Rogers’ Walk of Fame honors another fab five
Three educators, a war veteran and a deceased nurse will be inducted into Rogers High School’s Walk of Fame on Friday. The five newest members – Karrie Docterman-King, Mark M. Kondo Jr., Robert Poffenroth, Ray E. Roestel and the late June (Gagliardi) Witter – will join 99 other graduates whose portraits are hanging in the halls of their high school.
The induction ceremony will be at 9:45 a.m. as part of the homecoming festivities, which also includes a football game between Rogers and Gonzaga Prep at Albi Stadium at 8:30 p.m. Friday.
The inductees will be introduced at an assembly where they will be given certificates and keys to the Rogers Pirates treasure chest. The Walk of Fame began in 1993 and has been a success over the years.
“It not only honors Rogers’ graduates, it also has given the kids good role models to emulate,” said Sharon Travis, co-founder and coordinator of the Walk of Fame. “So many good people have come out of Rogers.”
Travis, a retired teacher with 39 years of experience at Rogers, also sits on the alumni board that selects hall members. Docterman-King, Kondo and Poffenroth excelled in education. Roestel is a decorated World War II and Vietnam War veteran, and Witter, who died in 1995, dedicated her life to the medical field.
“I really appreciate the people who have gone through all the work,” said Kondo, whose brother Michael Kondo was among the first class of inductees. “It’s an honor to be recognized from people for making a positive contribution to young people.”
Here’s a look at the inductees:
Karrie Docterman-King: A 1990 graduate, Docterman-King is an Associated Student Body adviser at Rogers. She also serves as the school’s Youth Empowerment adviser.
Docterman-King gives her time to the Second Harvest Food Bank, Northeast Community Center, Guilds’ School, Make a Wish Foundation, Easter Seals, Blood Center, Ronald McDonald House and the March of Dimes Foundation. Docterman-King was the Spokane Lilac Association 2003 Teacher of the Year.
Mark M. Kondo Jr.: Named to the Who’s Who Among American Teachers in the Othello School District in 2002, Kondo is a high school guidance counselor at Othello High. He has been at there for more than 12 years.
He graduated from Rogers in 1968, where he wrestled and was the school’s first state champion. Over the years, Kondo has coached wrestling, football, softball and gymnastics. He was named Greater Spokane League coach of the year as a softball coach in 1988. Kondo also has lent his time to the Spokane Japanese American Citizens League, American Cancer Society, Spokane YMCA and the Nishinomiya Sister City Society.
Robert Poffenroth: A 1945 Rogers graduate, Poffenroth taught for 25 years at Rogers and 30 years in his career. He also coached football, basketball, track and field and softball at Rogers. He coached AAU teams and has run summer camps for underprivileged children. Other community involvement includes Elks, Eagles and the Retired Teachers Association.
Poffenroth spent 1½ years in the South Pacific with the U.S. Navy.
Ray E. Roestel: A 1940 Rogers graduate, Roestel served 28 years as an Air Force pilot, retiring in 1971 as a lieutenant colonel. Roestel received awards from the governments of Brazil and the Republic of South Vietnam, including the Medal of Honor from South Vietnam. He also received 27 U.S. awards and decorations from the Army Air Corps, Army and Air Force.
Roestel serves on active duty as a regular, reserve and Air National Guard officer.
June (Gagliardi) Witter: Witter graduated from Rogers in 1949. She died of cancer in 1995. Gagliardi was a registered nurse at Sacred Heart Medical Center for 33 years. She was promoted to emergency department head nurse and nurse manager.
Witter was a volunteer and officer of many medical organizations including the Emergency Department Nurses Association, Spokane Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Center, House of Charity and the SHMC Service League.
She was honored by the House of Charity for her efforts in co-founding the organization’s on-site medical clinic in 1976. A family room in the Sacred Heart ER is dedicated to Witter.
Stan Witter will accept the award for his late wife.