SHELBY — Pioneer Career Technology Center celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday with a variety of events.
The school day started when the school hosted a “Pancakes for Breakfast” meal for all students and their parents in the large arena. After breakfast the students gave their parents a tour of their respective labs.
Also available for the visitors was the “50 Years Museum” in the Community Room. Mrs. Mary Lee Barr, Director of Business Affairs created the museum with former news articles, pictures, video, and numerous memorabilia for the visitors to enjoy.
The ceremony began with numerous dignitaries such as Richland County Commissioners Marilyn John, Tony Vero, and Darrell Banks, Mayor Schag from Shelby, Mayor Hutchinson from Ontario, and Mayor Tim Theaker, from Mansfield, current Pioneer Board of Education members Doug and Mary Jean Theaker, Dick and Margie Prater, Mary Dixon, Bill Hope and retired Board member, Vicky Lash, Superintendents of member schools, Greg Timberlake and Lori McKey from NCTC.
Also in attendance were state representatives from Sherrod Brown’s office, former Business Partners, former Superintendents of Pioneer, former Director, Ohio Department of Education Office of Career-Tech Education, retired staff members, post Carmean Award winners, top current students, Distinguished Alumni, Tech Honor Society members, Student Council members, Career Tech Organization officers, and representatives from all of the career tech labs.
Presentation of the Flag was performed by students of the Color Guard Criminal Justice & Homeland Security Students Programs.
Pioneer student Desi Hunt, of Crestline, sang the National Anthem. That was followed by the welcome from Board President, Doug Theaker. Theaker stated he had the privilege of knowing most of the Superintendents that served Pioneer.
“This school is where it is all happening now! I had the opportunity to speak on Veteran’s Day here and the audience was so quiet you could hear a pin drop,” he said. “Pioneer is a great and wonderful institution. Happy birthday and God Bless.”
Darrell Parks, Director of the Ohio Department of Education Office of Career-Technical Education (1982-1995), told how public law 210 that passed in 1963 finally gave vocational education assistance to develop vocational schools in Ohio.
In 1968 there was an amendment that improved and expanded the 1963 act that give the schools the enigma to roll forward. It was a landmark legislation! PJVS was built on the old depot warehouse property, so a lot of outside factors entered into the development.
Parks stated he wanted his oldest son to attend a vocational school, but to no avail. Later, his son regretted not attending and currently is a teacher at a local vocational school.
Dick Jones (former Supt. of Pioneer) said, “I started out in the Ag programs and worked my way up to being Superintendent. You get what you expect, and Pioneer has high expectations with quality education. I am most proud of bringing applied economics to Pioneer. During my time Pioneer’s name changed from Pioneer Joint Vocational School to Pioneer Career Technology Center.”
Don Plotts (another former Supt.) said “I had the opportunity to bring the four Crawford County Schools into our membership schools community. Even though I am now retired, I remain active and close to the communities in Crawford County.
“My biggest challenge as Superintendent was to infuse applied academics with skills. I thank the Gorman Rupp family for supporting Pioneer through out the years. Supporting each other brings about great success.”
Glenna Cannon Plotts stated she spent 28 years at Pioneer and they were the best years of her life. Her role as Superintendent was the renovation of the buildings to update them for future technology.
She stated there was some good, some bad, and some ugly times throughout the revitalization, but it was all well worth it.
“We had the opportunity to tear down the tunnel which was cold in the winter time and hot in the summer time, not to mention the lack of security,” Cannon said. “It was with great relief doing away with the tunnel!”
Dick Prater gave the closing with a humorous story about 1776 and the day he and Doug Theaker worked with Ben Franklin. Prater stated Franklin liked to predict the future. He told Theaker he would love his job and tell others how he loves his job over and over and over again. When Prater asked Franklin what he saw in the future for him, Franklin replied “Go fly a kite.”
“Over 20,000 students have passed through the doors at Pioneer,” Prater said. “We are here not to celebrate the past but look at the future. Some of the students in this audience will see the 100th anniversary of Pioneer. Mr. Theaker and I will probably still be the speakers.”
Hor d’oeuvres were served while the crowd visited with each other.
Later in the day the school was open for a “large” class reunion of all previous classes from Pioneer to visit the building, see old friends and teachers and enjoy the success of the last 50 years.
