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FAIRFIELD – Fairfield High School’s Wall of Honor added three names to its prestigious list during a ceremony on Friday, Oct. 18.

Suzan Bates Kessel (Class of 1971), Brad J. Rose (Class of 1984) and Paul D. Wohlers (Class of 1970) were all inducted onto the FHS Wall of Honor that morning in a ceremony attended by the whole high school. This year’s induction ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the founding of the FHS Wall of Honor, which is a series of plaques on a wall in the FHS Commons.

The three honorees were introduced by friends or colleagues, who read about their accomplishments while a projector in the auditorium showed photos from their life. Joneane Parker introduced Kessel, who she called a “visionary” for the leading role she played in creating the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, along with her friend Sally Johnston. Kessel said building the arts center was a roller-coaster ride of emotions that lasted 11 years from the moment the idea was hatched until the building opened to the public in 2007.

Kessel spoke about how she was inspired to focus on art thanks to her high school art teacher, Bob Glocke. Kessel spoke about how she married her husband Pat the summer before her senior year of high school, and about giving birth to their first child in February of her senior year. She said hard work and determination shaped the couple’s early life together. Kessel always wanted to prove she could make a difference, and she has, having her artwork shown around the country, as volunteer president of the Fairfield Arts Association, and as manager of the Fairfield Public Access Channel for 12 years, just to name a few accolades.

Ron Hunerdosse introduced Rose, a good friend from their days together at FHS. The two went on to be colleagues when Rose became a physical education instructor at Fairfield, and went on to be the Trojans’ athletic director.

When Rose took the microphone, he said this recognition of being inducted onto the FHS Wall of Honor was the biggest of his career, even greater than the back-to-back state baseball titles he won in 1996-97 while coaching at Ottumwa.

Before the ceremony, Rose told The Union that Fairfield’s athletic programs were really taking off when he was a boy in the 1970s. He noted that one FHS graduate who was two years ahead of him was Milt Jackson, an All-American football player who went on to play for Notre Dame. He said those athletes in the classes ahead of him were great role models, and he encouraged the high-schoolers in attendance to remember that Trojan pride is about setting an example for younger students to follow.

Rose said FHS guidance counselor Art Hutton told him to go into public relations. Rose didn’t know what that was at the time, but ended up in a very similar role as an athletic director. In 2016, Rose was named State Athletic Director of the Year.

Jeanne Hartman introduced Wohlers, who is a “Notable Graduate” of the U.S. Naval Academy, the equivalent of a wall of honor recognition. Hartman noted that Wohlers is fluent in four languages thanks to his work in international diplomacy that included being U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia from 2011-2015, as well as being responsible for U.S. bilateral relations with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.

Wohlers said he is proud of his small town roots, and noted that leaders such as Gen. Chester Nimitz and U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan were all from small towns. He said he was blessed to have great teachers and coaches during his time in Fairfield schools. He mentioned a few by name such as his college prep English teacher Mrs. Pettit, and sophomore English teacher and Quill advisor Dian Marker.

“They taught me so much about grammar and English that it helped me so much in my career,” Wohlers said. “Being able to write well is so important, and they drilled that into me. They inspired me to read and to write.”

Wohlers said he has also drawn inspiration from his high school track coach, Coach Crew.

“When I face a big test, I tell myself, ‘It’s just like the 2-mile run,’” he said. “You’re exhausted, but if you gut it out, you can do more than you think you can. Coach Crew taught me that.”