A couple of “Dorr Boys from the Sixties” shared the honor of induction into the Wayland High School Alumni Hall of Fame Wednesday evening.
The two received their honors during the annual Scholastic Honors Night, recognizing all Wayland High School students who have earned at least 3.5 grade point averages during the academic year.
Norm Fifelski, from the Class of 1965 and Roger Merren, Class of ’67, grew up together in Dorr played Little League baseball at about the same time.
Fifelski is the owner of Hillcrest Mobil in Dorr, Dorr Subway and Hungry Horse Campground. He served on the Dorr Township Fire Department, retiring as assistant chief, and he was a member of the Township Board for 20 years.
Fifelski 50 years ago this week was pictured on the front page of the Wayland Globe receiving the coveted Lou Japinga Award from Don Japinga, a WHS grad who was co-captain of the Michigan State University football team.
Merren also was a football player and a catcher on the baseball team. He has served on the Wayland Fire Department for 42 years and worked the chains at the home football games for 25 years. He recently retired from Harding’s Market in Wayland after 48 years, most recently as assistant manager.
Zeke Fletcher, WHS Class of 1998, was the guest speaker. Fletcher, state Class B co-champion in golf, today has his own law firm in the Lansing area and he serves as legal counsel for the Gun Lake Tribe and Gun Lake Casino.
Recalling words written by Kurt Vonnegut, he noted that “graduating from high school is like jumping off a cliff and you need to develop strong wings.”
Fletcher said he went to Grand Valley State University on a golf scholarship, but, “I didn’t handle myself well in my first year of college, I didn’t develop strong wings… When you go to college, it’s time to become an adult.”
He later transferred to the University of Michigan, earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and then received a master’s degree and his juris doctor at the University of Wisconsin. He began practicing law at the age of 26.
He said his most satisfying accomplishment was being able to represent the Gun Lake Tribe and Gun Lake Casino to give back to the community where he grew up.
Class advisors Ace Hulbert, David Robinson, Karen Gabrielse and Tessa Potgeter handed out academic achievement awards to members of the freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes, respectively.
Kelli Smith an the Wayland High School jazz combo presented spirited renditions of Artie Shaw’s “Begin the Beguine” and “Pick up the Pieces.”
High School Principal Tom Cutler served as master of ceremonies.
The Hall of Fame program was established in 2001 and the first inductee was longtime high school math teacher Claude Smith. Fire Chief Joe Miller was honored in 2002, teacher-coach Daryl Fleser in 2003, former school board president Dorothy DeWeerd in 2004, former State Senator Frederic Hilbert in 2005, teacher Fran Beuschel in 2006, former Superintendent Tom Tarnutzer in 2007, teacher Clayton Jackson in 2008, teacher Ethel Aubil in 2009, United Bank President Art Johnson in 2010, business teacher Julia Smith in 2011, former Fire Chief Hugh and former Mayor Mike DeWeerd in 2012, the late Principal Pat Coughlin in 2013 and Teresa Permoda a year ago.
PHOTO: Roger Merren (left) and Norm Fifelski take the podium to thank their wives and families for helping them achieve the honors they received Wednesday night at the Fine Arts Center.
