Schiffler, Lohmiller among eight named to first Woodbury High School Hall of Fame class

Over the past 37 years there have been a large number of multi-talented students, skilled coaches and devoted supporters at Woodbury High School.

For the first time, those people will be recognized in Woodbury High School’s new Hall of Fame.

This past week, Woodbury High School announced it will induct eight individuals into its inaugural Hall of Fame class for 2012.

Longtime Woodbury basketball coach Del Schiffler, 1990 graduate Douglas C. Schneider, 1983 graduate Mary Vaaler, 1985 graduate Kathryn Hughes, 1984 graduate Chip Lohmiller, 1978 graduate Michael Robb, 1988 graduate Michelle Sherman and 1995 graduate Heidi Lundervold will comprise the inaugural Hall of Fame class at Woodbury High School.

“I thought it was a great start to the Hall of Fame and celebrating 35 plus years of Woodbury High School,” Woodbury Activities Director Jason Gonnion said. “The fact we had not only athletics, but had other activities involved like music and the arts was very comprehensive and very impressive. I thought it was a really nice start to a tradition that keeps moving along.”

Hall of Fame inductees were selected by a committee of seven voting members: Gonnion, Woodbury Principal Linda Plante, WHSABC President Rick Beck, and athletic department representatives Doug Johnson, Pat Malicki, Dwayne Tannhill and Jennifer Starr.

“Those folks put in a lot of hours and efforts,” Gonnion said. “We’ve had so many talented kids walk the halls for a longtime. I think the excitement of that first group really came from the experience of the people on the panel that really had a working knowledge of those people when they were at Woodbury High. It was really neat to see their perspective on who the real outliers were. I had a lot of people come up to me and tell me it was really neat and that it made a lot of sense. When you’re new to the position, that’s a concern. You want to make sure that first group makes a lot of sense.”

Any alumni or friend of Woodbury High School may nominate someone for the Hall of Fame. A nominee must satisfy these qualifications: A former Woodbury Royal who performed with unique excellence in athletics, the arts or club activities while attending WHS. The nominee must be a Woodbury graduate and out of school for at least 10 years. Nominees must be, or have been, a credit to his/her family, country and Woodbury. Advisors and coaches must have been someone who distinguished himself/herself by demonstrating exceptional leadership, character and outstanding achievement during his/her tenure at WHS. Also, a special award could be given to a person who has been a loyal and devoted supporter of WHS athletics, arts or club activities. All individuals may be either living or deceased.

Gonnion said starting the Hall of Fame at Woodbury was a longtime coming and was done in order to celebrate and bring light to the many past successes.

“Being in the east metro the past 15 years I know there have been a lot of state championships and nationally recognized artists and things of that nature, but finding them out very easily certainly wasn’t the case,” Gonnion said. “I’m hoping the Hall of Fame not only will display the things that have happened, but that we can also take it to a digital form where we can really illuminate the cool things that have happened. You want it to happen overnight, but it’s going to take some time.”

The inaugural Woodbury Hall of Fame induction was kicked off with the first-ever Woodbury High School Royal Rouser – a fundraiser for adults over 21 on Friday, April 20, at the Prom Center in Oakdale.

Over 200 Woodbury coaches, parents, staff and alumni were treated to a fun-filled evening to benefit Woodbury High School’s activity and athletic programs. ComedySportz interactive improv group and D.J. Eddie provided entertainment and thousands of dollars in prizes were offered in a silent auction and raffle at the Rouser.

“We far exceeded our expectations in participation and silent auction numbers,” Gonnion said. “The volunteers we had did an amazing job.”

Gonnion said money raised will go toward the Hall of Fame expenditures and other initiatives, like new equipment in the weight room.

Gonnion said the plan is to announce each year’s Hall of Fame class at the Royal Rouser every spring. The Hall of Fame inductees will then also be honored at a banquet during the week of Homecoming in the fall.

Now the first step is done, which Gonnion said “felt great.”

“Just to get it off the runway, we’re not at 30,000 feet yet, but we’re in the air,” he said. “We’ll be able to get it to where we want it to. That first step is always the most challenging. All in all I couldn’t have been more impressed with how things came together.”

WOODBURY HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2012

- Coach Del Schiffler (1976-2000): 1983 Minnesota Basketball Coach of the Year, 1983 State Championship team, Woodbury’s first boys basketball coach.

- Douglas C. Schneider (1990): Student Government, Jazz Band, NHS, Pep Band, Declam, Pit Band.

- Mary Vaaler (1983): South Pacific, Oliver, Little Mary Sunshine, Antigone, All State Choir, Concert Choir, Swing Choir, NHS, Student Government, State Competitor – Declamation, Cheerleading, Band, Ballet

- Kathryn Hughes (1985): Basketball, Golf, Powderpuff Football, NHS, Spanish Club

- Chip Lohmiller (1984): Football, Hockey, Golf

- Michael Robb (1978): Baseball, Basketball, Football, Letterman’s Club

- Michelle Sherman (1988): Choir, Musicals, NHS, Declamation

- Heidi Lundervold (1995): Track, Diving, Gymnastics

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