IDS which later became American Financial. Through professional financial planning education He received the titles of CLU – Chartered Life Underwriter and ChFC – Chartered Financial Consultant. Dave was recognized for his excellence in his field by being selected for Ameriprise’s Presidential Advisory Committee for ten consecutive years. This committee was comprised of the top one percent of Ameriprise’s 10,000 financial professionals.

Werner gave scholarships at the Lehighton Area High School’s awards program, helped raise money to provide new bulletproof vests to the Franklin Township Police Department, and helped to complete a memorial for Clyde Houser who was a classmate that was killed while serving in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He served on the Lehighton Zoning Commission and on the church council of Trinity Lutheran Church.