The inaugural class of the Havre de Grace High School Hall of Fame was inducted during homecoming weekend.

Six Havre de Grace alumni were honored Oct. 1, including County Executive David Craig and five men being remembered posthumously.

The dream of a Hall of Fame for the high school—originally conceived by the school improvement team—began at least three years ago. This spring, 36 applicants came forward as the school reached out to its alumni base and the community to establish a strong first class.

"We want kids to be proud of their school, and proud of achievement," principal Patricia Walling said. "Sometimes in school kids can become complacent. We didn't want them to become complacent. We wanted them to understand what a heritage we have here at Havre de Grace High School. They too can live up to that heritage."

Walling said the plan is for an annual induction.

Craig (Class of 1967) worked for 34 years as a teacher and principal in Harford County Public Scools. He has been involved with the Parks and Recreation and Little League programs, Boy Scouts and the Havre de Grace United Methodist Church.

James R. Harris (Class of 1961) returned to his alma mater and wore a number of hats in his 20-plus years with the school. Harris, after whom the football stadium is named, was the football coach who led the Warriors to a state championship in 1978. He also served as the athletic director until his death in 1993.

Roy D. Mentzer (Class of 1939) was a decorated World War II hero who worked on Aberdeen Proving Ground for 35 years. An avid volunteer, Mentzer was inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizen Hall of Fame and received the Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year, Harford Living Treasure Award, and the State of Maryland Outstanding Volunteer Award.

Dr. George T Stansbury (Class of 1939) attended Havre de Grace "Colored" High School. After attending Morgan State and Howard universities, Dr. Stansbury returned to his hometown in 1950, when he became the only African American doctor in Harford County. He fought for equal rights at Harford Memorial Hospital and is remembered as a great humanitarian, giving back to Morgan State University's student body with an annual chemistry award.

Millard E. Tydings (Class of 1906) began a law practice in the city in 1913, and went on to a successful run as a politician, serving the House of Delegates, House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War I. Havre de Grace has named a park after Mr. Tydings, and the I-95 bridge over the Susquehanna River also bears his name. The University of Maryland named its government, politics and economics hall the "Millard E. Tydings Hall."

Dr. Irving C. Williams (Class of 1948) graduated from the Havre de Grace "Colored" High School. He earned degrees from Morgan State, Howard and Johns Hopkins universities, and studied at Harvard. He spent time in Africa working for Tanzania's Ministry of Health and founded AHEAD, a non-profit organization that is in its 27^th year of helping African villages. The children's center at the Martha Eliot Health Center of Harvard University is named the "Irving C. Williams Pediatric Center."

While most current students at the school have never heard of the inductees, their credentials provide a measuring stick for future alumni to strive towards.

"We wanted our kids to see, it isn't just about now," Walling said. "We want them to aspire to be like our inductees."