These honorees have made a variety of outstanding contributions either to the broader community by making a difference in the lives of others, to their profession through achievement in their chosen fields, and/or to the school while accomplishing significant achievement as a student at Oxford Academy.

The Oxford Academy Hall of Distinction Coordinating Committee encourages community members to make a nomination for inclusion into the Hall of Distinction. Criteria and nomination forms can be found on the Oxford Academy website at www.oxac.orgwww.oxac.org(click on the “District” tab and then “Hall of Distinction”).  Nominations are due by November 1st of each year.

Lieutenant Colonel United States Air Force GREGORY JOHNSON, Class of 1981

Gregg Johnson is a professional aviator whose distinguished career has included military service, commercial flight, and community public service.

After studying at Daniel Webster College where he was a awarded an Air Force ROTC scholarship, he started his Air Force career. Gregg was Mission Director of a 35-person RC-135 crew on worldwide reconnaissance missions following his Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer training. He was selected for USAF pilot training, and was hired by the USAF Reserves as a military heavy airlift pilot. Gregg flew missions in support of the President, relief operations for hurricanes, and special operations missions. He participated in operations in Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, and flew the first C-5 into Baghdad during wartime. He has been Chief of Plans, Chief of Training, a C-5 Instructor, and C-17 Pilot.  Gregg finished his 26-year military career as a Planning Officer working with Joint Military Operations for exercises and real world operations in the Pacific region. At the time of his retirement Gregg was a commissioned Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force.

In his current civilian flying career, Gregg flies for Delta Airlines and has accumulated over 11,000 hours of flight time as a 717, 737, and DC-9 Captain, and a DC-9 First Officer. 

Here in Oxford, Gregg is the Board President for American Legion Post 376. He has been honored as the guest speaker for Memorial Day ceremonies, and also participates in military burial services for local veterans. He is also a Director of the American Bass Anglers Division 4. Gregg exemplifies the highest qualities of a distinguished graduate of Oxford Academy, and it is a privilege to recognize him in the Hall of Distinction.

JOEL CRANDALL, Class of 1986

Joel Crandall is a kinesiologist and exercise physiologist, owner of the PhysioCare Center in Los Angeles, and creator and developer of the VOILA Method, a structural assessment and treatment tool.

He graduated from SUNY Cortland where he was also a running back and kicker for their collegiate football program. He also earned certification from the Institute of Psycho-Structural Balancing in California. Joel went on to teach physical education at the California Academy of Math and Science. Later he supported Cirque Du Soleil as strength and conditioning coach for the “Iris” show based in Los Angeles and its 72 performers, which included Olympic athletes.

Joel has spent 27 years fine tuning and mastering innovation and advancement in kinesiology, exercise science, biomechanics, and structural joint balancing. He travels the world teaching the VOILA Method he developed, and empowering new VOILA Method practitioners. His work helps clients live healthier and pain-free lives.

His commitment to wellness, continued innovation in his field, and sharing knowledge earn Joel a place in the current class of Oxford Academy Hall of Distinction honorees.

JENNIFER O’REILLY ANDERSON, MD, Class of 1998

Dr. Jennifer O’Reilly Anderson is a practicing Primary Care/Family Medicine Physician for the Bassett Clinic in Norwich, as well as the Medical Director for four clinic sites across the region. She also serves as Assistant Regional Medical Director for Bassett Healthcare, Medical Director for three local school districts including Oxford Academy, Attending Physician for in-person pediatrics and newborns at Fox Hospital, member of numerous medical boards for Bassett Hospital, and contributor to health and wellness initiatives in Chenango County. 

Dr. O’Reilly is also a featured panelist in the full-length documentary “Smacked,” an award-winning documentary about opioid abuse. She has received award recognition for her work surrounding the opioid crisis, and provides leadership to the Bassett Opioid Addiction Control committee. 

Dr. O’Reilly holds memberships in an array of honor and professional societies, and is the recipient of notable honors, including the Shannon Jenkins Teaching Award 2010, the SUNY Upstate Medical University Department of Family Medicine Paul Palmer/Ernest Carhart MD Award for Exemplifying the Ideals of Family Medicine. Many know her visible, loyal commitment to giving back to the Oxford community. 

As Oxford Academy’s Valedictorian of 1998, Dr. O’Reilly started with athletic and academic achievement, then pursued her studies at Elmira College and SUNY Upstate Medical University, as well as the University of Massachusetts/Worcester Family Medicine program. Her first stop after completion of her residency was Chenango County. Although she could have placed her medical practice anywhere, she chose to work and serve here at home. It is an honor to award Dr. O’Reilly a well-deserved seat in the Hall of Distinction for Oxford Academy.

