“Academic Alumni Hall of Fame” Recipients for 2013

The goal for the Academic Alumni Hall of Fame is to recognize successful former students, who have contributed to their profession and community while practicing character qualities such as perseverance, self-discipline, curiosity, honesty, responsibility, etc. A committee makes the final selection of no more than three recipients. Criteria are: graduate of Parkway Local Schools (including Willshire, Rockford, Mendon-Union, and Parkway), graduated at least ten years prior to nomination, given time to enhance their profession, and demonstrated leadership, citizenship, and volunteerism.

This year’s recipients are:

Mr. Farrel Krall, Class of 1956

Current Employment: Truck Research Services, Inc., Willshire, OH – self-employed

Education: Indiana Institute of Technology BS-Mechanical Engineering 1960, Advanced Engineering Courses at University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

Achievements: Member of Willshire Village Council for eight years, 1964 Charter Member of Willshire Lions Club, former Certified EMT, scoutmaster, Little League coach & corporate sponsor for last 10 years. Former member of Van Wert County Hospital Commission for eight years. In 2006 prepared a photo-documentary of the Willshire School Building.

Professionally, Mr. Krall has been Manager of Technical Legislation at Navistar, a member of the NHTSA Motor Vehicle Safety Research Advisory Committee; the Federal Highway Administration; the Society of Automotive Engineers; the National Academy of Science Transportation Research Board; and the Intelligent Transportation Society of America. He received a Distinguished Service Award from the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association and a 40-Year Service Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers. Mr. Krall has also authored several publications pertaining to his profession.

Dr. Jerry Sell, Class of 1965

Current Employment: Family Medicine Associates, Inc., Rockford, OH,- Physician, owner & president; attending physician for Van Wert County Hospital and Mercer Health

Education: BS from OSU in Microbiology; Doctor of Medicine from OSU; Family Medicine Residency at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, Dayton, OH.

Professional Achievements: Active member of American Academy of Family Physicians, Ohio State Medical Society, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Christian Medical & Dental Association; Van Wert County Hospital Chief of Family Medicine, Chief of Obstetrics, Medical Executive Committee, Medical Staff President, and Board of Trustees; Courtesy Staff at Mercer County Community Hospital.

Community achievements include Rockford Citizen of the Year in 2010, a member of New Horizons Community Church, Rockford Lions Club, Shanes Crossing Historical Society, Dublin Township Zoning Board, and Rockford Area Development Corporation. Dr. Sell served in the U.S. Army and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. Mission work has included several trips to Honduras and Haiti.

Dr. Ron Weitz, Class of 1963

Current Employment: Senior Scientist, Science Applications International Corporation, Albuquerque, NM

Education: U.S. Military Academy, B.S. in Engineering 1967; M.S. in Physics from Purdue University; PH.D. in Nuclear Physics from The Catholic University of America in 1982.

Achievements: Dr. Weitz has over 25 years experience conducting applied research in the health physics area. He has been actively involved in the evaluation of radiation detection technologies for potential application to nuclear threat reduction, arms control, and treaty verification. He has worked extensively in the field of nuclear weapons effects on electronics, and has participated in test planning & data analysis activities in support of numerous experimental programs both above ground and underground simulation environments. He has also directed work as a Space Environments Analyst. Earlier in his career, Dr. Weitz served as head of the Radiation Sources Division at AFRRI where he studied the effects of radiation on biological systems and electronics components. Dr. Weitz is a member of the American Physical Society, the Health Physics Society, and he has been published numerous times in refereed journals.