The Frankfort Hot Dogs Alumni Hall of Fame, presented by the Frankfort Education Foundation, honors graduates of Frankfort High School who have achieved extraordinary lifetime accomplishments.
The Hot Dog Hall of Fame Board of Directors is pleased to announce the Frankfort High School Alumni who will be honored at the Sixth Annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony to be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, in the cafeteria at the high school. This year’s class consists of two Posthumous, one Honorary and four Alumni inductees.
2023 HOT DOG HALL OF FAME NOMINEES
FRED CARTER Alumni Class of 1949
After marrying “Mitzi” Gaffney in 1952, Fred built his own successful retail business. In 1972 he became President of Citizen’s Building and Loan. Fred served with countless
civic organizations including Frankfort Main Street, the Community Foundation and the Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, on “Fred Carter Day,” the Mayor proclaimed him
“Mr. Hot Dog” for a lifetime of service to Frankfort.
LEE F. DUPLER, M.D. Alumni Class of 1951
A graduate of Indiana University Medical School, Dr. Dupler served his country in the Army before returning to Frankfort where he cared for his community for more than 30 years. Dr. Dupler developed the first Intensive Care Unit at Clinton County Hospital and was Medical Director at Bradford Woods summer diabetic camp for children.
NICOLE RUDOLPH Alumni Class of 2003
BFA in costume design, Ball State University. MFA in Material Culture from University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Nicole worked at Colonial Williamsburg and was Artistic Director for American
Duchess Shoes. She is now a full-time fashion history content creator on You Tubere she brings her expertise in shoemaking, sewing and tailoring to an international audience.
DAN “BONZ” SCOTT Alumni Class of 1978
Dan began his work career at Georgie Porgies when he was fifteen years old. In 1984 he worked for a label company in Terre Haute, then returned to Frankfort in 1989 to start his own company, Hi-Tech Label. Hi-Tech creates labels for businesses coast-to-coast. Dan and Hi-Tech have been important contributors to local organizations for decades.
CLARENCE WARTHAN Honorary
A graduate of Indiana State University, Clarence taught Industrial Arts at FHS for 41 years and was Head Wrestling Coach for 37.
years. His teams won 6 Conference Championships and one Team Semi-State Championship. He coached 3 Individual State Champions. In 2001 he was inducted into the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame.
VESTO MELVIN SLIPHER Posthumous Class of 1897
V.M. received a Masters and PhD in Mechanics and Astronomy, Indiana University. Director of Lowell Observatory in Arizona from 1926 until 1952. By measuring red shift of distant stars, V.M. discovered stars were moving away from Earth which eventually led to Georges Lemaitre’s theory that has become known as “The Big Bang Theory.”
EARL CARL (E.C.) SLIPHER Posthumous Class of 1902
E.C. received his BA degree in Astronomy from Indiana University in 1906. While working as an Astronomer at Lowell Observatory, E.C. became one of the first to standardize photographic plates for photometric measures, a procedure which is now universally used. He published two books, The Photographic Story of Mars (1962) and A Photographic Study of the Brighter Planets (1964.)
The following people are in the Frankfort Hot Dog Alumni Hall of Fame:
The Inaugural Class of 2018: Alumni — David Kyle Cook, Janice Gail Koertge Davidson, Andrew J. Detharge, Rana Dogar Foroohar, William Aughe Ghere (Will Geer), Gary Thomas Goode, James William Goodwin, Larry Allen Gosewehr, Vance J. Hinton, Karren Mundell Kowalski, PhD RN; Lawrence J. “Jay” McCreary, Douglas F. Reid, Dr. D. Kevin Scheid. Honorees — Everett Norris Case, Raymond “Buck” Rohrabaugh.
The Class of 2019: Alumni — Charles L. (Chuck) Aidman, Dr. Franko Beardsley, Lt. Gen. Jay Kelley, Dr. Patrick Kersey, Cindy Ward Wine Martinez, Karen McClain Miller, Jim H. Miner, Rawlings “Rawl” Ransom, Richard “Butch” Ricker, Ralph Vaughn. Honorees — John Milholland.
The Class of 2020: Alumni — Steve R. Adams, John Coulter, Phil E. DePoy, Perry Charles Lewis, Dr. David Moore, James Rogers, Jonelle Smith. Honorees — Katherine Howard.
The Class of 2021: Alumni — Dan Cougill, Thomas V. Ranson, Dr. Roger Frank Robison, Robert K. Ryan, Gina Lucas Sheets.
The Class of 2022: Alumni — Chad Buntin, Kelly Good, Mary Gorham Herrick, Dr. Tom Miller, Lt. Colonel James Rentschler , Mark Sawicki, Randall (Boe) Workman. Honorary — Steve Mullins.
A huge crowd is expected for this event. In addition, two members from Lowell Observatory are going to come and accept the Slipher Brothers award on behalf of the Slipher family.