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Article published Thursday, October 23, 2003
By Karin Kowalski, Blade Staff Writer
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Six Inducted into Bedford Alumni Association Hall of Fame
TEMPERANCE - The Bedford Alumni Association has selected six individuals to comprise this year's inductees into the Bedford High School Hall of Fame. They will be introduced during a football game at the school on Oct. 24.
Former high school band director Charlie Holmes, who worked for the district for 32 years, Chuck Rimmer, who spent 31 years as the school's football announcer, and local businessman Paul Whitman were selected in the special recognition category for their contributions to the school.
Also selected for their athletic accomplishments were Dennis Kinney, a 1970 alumnus who went on to play major league baseball, Fred Lowe, a 1965 graduate who was selected to three Olympic teams, and Bill Alexander, a 1952 graduate who lettered in three sports.
These six alumni will be inducted into the hall of fame at a banquet Nov. 7. Their names will join 21 others who have been engraved on plaques at the school since 2000. The hall of famers are chosen each year by a committee of 15 members of the Alumni Association and the Athletic and Band Boosters.
The inductees are:
Charlie Holmes, who started directing the band program in 1952 and helped it grow from 40 to 400 students in a decade. He taught students from grades five to 12 until the mid 1960s. Then he led the high school band. "I really liked it because it meant you had a group of students for eight years and you got to know them well," Mr. Holmes said. He took the marching band for featured performances during half-time at Detroit Lions games for eight years. In 1971, he became dean of students at the Bedford Intermediate School and kept that post until 1981, then taught math until retiring in 1984. Since 1975, he has run his Holmes Music store in Temperance.
Chuck Rimmer, who graduated in 1959, was on the track, football, and basketball teams, lettering in each sport. After graduating, he began a 31-year stint as the school's football announcer. He said he never missed a game. He also announced for the wrestling matches for 25 years and basketball for many years. When the local cable channel started airing basketball games, he became a game color commentator.
Paul Whitman, who describes himself as a "friend of the school," graduated from Temperance High School in 1940. He had three children who attended Bedford. He was an involved parent, going to basketball and football games, as well as band boosters. He has remained involved ever since.
Dennis Kinney graduated in 1970 and went on to pitch for four major league baseball teams. At Bedford, he played basketball and baseball, starring on several championship teams. He was starting guard in the 1969-1970 school year when the basketball team won the district championship. After graduation, Mr. Kinney was drafted by the Cleveland Indians. He worked his way up through the minors to play in the major leagues for the Cleveland Indians in 1978. Later that year he was traded to the San Diego Padres. In 1981 he was traded to the Detroit Tigers. In 1982, his last year, he played for the Oakland A's. "I was one of the fortunate ones," Mr. Kinney said.. "I felt I got the most out of my ability." Today he works in construction management in Allentown, PA, and has good memories of his teachers and coaches at Bedford. "To be honored by the community that you were raised in - I was speechless," Mr. Kinney said. "I should be honoring them."
Fred Lowe, who graduated in 1965 and went on to a career in Olympic-style weightlifting. At Bedford, he was on the baseball and wrestling teams. His cousin got him interested in weightlifting and he participated in his first competition in 1965. From there he went on to Olympics in Mexico City and placed eighth. In 1972, in Munich, he placed ninth, and in 1976, in Montreal, he placed 11th. "They were all unforgettable experiences," he said. He also won the United States National Weightlifiting Championship eight times. He was the first American weighing 165 pounds to lift 400 pounds. Ten years ago he started competing in Masters championships and holds several records at that level.
Bill Alexander, who graduated in 1952, played football and basketball and was on the track team. His senior year, he was voted most valuable player on the football team and leading scorer on the basketball team with 24 points in one game and 204 in a season. He was also class president. After high school he worked at several jobs before settling at Jug's Bowling Center in Toledo, where he worked his way up from mechanic to manager. His five children attended Bedford High School and he now has three grandchildren there. "It feels good to join some elite people," Mr. Alexander said. |
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