BY HELEN B. FOSTER, Correspondent

The Mountain View Alumni Association held its Eighth Annual Distinguished Alumni Dinner Saturday which honored four graduates.

From the Harford High School Class of 1950 was Ray Wilmarth, and fromMountain Viewwas Gerald Scott (1970); Rep. Sandra Major (1972); and Lt. Col. David Palmer (1973).

The event was held at the Harford Fire Hall while the high school’s vocal and jazz band students provided musical accompanment.

Alumni Association President Donna Williams presided and vice-president Jim Zick said this year there two scholarships were awarded.

Superintendent Andrew Chichura introduced the student presenters who introduced each honoree. Mikaela Phillips did the honors for Palmer; Joel Madas for Major; Alexandra Scott for Scott and Molly Williams for Wilmarth.
Rep. Major was the first called and it was mentioned she was “like grandfather, like granddaughter” as Major’s grandfather Harold Wescott also served in the General Assembly where Major has served since 1995. Prior to her election as Susquehanna County Treasurer, she was district assistant to the late Rep. Carmel Sirianni. Major is serving her third term as Republican Caucus Chairwoman.

She said the alumni honor was a humbling experience. “I am usually in the position to honor others,” she said.

Major recognized her husband who keeps things running at home while she travels toHarrisburg, her mother and other family members for all the support she has received over the years.

She and all the honorees received a desk clock from the alumni association and citations from Congressman Tom Marino, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, Sen. Lisa Baker and theCountyCommissioners.

Wilmarth, the only honoree who graduated from HarfordHigh School, has worn many hats since he served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Most position have involved the business end of where ever he was working; County National Bank, Master’s Concrete, Mt. View School District, store owner and since 1992 as  Chairman of the Board of the Endless Mountains Health Systems.
He is actively involved in the Montrose Rotary Club. Wilmarth and his wife, Ruth have six children with most family members as well as Ray’s sister Mary Jane Taylor in attendance.
Lt. Col. David Palmer attended many elementary schools while his father was in the service before coming back home to graduate fromMountain ViewHigh School. David followed his father by enlisting in the U.S. Air Force.

He is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom as well as many other deployments.

As an admissions liaison officer for the U.S. Air Force Academy and an assistant professor of aerospace studies he is responsible for recruiting, educating, mentoring and training students from among 13 universities and colleges in northeast Pennsylvania, as well as 40 high schools.
His family members attending the dinner were his parents, John and Bernice; his wife Luann and two sons, who are also veterans; his brother and those he considers brother and sister.

Gerald Scott thanked the alumni association for the honor they were bestowing on him. “It is quite an honor to be recognized by the people you grow up with,” Scott said.

The honoree called his wife the catalyst in his life as she is the one who sent him back to school. He started atKeystoneJunior Collegewith an associate’s degree and completed his education at theUniversityofVirginiawhere he was awarded a Ph.D.

His career began at Alcoa as a senior scientist. He has traveled extensively on business toAsia,Europe,Australia, North andSouth Americaand holds multipleU.S.and international patents. He and his wife are the parents of three children, Alexander, Philip and Karl.

Officers of the Alumni Association besides Williams and Zick, are Dava (Lewis) Rinehart-Cowan who serves as secretary and Diane (Lynch) Witko the treasurer.