RICHARD O’CONNOR, Class of 1926

Richard James O’Connor was one of seven children of John O’Connor and Elizabeth Cooke and graduated from Oxford Academy and Central School in 1926. Subsequently, Richard received his BS and MS from St Bonaventure College and entered the Franciscan Order in 1929, making his temporal vows in 1930, his solemn vows in 1933 and was ordained a priest in 1934. In addition, he studied philosophy and German at the Universities of Bonn and Munich, until the Second World War required him to return to the states. 

Upon returning to the United States, Richard became a professor of philosophy at Siena College in Loudonville (1939 - 1943.) In 1943, he entered the US Army and became a Military Chaplain for General George Patton’s 11th Armored Division of the Third Army and would later serve as the Military Chaplain for the 1st Infantry. After the war Richard, along with Lutheran Minister Henry Gerecke, was assigned to the pastoral care of the prisoners of the famous Nuremberg War Crimes Trial. This appointment occurred due to the fact that Richard spoke fluent German and had studied in Germany previous to the war. In 1946 his duty entailed providing spiritual aid to 10 war criminals who were executed as a result of the Nuremberg Trials. 

Father O’Connor returned to America after the war trials and taught philosophy and German for 3 years at St Bonaventure and then taught one year at St. Stephens Seminary in Croghan, New York. In 1953 he became a professor at Siena College. While at Siena his duties included being the chairman of the Philosophy Department and performing as the Vice President of Siena from 1956 to 1964. Richard passed away in 1983 and had lived a life worthy of his induction into the Oxford Academy’s Hall of Distinction.   

LUKAS KORVER, Class of 1999

From the hallways of Oxford High School to all parts of the world, Lukas Korver has evolved into one of the foremost cinematographer in the United States. Lukas has worked on documentaries, commercial projects, and television ventures as a cinematographer, producer, editor and director. Graduating from Oxford in 1999, Lukas was a standout soccer and basketball player and a member of the Honor Society. Following graduation Korver studied film and TV production at Syracuse University and is a graduate of the Newhouse School of Communication. 

Lukas began his commercial career as a camera operator and director producer working with such company as Under Armour, Ford, Lincoln, Duracell, Vans, Nike and Omega watches. Lukas is an Emmy Award winning director of the memorable Sports Illustrated piece, “A Boy Helps a Town Heal.” The film won in the category of Outstanding New Approaches – Sports Programming. He has also directed, edited and produced a lengthy documentary the “Medicine Game”. This PBS special traced the lives of two young lacrosse stars. Korver spent four months living on the reservation documenting their senior year of high school. Lukas, who works closely with Eliot Rausch, has continued to work on various projects covering various humanitarian causes all over the world. 

Lukas has worked on “Unfiltered” which features Olympian Michael Phelps and Eliot Rausch’s “Last Minutes with Oden,” which won Vimeo’s “Best Film” and “Best Documentary” awards for 2010. Lukas has recently directed a short film chronicling artist Brandon Stanton’s famous photoblog “Humans of New York.” This film illustrated the high impact that could be obtained by using a social media. It is a must see! Additionally, Lukas has been able to captured the beautiful images of a story and maintained the real-life values and the different life lessons taught through a life experience.  The Hall of Distinction Committee takes great pleasure inducting Lukas in the 2019 class of the Oxford Hall of Distinction. 

LIEUTENANT COLONEL GEORGE ANTHONY BANCROFT II, Class of 1994

Tony Bancroft’s career reflects significant achievement in the military and business. He graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy, was ranked 1st in his class at United States Naval Flight Training, and acquired over 1,500 hours of tactical flight time. His service included combat air patrols as an F/A-18 Hornet pilot, day and night aircraft carrier landings, and qualifying as a Landing Signal Officer (LSO) as part of VMFA-314, “The Black Knights,” a Marine Fighter Attack Squadron deployed on the USS Carl Vinson. On a later duty with VMFAT-101, “The Sharpshooters,” he led the F/A-18 Familiarization Syllabus instructing newly winged naval aviators how to fly the Hornet.  Tony held a Top Secret/SCI clearance while on active duty, and holds a commercial pilot license.  After leaving active duty in 2009, he joined the Marine Corps Reserve. Subsequently, Tony was hired by Gabelli Asset Management, Inc. as a research analyst covering the aerospace & defense, and environmental services industries. Tony earned an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Economics from Columbia Business School in 2011.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN JAMIESON BANCROFT JR., Class of 1992

