*This story has been updated to reflect a change of date, pushing the event to next year.
Four Warrior alumni have been selected as this year’s inductees into the Bud and Dorothy Page Lebanon High School Alumni Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame recognizes Lebanon (Union) High School graduates who have made significant achievements in the fields of arts and entertainment, science and medicine, business, humanitarian service and athletics.
It is intended to promote Lebanon pride, inspire students by highlighting the successes of those who’ve gone before them, and raise scholarships for the Bud Page Leadership Award.
The 2020 Bud and Dorothy Page Lebanon High School Alumni Hall has been postponed to next year, April 2021.
Proceeds benefit a scholarship fund for LHS graduates.
Mike Rex (Class of 1972)
Athletics
Mike Rex, Class of 1972, is one of the best all-around athletes to graduate from Lebanon High School. He was a star player in three sports (football, basketball, and baseball) and was named All-District and All-State in both football and baseball.
Rex was intensely recruited by colleges and chose to continue his education and athletic career at Linfield College, where he would have the opportunity to play both football and baseball.
While at Linfield, he participated in seven championship teams – three Northwest Conference championships in football (going all the way to the NAIA semi-finals in ’74) and four in baseball – making major contributions to all of those victories.
Rex’s many collegiate athletic honors began with his football teammates voting him Rookie of the Year as a freshman. While at Linfield, he was named to All-District and All-Northwest teams in both football and baseball for multiple years.
His college career culminated with selection to the first team NAIA All-American baseball team as shortstop, as well as Linfield’s Scholar Athlete his senior year. He also set school records for bases stolen and runs scored.
Following graduation from Linfield in 1976, Rex was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and played professional baseball for seven years at the A, AA, and AAA levels, with one year on the expanded major league roster. He was chosen all-star shortstop of the California League his second year, and while playing second base for the AAA Phoenix Giants, he batted .323 and led the Pacific Coast League in double plays.
After retirement from professional baseball, Rex returned to Linfield to earn a master’s degree in education. He put that degree to work, first teaching PE and health and then as dean of students at Patton Middle School in McMinnville.
In 2001, Rex was inducted into the Linfield College Athletics Hall of Fame.
Don Carroll (class of 1955)
Lifetime Recognition
Don Carroll, Class of 1955, has been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame for his significant impact on students, faculty and vocational education programs at Lebanon High School.
Carroll grew up in Lebanon and then went on to Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in physical education. He began his career in the Scio School District as a teacher, coach, and administrator.
In 1966 Carroll returned to Lebanon to teach and coach at Seven Oak Middle School, where he started a football program. A couple of years later he moved to LUHS, where he would coach football and wrestling, as well as play a significant role in the development of the vocational education department into one of the best in the state.
As a coach, Carroll had a very direct influence on students.
As one of those students (who is now himself a teacher and coach) described him, “Don taught me the power of hard work, the importance of integrity…and the value of commitment to a team.”
Carroll’s impact on vocational education at Lebanon was arguably his greatest achievement. Under his leadership, the department expanded to include 13 programs where students not only earned marketable skills, but also had the opportunity to compete in regional, state, and national competitions.
He donated many hours of his own time to locate materials for projects and provide transportation to competitions.
As leader of the department, he created an atmosphere for both teachers and students that stressed fairness, respect, and accountability.
Colonel Michael Lynch (Class of 1968)
Humanitarian Service
Colonel Michael Lynch, Class of 1968, has been selected for the Hall of Fame in recognition of his service to his community and nation, as attested to by over four decades of commitment to the U.S. Department of Defense and the communities surrounding the areas where he has lived.
Lynch’s career of service began when he was a college student at Oregon College of Education (now Western Oregon University), where he was active in student government at the local and state level. At the same time he supported his community as a volunteer fireman for three years.
After graduation from OCE, he began a 30-year career in the Air Force, marked with ever-increasing positions of responsibility.
He served 12 years in the Pentagon, which included the Presidential Commission on Women in Combat and U.S. European Command Liaison to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He was the key interface between the Joint Chiefs and other decision-makers during the first 180 days after the 9/11 attack, including planning and operational implementation for Operation Enduring Freedom.
Immediately upon retiring from the Air Force, Lynch was selected as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Defense Education Activity Office (DoDEA), the military’s worldwide K-12 school system. It is the 12th-largest school district in the United States, with 80,000 students and 170 schools in seven states, two territories, and 11 foreign countries, plus another 3,200 students attending international schools in foreign countries.
His command experience and knowledge of regulation enabled Lynch to consolidate the military’s 13 school districts into eight, improve efficiencies and the quality of education, and cut costs.
Lynch’s understanding of problems, insight into organization, and ability to motivate people are common themes of praise; the other is service to community, such as volunteering with the Providence emergency department and serving on the Northwest Brain Cancer Walk board.
Angelita Surmon (Class of 1968)
Fine Arts
Angelita Surmon, class of 1968, has been selected for induction into the Hall of Fame for her extensive achievements as a professional artist.
After graduation for LUHS, Surmon attended Oregon State University where she earned both Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees.
In her 38 year career as a professional artist, Surmon has worked in numerous media. For the past two decades she’s focused most of her work on kiln-formed glass and painting – one of her commissioned paintings can be seen above the fireplace at the Lebanon Public Library.
Some of Surmon’s art is commissioned, while other works are included in private and corporate collections throughout the United States. Her works are on display in the AT&T headquarters in New York City, the Americana Hotel in San Francisco, the Claremont Club Hotel in Oakland, the Bonneville Power Administration headquarters in Portland, and the Continental Bank in Chicago.
One of her recent commissions is for the University of Nebraska Medical School. The university opened competition to artists from all over the world to create works of art for a new building on the medical school campus. Surmon was one of eight artists who were invited to present their concepts in person to the selection committee. Her very large (5 by 13½-foot) piece inspired by the Fontenelle Forest near Omaha, was selected and will be installed in the new building this year.
In addition to creating works of art, Surmon also devotes her time and talent to encouraging other artists. She’s described as “strongly supporting” her fellow professionals as an artist-member of the Waterstone Gallery in Portland.