Wayland Union Schools inducted two new members into the Alumni Hall of Fame at the Scholastic Honors Night celebration April 17,  Beatrice (Rairigh) Smith and Dick Miller.

Bea Smith was inducted posthumously with her daughter Kathy (Lough) Matthews accepting the award on her behalf. 

Mrs. Beatrice (Rairigh) Smith graduated from Wayland Union High School as co-valedictorian in 1943. She worked for Wayland Union Schools for many years as the superintendent’s secretary for R.J. Steeby, Carl Bergstrom and James Thomas.

Smith became office manager at the high school and worked with Principals JC Clyma and Jack Deming. Bea Smith chose to go to the new high school when it opened in 1974 because a favorite part of her job was interacting with students and staff.

Dick Miller graduated from Wayland Union High School in 1962.  He participated in football, basketball and tennis and was co-captain of the football and basketball teams. He was a member of the Student Council and served as president and vice president in subsequent years.

After graduation he attended the University of Florida for one year and then transferred to Michigan State University, graduating in 1967.  He did his post graduate work at Western Michigan University.

 Miller began his teaching career at WUHS in 1967, teaching U.S. history and American government until his retirement in 1998. Over the course of 30 years serving the students and community, Mr. Miller touched the lives of thousands of students making a positive influence on their lives.

After his retirement, he was on the Henika District Library Board and on the Wayland Township Planning Commission.

 Wayland Union Schools established an Alumni Hall of Fame in the fall of the 2000-2001 school year. Since then, 21 individuals have been inducted.