JJ Bancroft’s medaled service to his country started at the United States Naval Academy where he majored in history and earned a commission in the US Marine Corps. Following Marine Infantry and flight training, JJ was chosen to fly the twin bladed UH-1N “Huey,” and then joined the “Vipers,” a squadron that deployed to Okinawa, Korea, Guam, Kuwait, and Iraq. His ongoing specialized training led to activation in four tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan.  JJ’s year at the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA was followed by service as the Airfield Operations Officer for the “Diamondbacks” squadron. JJ led his company on 7-month deployment to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, and later deployed to Afghanistan in his capacity as an Operations Research Analyst. JJ is a graduate of the United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College as well as the Joint Combined Warfare Seminar.  He retired from the Marine Corps Reserves this year after 21 years of service, and was awarded the Joint Meritorious Service Medal, and Air Medal with Combat V for Valor and 14 strike flights with over 300 hours of combat time. 

CHARLOTTE F. STAFFORD, Class of 1936

Until her death in 2010 at the age of 91, Charlotte was dedicated to books, teaching, and learned service to the extended Oxford community. A graduate of Elmira College, she taught French, German, and History till acquiring her Masters in Library Science from SUNY Albany. The rest of her teaching career comprised school librarianship in Binghamton and Norwich until her retirement in 1977. Charlotte worked to form the Oxford Historical Society, served as its first president, and then became Oxford’s Town/Village Historian, a position she held proudly for 34 years. She was a charter member of the Omicron Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, a charter member of the Binghamton Chapter of the Women’s National Book Association, a Matron of the Lafayette Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, a past Associate Grand Warder for the Grand Chapter, OES, of New York State, and also served as chapter musician. Charlotte faithfully served St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Oxford as a communicant for many years and member of the Vestry. She also was the first treasurer and later trustee of the Oxford Revitalization Project, a member of the Captain John Harris Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and more.

BARBARA H. TOMPKINS, Class of 1966

Barbara’s esteemed career reached students across the region first as a teacher, then as a reading specialist, then a curriculum coordinator, and finally as Oxford Academy’s Primary School Principal from 1995 to 2006. She studied at SUNY Oneonta and SUNY Cortland, and holds a number of permanent certifications and administrative degrees. During her tenure as Principal, Barb made outstanding contributions to all the good work being done in the Primary building, and led both the school district and the Primary School in literacy programs. Since her retirement, her focus has been on family and community service. It is no surprise that Barb’s informed and generous volunteering for Head Start of Chenango, Chenango United Way, and even the Primary School post-retirement led to her being named the 2013 Volunteer of the Year. Barb is now a member of P.E.O. Chapter CG, Joseph Jefferson Book Club, and the Oxford Academy & Central School Scholarship Committee. She and her husband Gary are also now coordinators for Our Daily Bread Food Pantry at Emmanuel Church. Untold numbers of students helped across Barb’s long career are now better readers, better learners, and more gracious community members because of her work and example. Her gifts are providing a lifetime of benefit to all who know her.

MARY C. WEIDMAN, Class of 1962

Mary is well remembered by her classmates for her activity in Band, Chorus, Student Government, the National Honor Society, and for serving as Editor of the 1962 Oxford Academy yearbook, but her career’s reach expanded to include compassionate service to vulnerable but developing populations, and even a broken glass ceiling. After graduating from Syracuse University, she began work in the Onondaga Department of Social Services before she returned to Chenango County. Here Mary was chosen as Director of the Comprehensive and Training Act program, an early federal initiative to train and place workers in public service jobs.  She served in this capacity for many years before being named the Deputy Commissioner of the Chenango County Department of Social Services in 1987. In 1994 she was elected to the office of Chenango County Clerk, becoming the first female and Democrat to be elected to a Chenango County office, and now the longest serving clerk in the county’s history. She remains in that office today with more than 50 years of public service and counting. Additionally, Mary was instrumental for many years in operating one of the most respected fine dining restaurants in our area, The Old Mill in Mt. Upton. Mary is also active in many organizations including the Oxford Lions Club, the Chenango County Agricultural Society, and the Chenango County Historical Society.

