2010 HOF Ceremony

Rox Hall Of Fame Ceremony

January 23, 2010

Good Evening and welcome to the First Annual Rox Alumni Website Hall of Fame Game & Ceremony. I am Max Higgs and I am a proud 1968 graduate of Rockville High School and currently serve on the Rox Alumni Website Committee.

Since its inception in 1875, the Rockville School System has produced many outstanding alumni, teachers, staff and administrators; whose lives, contributions and accomplishments bring credit to the Rockville School District and to the community. As we connect our past with our present and future, we hereby seek to properly recognize and honor those individuals who have excelled in their field of endeavor and/or contributed significantly to the Rockville School System, the community, and the lives of others. In honor of those individuals, the Rox Alumni Website begins a new annual tradition to induct them into the Rockville School System Hall Of Fame and present them to the Rockville School System for inclusion on the Rockville School’s Wall Of Fame.

Assisting me with the induction ceremonies tonight is Bill Hill, RHS Class of 1966. Bill is a fellow alumni website committee member and his contributions to the development of our website and service to our community has been outstanding. Bill has spent countless hours in the development of our website and contributed and raised money for school supplies and clothing for those in need in our community. Would you join me in sharing our appreciation for all his efforts and contributions?

This year we are inducting the first 2 members to the Hall Of Fame. These 2 individuals guided the Rockville School Corporation for a total of 39 consecutive years from 1952 to 1991. These two men lead our school into and through the modern era while being held in the highest esteem by the students, alumni, coaches, staff and the Rockville public in general.

Our first inductee is Mr. Russell Garrigus.

Mr. Garrigus came to Rockville in 1946 as a math teacher and was appointed Superintendent 6 years later in 1952. He served in that position for 24 years until he retired in 1976. He is the longest serving superintendent in the Rockville School System. He led the school thru the building of this gymnasium at the grade school, the purchase of 20 acres of ground for the building of the junior high school in 1957, the building and transition into the new high school building in 1962, and guided Rockville thru the consolidation years.

Receiving this honor tonight on behalf of the late Mr. Garrigus are his daughter, Carol Garrigus Coleman-RHS Class Of 1965, and his son Phil Garrigus-RHS Class Of 1968. (Standing Ovation)

Our second inductee is Dr. Larry Gambaiani.

Dr. Gambaiani came to Rockville after being hired by Mr. Garrigus in 1964. Little did he know at that time that he would end up later succeeding Mr. Garrigus as Superintendent. He is the only person to have served as a teacher, an assistant coach, coach, assistant principal, principal, and, of course, Superintendent. He succeeded Mr. Garrigus in 1976 and led the school corporation as Superintendent for the next 15 years until 1991 when he became assistant superintendent of Washington Township Schools in Indianapolis for the next 10 years. He was employed by the Rockville School corporation for a total of 27 years. Through it all, he has made Rockville his home to this day. He served on the Board of Directors of the IHSAA Executive Committee (1984-1998), The Indiana Assoc. of Education Service Centers as Director of Communications (2002-2009), and County Council Member of the Parke County Government (2003-Present), and President of Rockville Rotary Club, and Jaycees.

Accepting these honors tonight on behalf of Mr. Garrigus & Dr. Gambaiani is Dr. Larry Gambaiani and his wife Helen.

Please join me in our appreciation for Dr. Gambaiani as he receives the mic. (Standing Ovation)

At this time, would you please join me in welcoming Dr. Randall Kerkhoff – Superintendent Rockville Community School Corporation.

First Dr. Kerkhoff, let us congratulate you and our school and show our gratitude for the honor our school received this year as one of “Americas Best High Schools” – U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Kerkhoff, on behalf of the Rox Alumni Website, we are proud to present you with these pictures and beautiful plaque inscribed with the names of our first 2 Rockville School System Hall Of Fame Inductees: Mr. Russell Garrigus & Dr. Larry Gambaiani. We sincerely appreciate your placement of these items in a place of high honor on the High School Wall of Fame in the main hall for all to see.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Rox Hall Of Fame is officially enacted and we will remain true to the fact that “Tradition Never Graduates”. Congratulations to our inductees and our school. Thank you……….