Below are short biographies of the 2010 Great Bend High School Hall of Fame inductees.
Jenny Allford
Allford graduated from Kermit High School, Kermit, Texas, in 1949. She attended East Texas State University from 1949-1951, and transferred to Texas Technological University where she received her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1953. Allford continued her education, taking courses at Wichita State University, Fort Hays State University, Kansas State University, and Kansas University.
She began her teaching career in 1953 in Plainview, Texas, as a junior high choral music instructor. She moved to the high school the following year and continued teaching in Texas until 1969. In 1969, she accepted the vocal music position at Roosevelt Junior High School in Great Bend. She taught at Roosevelt until 1978, and then moved to Great Bend High School, where she continued to teach vocal music for 16 years, until her retirement in 1993.
"Jenny Allford has a love and passion for Great Bend High School, its students, and its traditions," Stambaugh wrote in her nomination. "She has been an inspiration to her students and colleagues throughout her teaching career and taught a love for music."
Allford has served as director of the Chancel Choir at the First United Methodist Church as well as service pianist. As an educator, she served on numerous state organizations.
Glenn Opie
Opie graduated from GBHS in 1944. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., in 1950, and his law degree from the University of Kansas in 1954. Following graduation, he served in the United States Navy during World War II. Glenn has been a lifelong resident of Great Bend.
"Glenn is perhaps best known for the work he and his wife, Sandra, did in training and managing the Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps," his nominators wrote. Nearly 1,700 boys and girls participated in this summer activity that spanned 22 years and brought crowds to Great Bend for drum and bugle crops competitions. The corps won three national championship titles in the American Legion contests in the early 1970s. The Opie’s still hear regularly from former corps members all over the country.
Opie served as the drum major for the Northwestern University Band in the Rose Bowl in 1949, and later as drum major for the University of Kansas Band, while working on his law degree at KU. He also ran on college track teams and helped coach the sport.
He has served at the state level for the Kansas Bar Association, been on the Unified School District 428 School Board in Great Bend, active in Boy Scouts and is a long-time member of the Great Bend Rotary Club.
"Glenn Opie has been a lifelong resident of Great Bend and has touched the lives of thousands of people," they wrote. He built a very successful law practice, raised a family, and stayed involved in numerous organizations, activities, and associations. "His optimism, leadership, and dedication to our youth and his service to the community over the years have been second to none. Glenn is truly one of the ‘greats’ of Great Bend."
He has also been actively involved in the effort to built the Jack Kilby memorial in front of the Barton County Courthouse.
It was all about service to youth and community at the Great Bend High School Hall of Fame luncheon Friday afternoon.
The 2010 inductees into the hall included 1944 GBHS grad, local attorney and Argonne Rebel supporter Glenn Opie, and long-time music teacher Jenny Allford. "We are here today to honor two individuals who have spent a great deal of time making a difference in the lives of thousands of students and in their community," said Unified School District Activities Director David Meter.
Opie, through his involvement with the drum and bugle corps, Boy Scouts and civic organizations casts a huge shadow over his hometown. Allford, through her teaching vocal music at the middle and high school levels, passed on a love of singing to countless young people.
Both Opie and Allford looked out over the audience gathered at the Highland Hotel and Convention Center and recognized those they had worked with when they were all much younger.
"I would be hard pressed to think of anyone who has given back more to the community than Glenn," said Jeff Yeager, a Great Bend native who was a member of the Argonne Rebels, in introducing Opie. He recounted anecdotes about Opie’s school days, his involvement in politics, the establishment of Barton Community College, and his work in education and efforts to build the Jack Kilby memorial. Awards bestowed on Opie, he said, were too numerous to mention.
"It is very humbling to be here," Opie said. "This is a celebration of service. All of you have touched lives."
Former GBHS Principal Don Halbower introduced Allford, who was hired as the high school vocal music teacher during his tenure. "Thank God her parents made her take music lessons."
Allford came to USD 428 in 1969 to teach at Roosevelt Middle School but was eventually coaxed into taking over at the high school. There, Halbower said, she took a strong program, and established a national and international reputation.
"Jenny, you have enriched the lives of thousands of students," Halbower said. "Each of them will remember you."
"My parents prayed for me to be a musician," Allford said. "God answered that prayer."
Allford asked "why am I here." The answer, she said, comes from all those involved in her life and a higher power. "God has been at work in my life since I was born."
The banquet wasn’t the only special event Friday. The induction ceremony took place Friday night between the boys and girls varsity basketball games with Dodge City in the Great Bend High School gymnasium. A reception followed the games in the Jack Kilby Commons.
Allford was nominated by current GBHS vocal music instructor Susan Stambaugh and Opie was nominated jointly by Jim Heaton, Robert Parrish and Dr. Roger Marshall.
The 2010 class marks the third for the Hall of Fame. Past inductees include: 2008 – John Keller, Jack Kilby and Skip Yowell; and 2009 – Jack Bowman, Sean Murphy, and Tim Weiser.
A committee of administrators, teachers, school board representatives and local residents pick recipients from those nominated. Nominees must be students, teachers or community members who have made a significant contribution to community or country.
A display case in the GBHS commons contains plaques and memorabilia paying tribute to all the recipients.