BRIAN W. BARTLE, RPh, Class of 1958

Brian Bartle has long served the greater Oxford community as a businessman, mentor, and community leader, but in his work as a pharmacist, he has modeled what it is to be a service-based professional.  Hospice patients are among the most vulnerable and challenged in a community, and he has been available at all hours to meet their needs.  Colleagues traveling on medical missions could count on his providing medication for their outreach. When a local family lost everything in a fire, he provided their lost medications and basic toiletries to help them get back on their feet. He also provided decades of support, both financial and moral, for Oxford Academy functions and youth activities in our area. Mr. Bartle has employed Oxford Academy students, some of whom went on to study pharmacy.  He has been a member of the Oxford Lions Club and Oxford Masonic Lodge for over 50 years, an Adjunct Professor at the Albany College of Pharmacy, and a member of the Pharmacist Society of the State of New York and the National Community Pharmacists Association.

MAT BONAME, MD, Class of 1920

Mat Boname provided more than a half century of medical care to area families as our local doctor, including the delivery of thousands of babies, since his Oxford Academy graduation in 1920. Most living here through those decades would have had a hard time imagining life in Oxford without him. Dr. Boname was on the staff of Chenango Memorial Hospital, a health officer for the town and village, a county coroner, a consultant to the Department of Social Services, and a member of the Four County Medical Society, the Medical Society of the State of New York, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Physicians, the Central New York Academy of Medicine, and the Chenango County Medical Society. He also had 40 years of perfect attendance as a member of the Oxford Rotary Club. Dr. Boname’s early graduation from Oxford Academy did not keep him away from school; he was our school physician, and his presence continues through the Mat Boname Scholarship Fund established in 1976, which continues to award approximately $20,000 in scholarships every year.

COLBY J. COOPER, Class of 1994

Colby Cooper is among the youngest to be inaugurated into the Hall Distinction, but he has already demonstrated significant achievement and influence. Mr. Cooper won the inaugural Young Alumni Award for Distinguished Citizenship from Bucknell University, and went on to public service in government and politics. After early work on the Y2K initiative, he served as the Director for Communications and Media Relations at the National Security Council under George W. Bush. He later transitioned to Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State, which included support for Secretary Condoleezza Rice’s historic visit to Libya, and principal planning for the 2007 Annapolis Conference on Middle East Peace. Mr. Cooper continued as Research Fellow and Chief of Staff for the Office of Condoleezza Rice at The Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He later founded the Cooper-Lyon Group, became first president of the Coastal Alabama Leadership Council, worked as Director of Corporate Communications for PepsiCo, served as Chief of Staff for the City of Mobile, Alabama, and is now COO at Hix Snedeker Companies.

THOMAS C. EMERSON, JD, Class of 1966

Thomas C. Emerson’s interests and expertise have positively influenced many sectors within both his profession and our area. He is an attorney with a history of professional leadership including admission to the US Supreme Court, Past President and Secretary of the Chenango County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, membership in the House of Delegates, and Chairman of the Committee on Professional Standards among others. His service to the community has also been wide-reaching, including Chairman of the Board of the Chenango Memorial Hospital, Past President of the Norwich Family YMCA, Chairman of the Village of Oxford Zoning Board of Appeals, Past President of the Oxford Lions Club, board member of the Northeast Classic Car Museum, and Foundation Trustee for the Roger Follett Foundation, the Mary Elizabeth Macksey Charitable Trust, the Rex & Edna Irene Mickle Charitable Trust, the Crosby Charitable Trust, the Greater Norwich Foundation, and the R.C. Smith Foundation. Mr. Emerson’s legal work and leadership are notable for contributing to quality of life and opportunity in our area.

JEANNE E. RACE, Class of 1962

Jeanne E. Race is an educator whose teaching career and community service earned her many honors and appointments, including Teacher of the Year, Outstanding Social Studies Educator for Central New York, Outstanding Secondary Educator for New York State, President of the New York State Social Studies Supervisors Association, and the Baldwinsville Rotary’s Pride in Workmanship Award. She also won a Fulbright Scholarship to study in India, and later achieved an administrative leadership degree and certification at Syracuse University and SUNY Oswego, followed by doctoral work at the University of Rochester.  Her retirement caps career achievement including Curriculum Director and then Deputy Superintendent of Schools at the Baldwinsville School District. Part of the measure of her work can be taken in the innumerable students who learned in her classrooms, and the professional educators she influenced through leadership.  

