The Barberton City Schools’ Academic Hall of Fame Class of 2012 was inducted on April 25 at the Slovene Center. Pictured from left to right are: Samuel Reynolds, Alice Irish for her daughter Erin Irish, Susan Gormley Harrington and Sue Logsdon.

Irish graduated from Hiram College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology in 1980 and earned her PhD in 1985 from Indiana University. Irish did post-doctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania 1985-1986 and at Yale University 1986-1990. Results of her research have appeared in numerous scientific journals and presented at conferences throughout the United States.

Irish is an Associate Professor in Biology at the University of Iowa. She sits on the board of the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. She is a geneticist with corn, not related to food or fuel, but as a vehicle to study plant genetics. Irish was elected a Fellow with the American Association for the Advancement of Science which seeks to “advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all people.”

Irish and her husband, Gene Dzymkowiak, reside in Iowa City, Iowa. She is the daughter of Terry and Alice Irish of Barberton.

Susan Gormley Harrington Class of 1970

Harrington’s accomplishments began at Barberton High School when she graduated as the Valedictorian of a class of 538 students. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in Mathematics and Botany from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1974. She then earned her Masters degree in 1981 from The University of Akron in Management. Harrington received a Ph.D. in Business Administration with a major in Management Information Systems and a minor in micro-organizational behavior in 1992 from Kent State University.

Harrington began her career as a Manager / Systems Analyst / Computer Programmer. In 1986 she became an Associate Professor for Kent State University-Stark Campus. In 1994 she joined the staff of Georgia College & State University as a professor and earned the Irene Rose University Community Service Award and the University Excellence in Research Award. In 2005 she moved on to become a professor at Macon State College and there received the Scholarly Activity Award. As a college professor she integrated public service projects into the classroom experience. She has authored over 40 books, scholarly journal articles and book chapters. She is an acknowledged leader in preservation and documentation of historic cemeteries. Harrington spends many hours helping to handle problems in the local historical cemetery.

Harrington attributes much of her success to teachers at Barberton High School including Mr. McMannes, Miss Book, Miss Zapatka and Mr. Trenta.

Harrington’s mother is Martha Austin Gormley. Her brothers, Douglas A. Gormley and David M. Gormley, are also members of the Barberton City Schools Academic Hall of Fame. Harrington is enjoying her retirement with her husband of almost 37 years, Hugh T. Harrington. They reside in Milledgeville, Georgia.

Sue Logsdon, Class of 1990

Logsdon attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1995 and a Master of Science in Exercise Physiology in 1999. She played four years of Division I basketball for Virginia Tech under her NCAA Athletic Scholarship.

Logsdon began her career as an Exercise Physiologist at Alegent Health Lakeside Wellness Center where she worked with clients on many levels, as well as, authored PowerPoint presentations on various health and fitness topics for presentations during educational seminars. Next she became a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Creighton University Bone Metabolism Unit. While in this position she was involved with many research projects and provided many services for patients.

Logsdon currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska where she is employed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center as an Institutional Review Board (IRB) Administrator. She has many responsibilities including advising investigators and staff about IRB requirements and federal regulations which govern Human Subjects Research. Logsdon has had two scientific papers published in major journals.

Samuel J. Reynolds, Class of 1965

Reynolds earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Kent State University in 1969. He then earned his Masters Degree in Education in 1976 from the University of Akron. Reynolds began his career teaching Sixth Grade at St. Augustine School. In 1970 he joined the staff at Manchester Local Schools where he taught until 1981. At that time, he became Director of Curriculum and Instruction for Manchester until he was appointed to his current position of Superintendent of Schools in 2004. Reynolds coordinated efforts of students, educators and citizens to advance the Manchester Local School District’s state rating from “Effective” to “Excellent” and “Excellent with Distinction.”

Reynolds was selected as a Martha Holden Jennings Foundation Scholar for Instruction Excellence in 1978. He also earned the honor in Manchester as Educator of the Year three times; at Nolley Elementary School, Manchester Middle School and Manchester High School. Reynolds is active in the Portage Lakes Kiwanis and has held the position of President Elect, President and Past President.

Reynolds is married to Dr. Cynthia Reynolds. Cyndi is a professor of Counselor Education at the University of Akron. They have three children, Sam, James and Elizabeth and two grandchildren, Lauren and Dylan. Reynolds’ parents, Sam and Irene, are graduates of the Barberton Class of 1943 and reside in Norton. His siblings Jim, John and Barb are also Barberton graduates.