Dist. 87, BHS to honor 7 for halls of fame [The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.]

Sept. 28--BLOOMINGTON -- Bloomington District 87 schools will recognize some of their hometown heroes during homecoming next week.

Four more people will be inducted into the Bloomington High School Hall of Fame, and three will be added to the district's hall of fame. The inductions will be done Thursday, and all will be honored Friday.

BHS inductees are:

Jim Cooper, a 1972 graduate. He was principal of Sheridan Elementary School from 2001 to 2013 and is an innovator of many programs, including Early Start and Operation Backpack. He's a leader in the Back to School Alliance, which provides backpacks and school supplies for students and advocates the value of building relationships between students, their families and the school.

Guy C. Fraker, a 1979 graduate. He was a State Farm Insurance Cos. employee from 1985 until 2012 and worked with California fire officers and state legislators to reduce fire fatalities among economically challenged households in that state. He earned an Honorary Save award from the National Association of Black Firefighters. In 2012, he launched an Internet startup company and is working on several patents.

Mike Jones, a 1970 graduate. He started his career at State Farm at age 16 and received numerous promotions through the years. Currently vice president of administrative services, he is responsible for the acquisition, sale, leasing and maintenance of all State Farm facilities. He is active in the community working on behalf of young people.

Dr. George Pratt, a 1942 graduate. He earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1948. Pratt completed residencies at Massachusetts Memorial Hospital and Mayo Clinic and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps' Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea. From 1957 to 1990, he was a general surgeon in Wisconsin and was also a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery.

This year's District 87 inductees are:

Larry Connolly, a U.S. Navy veteran who joined the BHS faculty in 1969. He taught English and coached cross country and speech before retiring in 1988. He was the public address announcer for BHS football, basketball and track for 40 years. He also was very passionate about the theater and acted in plays throughout Central Illinois.

Robert Frank, who was BHS athletic director from 1964 to 1989. He was a founding member, vice president and president of the Illinois High School Athletic Directors Association. The Robert L. Frank Scholarship Fund was established in 1989 and provides college scholarships to BHS students. In 1991, the athletic complex was renamed the Robert Frank Sports Complex.

Ed Storrs, who worked in District 87 for 38 years, teaching at Sheridan, Bent, Centennial and Oakland elementary schools. He was inducted into Illinois State University'sCollege of Education Hall of Fame in 2011 for enriching the lives of Bloomington students.

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