Robert Marshman, Class of 1956

Bob Marshman became a partner in the Marshman Farm in 1958.  During that time the farm expanded.  Today the farm provides income for 12 families.  The Marshman Farm was awarded the 2006 Agriculture Business of the Year by New York State.

Mr. Marshman is also an active member of the Oxford community.  He is a past president of the Oxford Academy FFA, the Chenango County Farm Bureau, the Chenango County Holstein Club, the New York Holstein Association, and the Oxford Lion’s Club.  He has been awarded the Lions International Leadership Award, and served as a member of the Oxford Town Board and co-chairman of the Loomis Barn Project.  Mr. Marshman has served as president of the DCMO BOCES School Board, vice-president of the Board of Directors of Agway, Inc., and president of the Central Florida Shuffleboard Association.  In addition, Mr. Marshman was a member of the Oxford Academy Board of Education 1973-77; 1986-88.

David B. Emerson, Class of 1964

Dave Emerson has been a leader and participant in numerous community minded endeavors.  He has been a co-owner of BlueOx, instrumental in the expansion of the company to multiple locations.  His energy has been given to family-centered services (The Children’s Center, the Norwich Family YMCA, and the David L. Emerson Soccer Farm), religious organizations (the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York Foundation, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church), the arts (6 on the Square, Colorscape Chenango), community affairs (Promote Oxford Now, Oxford Holiday Committee, Oxford Lion’s Club, Friends of the Parks Project), local history (Loomis Barn reconstruction, Chenango County Historical Society), business development and regional economic advancement (Commerce Chenango, Leadership Chenango, Innovative Communities Collaborative).  Mr. Emerson has also been a member of the Oxford Academy Board of Education 1983-92.

Lewis Hayden Ford, Class of 1970

Professionally, Lew Ford was instrumental in ensuring the physical health and safety of everyone who walked through our school doors throughout the DCMO BOCES districts.  As a member of the NYS Buildings Officials Group and the Association for Educational Safety and Health Professionals, Mr. Ford made sure students in many districts across the state had a safe place to come every morning.  Mr. Ford also lent his talents to the Oxford Academy music and drama productions as sound technician, and ran the scoreboard (side by side with his beloved wife Jane) for countless sporting events.  Mr. Ford was a recent recipient of the prestigious Marshman-Hall Award.  He served on Oxford Academy’s Board of Education as a member as well as president.  Years of service were 1990-97 and 2000-05.

Joseph F. Coleman, Class of 1956

Joe Coleman has distinguished himself in the field of education as a building principal, superintendent, consultant, and manager.  His work with at-risk youth in rural districts has resulted in increased graduation rates and better opportunities for rural youth. 

Mr. Coleman’s commitment to education and community is evidenced by numerous awards: the Matilda Cuomo Award in Recognition of Education Programs to Support Families; the National School Boards Association Award for Leadership and Design for One of the 10 Best Programs of the Year; IBM Principal of the Year; New York State Senate Recognition for Educational Leadership for Youth-at-Risk; and the Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Service to Youth Award.

Kimberly Smith Colvin, Class of 1994

Kim Colvin is currently an Assistant Professor at the Albany University in the field of Educational Psychology and Methodology.  Her work in education supports the foundation of teaching and learning.  Dr. Colvin’s extensive work in teaching, presenting and publishing has already earned her many accolades including: the University of Massachusetts Amherst, School of Education: Educational Policy, Research, and Administration Dissertation Grant; the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Graduate Student Travel Grant; and the Cornell University, Edward Sheldon Teaching Award: “Outstanding Future Female Teacher,”  

Dr. Colvin’s good works extend beyond the classroom in her work on behalf of post-earthquake Haitian children.

Dr. Deena Manon Castellion, Class of 1985

Deena Castellion is recognized for her significant educational and professional achievements, including Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude graduation from the University of Rochester, then Alpha Omega Alpha and Membership of the Medical School Scholars Program at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine.  She specialized in obstetrics and gynecology, seeing families and women at the NH Bradford Clinic.

Suzy Maholchic-Nelson, Ph.D., Class of 1976

Suzy Nelson has a long history of service to students and higher education.  She has served as Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Siena College, Assistant Director for Leadership and Student Organization and Director of Greek Life at Syracuse University, Robert G. Engel Association Dean of Students, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs at Cornell University, Associate Dean of Students, Dean of Student Life at Harvard University, Vice President and Dean of the College at Colgate University, and, most recently, the Vice President of Student Life at MIT.  Dr. Nelson’s leadership at these institutions has resulted in numerous accolades and awards throughout her career.