After graduating from Ohio University with a degree in graphic design, Stuart held a variety of jobs in Wyoming. Among others, he worked at Yellowstone Park and in graphic design in Jackson Hole.

He moved to New Orleans in 1979, immersing himself in art, music, and theatre in a bustling apartment owned by the family who opened Preservation Hall. Working at the famed DH Holmes Department Store, he created elaborate window displays.

Stuart and his partner, Danny Toups, operated a po-boy food stand at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in the 1980s. By the 1990s, Stuart had become the Festival's leading artist. Among other things he painted backdrops for the performance stages.

Before long, Stuart was known as a Culture Bearer and became very involved with guarding, curating and promoting the weird, interesting and longstanding culture of New Orleans. During this period of time, for example, he created a series of paintings of deceased New Orleans musicians, called "Ancestors," that are shown each year at the Jazz and Heritage Festival.

In 2019, he represented the Mardi Gras culture of the Society of Sainte Anne on the group's 50th Anniversary, setting up at the Jazz Fest a display of 50 years of parades and festivities. According to Nan Parati, Art Director for the Festival, "Stuart was an outstanding artist who I always called before anyone else to design and paint anything we needed as new ideas sprang forth every year."

Stuart bought a house in the Marigny District adjacent to the French Quarter, which he converted into a popular bed & breakfast with striking trompe l'oeil designs in each room. Still known as the Auld Sweet Olive B&B, its owners carefully maintain Stuart's murals and other artistic contributions to the property. Said one person on Trip Advisor, "Don't even look at another place to stay, this is your home away from home in NOLA!!! This property is stunning and inviting."

Stuart began to work as a scenic artist for film and television productions in New Orleans. After his home was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, he relocated to New York City where he worked steadily in the field during his 14-year stay. There, he joined Local #829 of the United Scenic Artists. This guild of professional scenic artists is notoriously difficult to join because its members are the finest scenepainters in New York.

Over the course of his film and television career, he worked on I am Legend (2007), Hard Target (1993), Che (2008), and Runaway Jury (2003). He served on the production teams for a world tour by Lady Gaga, for Jean Claude Van Damme films and had a long stint on the CBS series, "Elementary."

His handiwork ranged from realistic-looking cadavers to buildings made to look 100 years old. His favorite job on a set was that of "change scenic," the artist responsible for quick fixes to a scene while the full cast and crew are standing by at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars per hour. He once was told to create the illusion of a bullet hole in a windshield for an action movie and knocked it off in a few minutes.

He shared a flat in Harlem on 127th Street, which turned out to be the setting for a famous 1958 front-stoop photograph known as "A Great Day in Harlem" with 57 of the biggest jazz musicians of the era. Stuart painted his own rendition of the photo that included himself and his roommate, Anthony Bell.

Stuart is best known in New Orleans for his role with the Secret Society of Sainte Anne, the first walking krewe at Mardi Gras after a long hiatus. He started parading in 1981 with one of its founders, Paul Poche, who began the Krewe in 1969. Since 1981, the Sainte Anne Krewe has become the most anticipated and best-known parade at Mardi Gras. It is an opulent, dramatic, historic, and glittering Venetian-style krewe with much of the style and appeal due to Stuart's active role.

His 40th year of working with Sainte Anne coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Krewe. At Mardi Gras that year, Stuart served as the Krewe captain, a role in which he designed and oversaw the construction of a solid gold parade, a lavish display of creativity.

Stuart never stopped loving his hometown. One of his favorite projects involved the play, "While God Played Sousa," written by playwright Nan Parati, and set in Galion. For the show Stuart designed and built an elaborate set, reminiscent of his childhood home on North Liberty Street, where he happily grew up.

