It was a day of memories and honor Saturday as many members of the Harlan Independent School District Alumni Association gathered to induct three members into the Harlan Alumni Hall of Fame as well as to share their recollections of the years they attended school in the district.

The annual open house got under way with the Hall of Fame inductees being announced by Lisa Abraham, alumni association president. Those honored included Fulton Brock, Dr. Sanford Weiler Sr. and Eugene Goss.

Brock, a 1969 graduate of Harlan High School who lives in Phoenix, said he was honored to have been chosen for the Hall of Fame and added that he was proud to be a Harlan High School graduate.

Weiler, a Harlan County resident who graduated from the high school in 1942, said that although he had thought of “many wonderful words” to say just prior to the announcement of his induction that the most important issue was that he greatly appreciated the honor to be included in the Hall of Fame.

Goss, also a Harlan Countian and a 1952 graduate of Harlan High School, was unable to speak to the crowd due to an illness. However, his plaque was accepted by his son, Mark David Goss, who delivered a speech of appreciation on behalf of his father.

Abraham said that it was an honor to add these “outstanding men” to the Hall of Fame, saying they were living proof that you can come from a small town and go on to accomplish big things anywhere in the world.

“We are in one of the most poverty stricken areas of the country, but we are not at a disadvantage,” Abraham said.

Abraham also told the crowd that it was an honor to see so many of the school’s alumni present during the event and that it was wonderful that almost every decade since the 1930s was represented.

In his speech about the district’s accomplishments over the years, David Davies noted that a huge part of the recent accomplishments were due in part to Superintendent David Johnson’s leadership and stewardship of limited finances.

“His (Johnson’s) use of the funds has been outstanding,” said Davies. “We are fortunate to have a superintendent like him.”

It was also noted during the event that Johnson has recently been nominated by the KMEA for administrator of the year.

Johnson, who is a 1979 graduate of the district, listed several of the districts recent accomplishments including the fact that Harlan High School has recently been chosen as one of the best high schools in the nation.

Johnson also informed the crowd that he was very proud of the districts NCLB scores from the spring semester, noting that the 2008 graduating class scored the highest of any graduating class since 1992.

A casual recital was performed later in the afternoon by Dr. Roma Howard Prindle, a 1969 graduate of the district and a current voice professor and director of OperaWorks at Morehead State University. She was assisted by Abraham on the piano.

Other festivities throughout the day included several exhibit booths from alumni as well as book signings by alumni authors. There were also booths set up by various student groups.

Many people spent time throughout the day walking through the halls of the high school and exploring the district’s new humanities building as well as just mingling with one another.

Ola Mae Greer, of Powell, Tenn., and a 1956 graduate, said she enjoys attending the events every year and that her class has been having its own class reunion annually at the Benham School House Inn or in Cumberland Gap.

“We are all getting so old now that we have decided that it would be best for us to have something every year. That way we can keep up with what each other is doing and stay better in touch with one another,” said Greer.

Jean Ayers-Fitzgerald, of Beauford, S.C., and a 1944 graduate of the school, said that she also enjoys coming to the annual alumni association open house event each year and that it gives everyone an opportunity to keep in touch with the other members.

“There are just so many memories as you walk these halls,” said Fitzgerald. “It is wonderful to see everyone each year and to be able to spend the day with them catching up.”