OXFORD – Five individuals who graduated from Oxford High School will be honored by the school district for their outstanding work and commitment towards improving their communities.
The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Oxford High School Auditorium, and members of the community are invited to attend.
“Mary C. Weidman, Oxford graduate class of 1962, is well remembered by her classmates for her activity in band, chorus, student government, the national honor society, and for serving as editor of the 1962 Oxford Academy yearbook,” said Oxford Hall of Distinction Committee Chairman Carl Koenig. Koenig said Weidman will be one of the honorees at the ceremony because of the good she has done throughout her career, which included compassionate service to vulnerable but developing populations, and even breaking a social glass ceiling.
According to Koenig, in 1994 when Weidman was elected to the office of Chenango County Clerk, she became the first female and Democrat to be elected to a Chenango County office, and is now the longest serving clerk in the county’s history.
“She remains in that office today with more than 50 years of public service and counting,” he said.
Koenig said the next honoree, Barbara H. Tompkins, was a graduate from the class of 1966, and has served Chenango County dutifully as a teacher, principal, and volunteer.
“During her tenure as principal, Barb made outstanding contributions to all the good work being done in the primary building, and led both the school district and the primary school in literacy programs,” said Koenig.
He said untold numbers of students helped across Tompkin’s long career are now better readers, better learners, and more gracious community members because of her work and example.
“Her gifts are providing a lifetime of benefit to all who know her,” said Koenig.
Lieutenant Colonel John Jamieson Bancroft Jr, class of 1992 will be honored at the ceremony as well for his outstanding service in the United State Marine Corps.
“Bancroft’s medaled service to his country started at the United States Naval Academy where he majored in history and earned a commission in the US Marine Corps,” said Koenig.
He said Bancroft Jr. then received infantry and flight training, and was deployed to Okinawa, Korea, Guam, Kuwait, and Iraq.
“His ongoing specialized training led to activation in four tours of duty in Iraq and one in Afghanistan,” said Koenig.
According to Koenig, Bancroft Jr, led his company on seven month deployment to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, and later deployed to Afghanistan in his capacity as an Operations Research Analyst.
