Three join Creston Schools Hall of Fame

On Friday, the Creston Hall of Fame brought in three new inductees as a part of last week’s homecoming festivities.

Historically, nominations for the hall of fame are for a graduate, former staff member and contributor. This year, all three were alumni.

Leslie (Lovell) Tyler started the ceremony. Tyler is a 1976 Creston High School graduate known throughout the community for her dance studio, Leslie’s Dance Emporium. However, her impact on the community goes further than her dance lessons.

“It really doesn’t matter what you do, it matters how you make people feel and as long as you do everything with great love, it all works out,” Tyler said. “The ideals I strove for at the studio echoed back to me this week from my former students as I read all the comments on Facebook. Kind of helps me realize, maybe they were listening.”

Tyler took time to thank “her tribe” for bringing her to this point, as well as the Creston community.

“Thank you God for my students and my tribe. My tribe, those who stood by me. They cheered me on but kept me grounded and spent countless hours helping all those dreams come true,” Tyler said. “The last thank you is to you for this award. Because of you, I have been changed for the good.”

Next was 1980 graduate Deb (Oxenreider) Power, a long-time Iowa State University professor who wowed the community with her athletics in high school. Power reminisced on the community support during her speech.

“The community was just so special. They cheered us on in games and I think the town literally shut down when we played in state tournament games,” Power said. “Creston was in the early years of conquering girls high school sports in the ‘70s, and the girls that I watched on those early teams became my role models. Thank you to those trailblazers that paved the way for me and so many others to have the opportunity to play high school sports.”

Power thanked specific supports, including coaches Eldon Gammel and Mike Gerleman, “second mom” Ruth Clinton and her family. She also encouraged the audience to live their day as their “best day ever.”

“We all have good days and not so good days, but we only get one Oct. 4, 2024, in our lifetime, so I encourage you all to make this your best day ever and to thank someone in your village today: a teacher, parent, bus driver, librarian, coach or custodian. They all work hard to make your day and your life better,” Power said.

The final speaker was Larry Goodrich of the CHS class of 1962. He shared his pride at being entered into the hall of fame, something he called “one of the biggest things that’s ever happened” to him.

“I was inducted into the hall of fame at UNI, but this means more to me,” Goodrich said. “This is my hometown. I don’t think anyone here can even begin to know how much it means to me.”

He thanked numerous team members and coaches from his life, including the late Ron Jessen, who convinced him to go to college. This resulted in a prosperous college basketball career and a life-long teaching passion.

Goodrich reminded the students in the audience to set an example for the younger students.

“It was mentioned here that in high school, how the young kids look up to you. You have no idea how much they look up to you,” Goodrich said. “You set an example for them. You really, really do, so make your behavior appropriate, because they want to be you, they really do.”

Tyler, Power and Goodrich join numerous previous Creston graduates in the hall of fame, including Amy Higgins, Tiffany Murphy, Dr. Larry Tilley and Dr. Larkin Powell.

The 2024 Homecoming Queen was also coronated during the event by 2023 Homecoming Queen CC Zachary. Delaney Pettit, daughter of Monica Pettit and Clay Pettit, was crowned by Zachary, flower girl Vinni Sandeman and crown bearer Jameson Wolfe. Other nominees included:

Anna Bolinger, daughter of Wade and Angie Bolinger.

Olivia Burwell, daughter of Ryan and Heather Burwell.

Payton Davis, daughter of Ann and Jason Davis.

Zoe Vandevender, daughter of Jami Vandevender.