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The facts:

Born in Scranton, PA; May 14 1966

Parents: Edward and Iris Michele

Siblings: Tony (Class of 1985) and Maria (Class of 1986)

Galion High School Graduate: 1984

Activities while a student at GHS:

•        National Honor Society (2 years)

•        Ohio Mathematics League

•        Varsity Cross Country

•        Varsity Track

Post high school education:

•        The University of Akron - B. S. Electrical Engineering

•        The University of Akron - M. S. Electrical Engineering

•        The University of Maryland - Graduate coursework in Computer Science

Civil Service:

•        National Security Agency - 2004 to the present

•        Meritorious Unit Award - 2013

•        Meritorious Civil Service Award- 2019

Rank: Defense Intelligence - Senior Level

Commercial Career: HRB Systems, PRC Systems, TRW, CRTI, Lucent Technologies - Bell Labs, UT Starcom

Memberships: Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers

Larry and Terri were recently visiting in Galion. In an email following that visit, Larry noted that for him and Terri Galion is ". special place we will always consider ‘home'" and indicated they "...honored and humbled" to be selected for inclusion in the Alumni Association Hall Of Fame in the Class of 2024.

Dr. Theresa (Hickle) Michele is currently the Director of the Office of Nonprescription Drugs (ONPD) at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), assuming this position in January 2020. Prior to joining FDA in the Division of Pulmonary and Allergy Drug Products, she spent 10 years in the pharmaceutical industry, with clinical research experience across a variety of therapeutic areas in both commercial and development stage companies. Dr. Michele is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care medicine, completing her training at Johns Hopkins University, where she currently serves on the faculty as an Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

Born in Uniontown, PA, Dr. Theresa (Hickle) Michele moved to Galion as an eighth grader when her father accepted the position as manager at the Galion JC Penney store. While at Galion, Dr. Michele was active in marching band, playing the trumpet, and in the concert band, holding the position of 1st Chair flute. As a musician, she was named to the County and State Honor Bands (1st Chair Flute). Academically, she earned membership in the local National Honor Society chapter her junior year and was awarded a National Merit Scholarship (1985) and an Ohio Academic Scholarship (1985) upon her graduation from Galion High School.

Following her graduation from GHS, Theresa attended Kent State University where she received a Kent State Honors Scholarship (1985-86) and a JC Penney 100 Super Scholars Award (1987). Theresa earned a BS in Integrated Life Sciences in the BS/MD Program.

In 1991 she earned her medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University (currently Northeast Ohio Medical University),graduating Summa Cum Laude. Among her honors there, Theresa was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha (the medical national honor society in 1989 as a junior. As a medical student, Dr. Michele was honored with numerous awards and citations for her accomplishments. At this point she began her medical career, working in various areas.

Christy was born in Morgantown, West Virginia, and moved to Galion at the age of 3 when her father took the manager's position at the JC Penney.

She attended elementary school, the middle school and high school. As a sophomore at GHS, Hickle Walker was a member of the 1991undefeated Volleyball team, which went went to the Final Four in

Dayton. Other activities included Softball, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Student Council, Class officer (junior year), and National Honor Society (treasurer). She noted "My graduating class was the first to attend OSU Mansfield--I attended my Junior and Senior years--- also I was class valedictorian."

Following high school, Christy continued her education on The Ohio State University main campus in Columbus. (As noted previously, she began college while a junior at GHS.) At OSU Christy was a Chemistry major and earned early admission into the College of Optometry and graduated with her O. D. Degree in May 2001. She then went into private practice in July 2001 and now operates Crawford County Family Eye Care, Inc., Galion.

When asked about her interests, Hickle Walker said:

"I love spending time with my husband Terry along with our 2 kids when I am not working. My son is a senior at Galion High School (CarsonWalker) and my daughter is in sixth grade at St. Joseph Catholic School in Galion (Rian Walker). Both of my children are heavily involved in sports. When we have free time our family loves to spend time together at Candlewood Lake (along with grandparents, siblings, cousins, etc.).

Our family belongs to the St. Joseph Parish in Galion. I love to cook and also enjoy spending time with friends (when I get a chance!). And I absolutely love to watch college football!! - Go Bucks!!!"

Dr. Christy Hickle Walker is a great example for Galion students to emulate. She excelled while at GHS, returned home from college, and has made an impact helping Galion and the citizens of the surrounding area.