The Home Savings and Loan Company in Kenton knew they wanted to be involved in Kenton Middle/High School, but didn’t know how. They met with Kenton High School Director of Athletics Brett Purcell, and he had been eyeing a project perfect for the financial institution.
“Education is always a big part of any community,” said HSLC President and CEO Chris Jones. “Being involved with the local schools is just what you do. Some kids may move on, but a lot will stay.”
Purcell pitched the idea of a Wall of Fame, a digital display developed by the Columbus-based Vital Signs. The interactive touch screen display is about more than just athletics.
“The idea was to preserve the legacy of all Wildcats. I wanted a place where we could display old yearbooks, athletic records, but also recognize students involved in the arts or our student organizations.”
Brett Purcell, KHS Director of Athletics
This display is exactly what HSLC was looking for. “I’m pretty techy,” said Jones. “This piqued my interest.”
In the early days of Kenton Middle/High School, the display has been a point of interest for students and alumni alike, many enjoying the walk down memory lane as they reviewed their yearbook, athletic record, or musical event. The yearbooks date back to 1916.
Yearbooks missing from the display currently are 1949, 1941, 1940, 1939, 1937, 1936, 1935, 1934, 1933, 1932, 1931, 1929, 1928, 1927, 1926, 1925, 1924, 1923, 1922, 1919, as well as 1915 and earlier.
“While we have a pretty extensive archive of yearbooks, we are missing a few from over the years,” said Purcell. “We would like to ask the community to let us borrow those yearbooks. We will send them away to have them digitized, and will get them back to to their owner the way we got them.”
The Wall of Fame display will continue to be updated as time goes on. The content can be viewed online at go.kcs.me/walloffame
“Several of our employees are Kenton alumni, and several more have students in the district. We wanted them to know that HSLC is investing in the community and in the schools.”
-Chris “CJ” Jones, HSLC CEO/President