Hall of Fame :::
The Hall of Fame recognizes alumni and friends of LT who have brought great credit and distinction to the school through their accomplishments or service in the arts, athletics, business, education, public service or other professions. Inductees also provide students with role models who know and share the same traditions of our community and its school system. All 65,000 alumni are eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame.
If you know of an LTHS alum worthy of induction, please download the Nomination Form today.
Hall of
Fame Nomination Form (pdf)
Join us for the 2009 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Friday, November 6, 2009
LaGrange Country Club
Click here for an
invite
2009 Hall of Fame inductees
Hailing from very different fields, the 2009 Lyons Township High School Hall of Fame program will welcome an award-winning television producer, a nationally renowned men’s gymnastics coach, Purple Heart decorated veteran and two leaders in the field of health care. Five LT alumni have been chosen for induction into the 2009 Hall of Fame. The honorees will be recognized at a banquet on Friday, November 6, at the LaGrange Country Club.
The deadline for purchasing banquet tickets is October 21. Call the Community Relations office at LTHS for more information at 708-579-6483, or send your check made payable to LTHS Hall of Fame to: Hall of Fame Committee, LTHS 100 S. Brainard Ave., LaGrange, IL 60525. Indicate the number of tickets desired, at $35 each, and your choice of entree: chicken, beef or fish. Tables of 10 may be reserved.
The LTHS Board of Education established the Hall of Fame to recognize the accomplishments of some 65,000 graduates, faculty and friends of LT and to provide role models to students. The Hall of Fame is organized by a volunteer member committee of alumni, faculty, staff, students and citizens.
Norman Ulrich - Class of 1938
Norman’s passion for art led him to the Chicago Professional School of Art for two years,
but his art career was delayed with the onset of World War II. Ulrich enlisted in the Air Force and
was stationed in England. His plane was shot down during a mission and he spent 11 months in a
German prison camp. He was awarded a Purple Heart. After the war, his professional career
flourished and he began work as an illustrator and commercial artist. He served two terms as
president of the Art Directors Club of Chicago and was later elected president of the National
Society of Art Directors. Ulrich speaks about his war-time experiences and helps in the
rehabilitation of returning soldiers.
Quinton Studer - Class of 1969
Following college, Studer taught special education for 10 years and then entered the
healthcare field as Director of Marketing and then Senior Vice President of Business Development at
the Mercy Health System in WI. He later became Administrator of Baptist Hospital, Inc. in
Pensacola, FL, a system that now ranks in the top 1% nationwide in patient and employee
satisfaction. He founded the Studer Group in 1998 and as CEO of the consulting firm, he has coached
more than 400 hospitals to service and operational excellence. Studer is best known for his
philanthropic work and generosity to the community. He has donated millions to programs that
benefit children and the elderly.
Blair Gifford - Class of 1973
Dr. Gifford’s studies and subsequent work have established him as a leader in the field
of global health and international health services. In 2002, after extensive work developing a
health administration program, he established the Center for Global Health in the University of
Colorado system, the first interdisciplinary center at the University. Dr. Gifford is working with
Yale University’s Global Health Initiative to create a profession of health administrators in third
world countries and has helped develop an international health program in Bangkok, Thailand. He has
been recognized as just one of 30 international New Century Fulbright Scholars by the U.S. State
Department.
Mark Williams - Class of 1976
Mark earned degrees in secondary education, English, journalism and professional writing,
though his passion lies in gymnastics. Mark was named to the U.S. Junior National Team in 1975 and
was an NCAA Team Champion in 1979 and 1980. Mark became assistant men’s gymnastics coach at the
University of Oklahoma in 1988 and head coach in 1999. The team has won five National Championships
and eight Conference Championships under his lead. Williams has compiled a .925 winning percentage
over nine seasons. He reached 100 career wins as a head coach by 2004, the fastest that any NCAA
coach has reached that level. He coached the 2006 U.S. team at the World Championships.
Jennifer Christensen - Class of 1990
While Jennifer’s career is just beginning, she has already won the two highest honors in
broadcast journalism - the Peabody and DuPont - for her work as co-producer on “God’s Warriors,”
the most watched and most honored documentary in CNN history. Her groundbreaking career in
journalism began at WXIN-TV in Indianapolis, where she was the youngest full-time manager in the
station’s history. Later, she became an investigative producer and team manager at WSOC-TV in
Charlotte, NC. She has since landed at CNN. Her primary focus has been with the Medical Unit and
Investigative Unit. Additionally, Christensen has worked on several books and articles, has served
as a board member for various organizations and mentors other women in the industry.