The following were inducted the Finneytown Schools Hall of Fame for 2001:

Melanie McNulty  - When Melanie McNulty was a female athlete in the 1960’s, before passage of Title XI, there were no leagues, tournaments, or state championships for girls in any high school sport. Aside form activities in music, theatre, newspaper, yearbook, Y-teens and a folk-singing club, Melanie participated in every sport available to her, including basketball, volleyball, field hockey, softball and track. She also found time to be a board member, vice president, and president of the Girls Athletic Association.

Melanie went on to major in physical education and participate at the college level in three varsity sports a year during each of her four years at Ohio University. These included swimming, diving, volleyball, basketball, lacrosse and softball. 

After graduation from college, and after passage of Title XI, she was able to compete as a coach in basketball, volleyball, track and field, swimming and diving.  Her teams successfully competed in, and won, a league, sectional, district and regional championships, and participated in a State of Ohio Final Four game.

This versatile leader also coached on the international level at the World Games for the Deaf.  From 1985-1996, Melanie was named CHL (Cincinnati Hills League) Coach of the Year, and an A.P. “AA” Southwest Ohio Coach of the Year. 

Her leadership and inspiration has influenced many young female athletes to develop their athletic talents and compete in ways she was unable to at their age.  She currently serves as Recreational Director of Springfield Township. 

Melanie graduate Finneytown High School in 1968.

Mike Morgan  - As a student at Finneytown (Class of 1971), Mike Morgan’s athletic accomplishments distinguished him in basketball, football and track. These were recognized when he was awarded 1st Team All-League, 1st Team All-City, and Honorable Mention All-State.

Mike attended the University of Cincinnati on a full four-year football scholarship.

For many years, Mike coached girl’s basketball and softball for the Finneytown Athletic Association. He was named NFL High School Coach of the Year, Southwest Ohio Head Coach for the East Team, and CHL Coach of the Year.

Professionally he has taught elementary and middle school science.  He also coached football, basketball and track for Deer Park, and at present is the Athletic Director of Deer Park City Schools.

He still devotes himself to youth athletics with unselfish dedication, models his sportsmanship in his everyday life. 

 

Steven Mizelle - (Class of 1970), began his music career at Finneytown, where he participated in concert, jazz and marching bands, men’s chorus, and three musicals. He also ran varsity cross country and track, and was an Eagle Scout. 

At Miami University, Steven distinguished himself in marching band and was the secretary of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Honorary Fraternity.

He earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the Executive Development Program of the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester, and has continued as a trumpet and voice soloist for 27 years.

In his spare time, Steve has coached youth football, baseball, soccer and basketball, and has served as a scout and youth group leader.

Steve is a member of the American Marketing Association, and was named Grand Edison Marketer of the Year in 1996 for the launch of an advanced photo system. 

Rhoda and Dick Meyer— This dynamic duo has been involved in Finneytown Schools since the 1970’s.  As community members and parents of two Finneytown students, their volunteer efforts spanned a variety of activities in the schools and the greater Finneytown community.

Rhoda was the first parent representative to the Curriculum Council, and spent 28 years as a classroom volunteer tutoring reading, math, and language arts, primarily working with students with learning disabilities.  She also helped with special projects including auditory testing, LD screening, and high school registration.

Dick has served as tax levy committee member, as a Career Opportunities speaker, as chairman of the first Springfest, and as an actor in the Finneytown Area Summer Theatre. 

Together they were active in Music Parents, are charter life members of the Finneytown Education Foundation, and received the fist dual Finneytown Education Association Friend of Education Award in 1991.

Rhoda and Dick are founding members of the Finneytown Civic Association, for which Dick served three terms as president and Rhoda has edited the newsletter.

Rhoda and Dick continue as friends of Finneytown and great community role models.

Rick Payne- (Class of 1979) - Rick was a well-rounded student at Finneytown, excelling academically, athletically, and theatrically.  He was a member of the 1976 Ohio State Championship Soccer Team, and as team captain earned All-State honors.  He served as captain of the basketball team and made All-City, All-League, and the AAU All-Star Team.

Rick graduated from the University of Indiana with majors in mathematics and economics.  He earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan, and is currently with Gradison McDonald Investments.

In 1994, Rick became president of the Finneytown Schools Education Foundation. In 6 years, the organization went from taking in roughly $7,000 annually, with total assets of $23,000, to taking in approximately $125,000 annually, with total assets of $250,000.  In the past year, scholarships and awards made on behalf of the FSEF totaled over $75,000.  These included scholarships for senior and grants for special projects for our schools.

Under Rick’s leadership, the Foundation has also sponsored the annual Alumni Soccer Game, underwritten the Finneytown Schools Hall of Fame, helped to plan and produce the parade to honor Finneytown Olympians Amanda Borden and Joe Hudepohl, and co-sponsored the Community and Alumni Plaza.

 

Nancy Perry— A transplanted New Yorker, Nancy Perry came to Cincinnati in 1952 with degrees in French and English. She began teaching in the district in 1965 to fill a mid-year vacancy, and stayed until her retirement in 1993.  Most of those nearly thirty years were spent teaching sixth graders.

After receiving a Master’s Degree as a Reading Specialist, she was asked to join the adjunct faculty at Xavier University, where she taught until recently.

After her retirement, Nancy to learned of the effort to create a foreign language lab at the high school. Recognizing the need, she agreed to be involved with lab funding. 

She also sponsored senior scholarships for several years.  These were given each year to a graduating senior who had been a student of hers in the sixth grade and who had lived up to the potential she had seen six years earlier.

Nancy’s passion is teaching, and her vision is for every child to learn to be literate in a second language.  Her role as benefactor of the language lab is a step in that direction.

Bill Swartzel - Bill was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, where he was a member of the Dayton Boys Choir, the National Cash Register Band, and winner of the Young Musicians Competition for which he performed as a trombone soloist with the Dayton Philharmonic Young Peoples Concert in 1952. 

Bill earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and went on to earn a Masters of Education at Miami University. He also attended the University of Dayton and the University of Indiana. 

Bill came to Finneytown schools to develop the music program from scratch, beginning at Finneytown Elementary School (now Whitaker) in 1956.  He started the instrumental program and choruses, extended them into the high school, and completed a full music program with the addition of the strings program.

This pioneer headed the music department throughout his career at Finneytown, and was honored when the Board of Education announced that it would name the new performing arts center, The William R. Swartzel Performing Arts Center.

Beyond Finneytown, Bill was district conference chairman, president, and secretary of District 12 Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA), and Instrumental Chair for the OMEA State Conference. 

Janet Simon— Janet grew up in England, and met husband Jerry when he was stationed with the Navy in London.  They settled in Finneytown and were active volunteers in the schools. 

Janet spent many hours at Whitaker chaperoning field trips, serving as room mother and library volunteer.  With Jerry she served as co-president of Music Parents, chaired fruit sales, chaperoned music trips, worked at band camp, and staffed concession stand at athletic events.  She also helped with costumes for the musicals and plays.

Outside of the schools, Janet found time to serve as Den Mother, Leader Coach and Training Coordinator, and received a District Award of Merit (the Silver Beaver) for her scouting efforts.  Janet was a founding member of the Finneytown Area Summer Theatre; a Welcome Wagon participant; and host for the International Visitor Center.  Professionally she worked as account manager for ExecuCall.

Janet’s support extended to the greater Cincinnati community through her work with the Wellness Community, a Cancer Support Group. She made Public Service Announcements for local and national television, addressed groups of potential contributors, and visited cancer patients undergoing treatment.  She touched and brightened many lives with her positive spirit and made the world a better place before her untimely death in 1997.