Bellefontaine High School graduates the Class of 2022 during commencement exercises slated for 8 p.m. Friday, May 20, at AcuSport Stadium.
Dak Notestine, a 2006 Bellefontaine High School graduate, returns to his BHS to deliver the graduation address. He is one of four BHS Distinguished Alumni honorees to be recognized Friday evening.
The other 2022 BHS Distinguished Alumni inductees are: Pat Ellis, Keith Krieger and Randall Marker.
Criteria for nomination include: at least 10 years since graduation from the school and a demonstration of “significant success in the professional arena or significant contribution in service to community, state or nation.”
Coordinated by the Academic Boosters Club, the selection process began in the fall with acceptance of nominations and the submission of completed applications.
Notestine attended Ohio University and earned his B.S. in Exercise Physiology in 2010 as well as his M.S. in Recreation and Sports Science in 2011.
A successful career in high school as a three-year captain of the football team and team captain of the basketball team his senior year prepared him for his leadership roles in Ohio University’s athletics.
The commencement speaker walked on to Ohio University’s football team and earned his spot as captain his senior year of college. He was also a four-year letter winner as a Defensive Lineman, was 3rd Team All-MAC as a junior, and was a 2010 Bulsworth Trophy nominee.
Due to his successful athletic career in high school and college, Notestine was inducted into the BHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020.
He served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach at Ohio University from 2011-2020 and was promoted to Director of Strength and Conditioning in 2014.
Currently, the BHS graduate is the Director of Performance at Black Sheep Performance in Cincinnati, where he trains elite level athletes like Joe Burrow (QB of Cincinnati Bengals) and Rose Lavelle (USWNT, OL Reign Midfielder). He also works as a consultant to various strength programs across the country.
Fellow award honoree Ellis graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1970, attended the U.S. Air Force Academy prep school, and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1975 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.
Following graduation, he joined Thomas & Marker Construction Company from 1975-2018, serving as Executive Vice President. Along with his position, Ellis was a certified instructor for the National Center for Construction and Education Research. He obtained his State of Ohio Professional Engineer’s license in 1981 and Master of Business Administration degree from Ashland University in 1984.
Ellis has a longstanding history of volunteering. On the state level, he currently serves as president of The Ohio State University Civil Engineering Alumni Society, an OSU civil engineering student mentor and adviser on the OSU Lima Campus Board.
Locally, he currently serves as president of the Joint Parks and Recreation Board and Foundation, a trustee adviser for the Bellefontaine First United Methodist Church, co-founder of the HS Athletic Hall of Fame, and past chair of the Logan County Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council. His involvement in youth sports spans decades as a volunteer coach for softball, baseball, soccer and basketball.
Two of Ellis’ notable local contributions were co-chairing the $2.5 million BHS Stadium Project and coordinating the design/construction of the BHS War Memorial. He was recently tapped as the 2022 Logan County Senior of the Year.
Pat and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 47 years with three daughters: Emily (Steve) Wieringa, Maribeth (Brett) Peters, and Sara Ellis, along with grandchildren Lydia and Lana Wieringa and Drake Peters.
Krieger graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1971, a member of National Honor Society and the boy’s golf Team. He attended The Ohio State University and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business in Administration in 1977 after switching from the pre-dental track his junior year.
Post-college graduation, he received his first job in the Auditor’s Office for the State of Ohio, conducting school and library audits for 1 1/2 years.
Deciding to pursue another career with less traveling (after putting approximately 33,000 miles on the car), Krieger became Treasurer/CFO for Bellefontaine City Schools from 1979 to 2019. There, he became the longest serving treasurer in the State of Ohio with 40 1/2 years of service.
During that time, he worked with six different superintendents and discovered funds from two embezzlements: recovering approximately $125,000.
“Along with these accomplishments, Krieger has impacted the Bellefontaine community through his involvement of nine new, additional operating levies, 14 renewal/replacement operating levies, the renovation of the current Intermediate School and removal of asbestos district-wide, the renovations and additions to the high school, and the building of new elementary and middle schools,” his nominators noted.
The honoree is a member of several organizations, including St. Patrick Catholic Church of Bellefontaine, the St. Patrick Catholic Church Finance Committee, the BHS Hall of Fame Committee, and many more. He was also involved in youth sports as a coach, statistician and announcer.
Keith and his wife, Emily, have been married 40 years. They have two sons and one daughter, Aaron (Jen) Krieger, Greg and Lindsay Krieger. Keith has been a constant support in helping his wife provide care and nursing responsibilities needed for their adult daughter, Lindsay. In addition, Keith enjoys spending time with is 2-year-old grandson, Kyle.
A 1975 BHS graduate, Marker attended The Ohio State University and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1979. Upon graduation, he moved to Texas to work for Texas Instruments. During this time, Mr. Marker received his Master’s of Business Administration from Texas Tech University.
Marker moved back to Bellefontaine in 1984 and joined the construction business with outstanding success, serving as the president and CEO of Thomas & Marker Construction (now Marker).
“Over the years, Marker has become one of the largest and most reputable construction and real estate development firms in West-Central Ohio,” his nominators noted.
“Randy’s greatest impact on Bellefontaine’s community is through his leadership role with Marker (formerly Thomas & Marker) due to creating meaningful jobs, a culture centered on the development of their associates and their safety, community engagement and an unparalleled commitment to their clients.”
Active in the community, the honoree has volunteered his time to several organizations, including the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Hilliker YMCA, Builders Exchange of Central Ohio and others. He currently serves the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Married with four adult children, Randy and his wife Teresa reside in Bellefontaine. He enjoys downhill skiing, off-road motorcycling, running, traveling, and teaching his eight grandchildren how to live life to the fullest.