CLASS OF 1963

A Michigan (Detroit and Lansing) high school English teacher, a library media specialist, an adjunct professor at the University of Detroit Mercy and Mott Community College, and a Public Relations Director for Detroit Public Schools, Alinda Dickinson Wasner totaled 37 years with Michigan public schools.

A two-time recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award at

Detroit Henry Ford High School, Wasner is also one of Detroit's foremost poets, her works having appeared in 80 print and online journals/anthologies. Her 4 books include the collections Still Burning (2015) and The Day Sky (2024) and chapbooks Kissing the Icons (2013) and When You Don't Know Who You Are (2016). A forthcoming collection, Heart Houdini, will be published in 2026 by May Apple Press.

A review of When You Don't Know Who You Are notes Wasner

.. .has long been known as one of Detroit's finest poets, and this stunning, stark and deeply felt collection shows us why. Readers can see an experienced poet at work with her craft exploring the very essence of her own being and her own unique past (M. L. Liebler).

Alinda has won numerous literary prizes including the Chicago Poetry Center juried award, a Prague Writer's fellowship in 2007, second place in Ireland's International Poetry Prize in 2012, and most recently, she was an honoree in the Arts category in Detroit's Hannan Center's "Next Chapter 2025 Awards," a celebration of the senior community's extraordinary achievements and enduring potential. Currently, the Detroit Public Library Main Branch is archiving 5,000 of her poems.

Ms. Wasner has volunteered for many years at Michigan Interfaith Action and Interfaith Impact, serving as President of each in the 1990s. Since 1968 she has been active in support of peace and justice organizations, including civil rights and women's health issues, especially the National RCRC (Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice).

MR. CHARLES "CHUCK" NEAL
CLASS OF 1970

MR. MICHAEL A. EVANS
CLASS OF 1978

After graduating from Galion High School, where he lettered in football (4 years), baseball (4 years) and basketball (1 year), Mr. Michael (Mike) Evans went on to earn his undergraduate Business Administration degree from Morehead State University (1982) and a Masters in Business Administration (1984) from the University of Toledo. Another part of his education was an internship in Mexico as part of the School for International Training (January 1980 - June 1980) with an emphasis on International Business. All of this served Evans well professionally and led to a highly successful career in business.

Evans describes himself as "retired (kind of)," having spent 40 years in "Operations/ Supply Chain Management Food Processing." Career stops along the way included:

•       Maumee Equipment Company/Thermal Transmissions Perrysburg, OH (September 1982-September 1983)

•       Campbell's Soup Company

Napoleon, OH (September 1984-September 1987)

•       Pillsbury, Division of Grand Metropolitan

Wellston, OH Plant (September 1987-September 1993

•       Bellisio Foods/CPFNA/Luiginos Inc. (September 1993 - September 2023) Oversight of Jackson, OH; Vernon, CA; Austin and Duluth, MN operations

From June 2023 to the present, Mike has served as "Advisor to CEO and Board for Bellisio Foods/CPFNA." He also serves the company as a "Food Manufacturing/ Supply Consultant." Among the honors Mike has received are the Bureau of Workman's Compensation "Best in Class Safety Processes (2006); "Processor of the Year" (Frozen Food Magazine 2010); and CP Foods Senior Chairman's Award of Excellence for Technology and Development (2021).

As a resident of Jackson, OH, Mike has taken an active role in his community, including coaching youth league football in the Pee Wee Program (2006-2010) and serving as the Vice President of the Jackson Area YMCA (2010-2024). Other roles he currently holds (and has held) are Vice President of the Jackson Area Family Activity Center Board (since August 2024), Treasurer of Jackson Sideliners (since 2005), board member of Little Ohio Heritage Conference Board - Youth Football League (since 2005) and member of the CP Scholarship Fund Committee (since 2008). In 2023 Evans received the Leadership Excellence Award from the Jackson County Economic Development Partnership.

 

Tim Weiskopf grew up in Massillon, Ohio, and graduated from Washington High School in 1971. He earned a B.A. degree from Miami University in 1975 and taught English and Psychology at GHS from 1975-2011.

While at Galion Senior High Tim served as National Honor Society adviser and co-adviser for twenty years. Along with former student and local attorney Grant Garverick, Tim was

Mock Trial adviser for twenty-five years. In addition Weiskopf was adviser to HI-Y, assisting members with running concessions at football games and Special Olympics and accompanying participants to the Youth in Government Program in Columbus.

Beyond the academic setting Weiskopf currently sits on the board of trustees for the Galion Public Library and serves as vice-president for the Galion Community Education Foundation.

Among his other interests, Weiskopf indicated playing and following tennis, taking daily walks, listening to classic R & B soul music, and appreciating the quietude of reading.

In short, he tries to follow Emerson's notion of self-reliance: "Keep with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.

As for advice to future generations of Galion students, Weiskopf suggests: