FAIRBORN — Fairborn City Schools Class of 2017 will enshrine individuals into its Hall of Honor during the 30th-annual induction ceremony.
The annual event, free and open to the public, is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, April 28 at Fairborn High School, 900 E. Dayton Yellow-Springs Road, in the auditorium. The reception will follow in the high school commons area.
Those receiving this prestigious award are:
Commander Matthew E. Arnold
The son of William and Jane Arnold, and a 1987 graduate of Fairborn High School, where he was a member of the A cappella choir and Varsity football team and a Squadron Commander in the AFJROTC. He holds a bachelor of science degree in business administration and a master’s degree in project management. He has served in the U.S. Navy for 30 years, been assigned to numerous naval vessels and commands, deployed in support of several operations including Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and is the recipient of numerous military awards and medals for superior performance and meritorious service.
Arnold is currently serving as the Weapons Officer aboard the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), where he manages a department of more that 320 sailors. He and his wife, Melissa, reside in Zushi, Japan and have four daughters, Emily, Margaret, Maura and McKenzie and a son, Christopher.
Peter E. Bates
The son of Charles and Audrey Bates and a 1979 graduate of Baker High School, where he was a member of the choir, Choraliers, orchestra and band as well as a member of the Springfield Junior Symphony. He studied business and management at Sinclair Community College. He joined Shwartz Jewelers in 1982 and has been the owner of the business since 1992. He is also a partner in Theile Building Development L.L.C., a member of the Fairborn Junior Chamber of Commerce, president of the Downtown Fairborn Betterment Association and a member and officer in the Sons of the American Legion and the Sons of Amvets.
Bates designed and created the airplanes that hang in downtown Fairborn and has donated numerous pieces of jewelry to Fairborn organizations, the American Legion and Fairborn City Schools. He and his wife, Pam, reside in Enon and have a second home in Panama, where he supports the local schools.
Dr. Andrew D. Feltz
The son of John and Cindy Feltz and a 1987 graduate of Fairborn High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Quill & Scroll, varsity soccer, sports editor of the Newshawk and attended Buckeye Boys State. He received a degree in pre-medicine from the University of Dayton and graduated from The Ohio State College of Optometry. He founded OnHealthcare in 1998 to provide eye care to nursing home patients in central Ohio. In 2016, the company merged with 360 Care, where he is the Clinical Director of Eye Care services and also a consultant to the Westar Urgent Care groups.
In 1999, Feltz co-founded Mission of Sight to provide eye care to people in central and southern Jamaica. He is a coach of St. Francis DeSales High School volleyball teams and has been the president and is a board member of the Ohio Boys’ Volleyball Association. He and his wife, Patricia, have three children, Evan, Amy and Adam and reside in Westerville, Ohio.
Lt. Col. Jon W. Hobbs, U.S.A.F (ret.)
The son of Jon and Judy Hobbs and a 1984 graduate of Fairborn High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, Quill & Scroll, choir and varsity soccer, and was editor-in-chief of the Newshawk, a class officer and a delegate to Buckeye Boys State. He earned an electrical engineering degree from The U.S. Air Force Academy and holds a master’s degree in management.
After pilot training, Hobbs flew B-52 bombers in Operation Desert Storm and then KC-10 tankers on many missions in the Middle East. He transferred to the Air Force Reserves and flew Aeromedical Evacuation and VIP travel missions. He joined Southwest Airlines as a pilot. When he retired from the military after 22 years of service, he became a Southwest captain and is now a check airman, training other Southwest pilots. He has been active in the Boy Scouts and youth sports. He and his wife, Cheri, have three sons, Jon, Kyle and Brian and reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Judy (Smith) Jagger-Mescher
She is a 1967 graduate of Mt. Gilead High School, where she received the Morrow County Outstanding Young Woman Award. She earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Bowling Green State University and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Dayton. From 1976-2006, she taught seventh grade health and physical education at Baker Middle School and in 1995 joined the Wright State University faculty, where she is currently the University’s health education program director, an instructor and the student teaching supervisor.
She designed the Ohio and National Health Education K-12 curricula, was a consultant on the Stanford University SCALE program and was named the 2000 National Health Educator of the Year. She and her husband, Greg, reside in Centerville and have four children, Ted, Kristine, Brooke and Grant and four grandchildren, Aiden, Masaki, Audrey and Takuma.
Dr. David S. Kocher
The son of Ralph and Annabelle Kocher and a 1967 graduate of Fairborn High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, student council, tennis team and science clubs. He graduated from The Ohio State University Veterinary School in 1973 and became a partner with his father in the Towne and Country Animal Clinic, where he still practices veterinary medicine.
Kocher holds certification in ultrasonography, digital radiography, laser surgery and therapeutic laser and is a proponent of healing touch, which he uses in his practice and in his volunteer work at the Cincinnati Ronald McDonald House. His memberships have included the Fairborn and Dayton Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Club and numerous medical associations. He and his wife, Teresa, reside in Fairborn and have three children, Kristen (Brandon Neace), Gretchen and Brian (Amanda) and five grandchildren, Alec, Blake, Kali, B.J. and Ayden.
Mark S. Neal
The son of William and Marianna Neal and a 1995 graduate of Fairborn High School, where he was a basketball statistician and member of the concert band and Students Helping Students group. He earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications from the University of Dayton and a master’s degree in education from the Antioch McGregor College.
Neal has been an on-air host for 15 years and the program director for 11 years at 1410 WING AM ESPN radio. He created and is the host of “Bucknuts 90,” “Dayton Sports Scene” and OSU pre-game shows. He was the play-by-play announcer for the Greater Western Ohio Conference football games, the color commentator for the Dayton Dragons, has interviewed numerous sports legends and has done voice-overs for commercials and advertisements. He has also been a motivational speaker, student career counselor and middle school basketball coach. He and his wife, Tyra, reside in Centerville.
