Stanton “Po” Cope, better known worldwide as “Captain Stan, the Mosquito Man,” rose from Huntington ballfields to international prominence as one of the foremost experts on mosquitoes and vector-borne diseases. A 1972 Huntington North graduate, Cope excelled as both pitcher and student before earning a biology degree at Swarthmore, a master’s in entomology at Delaware, and a doctorate in public health at UCLA—where he studied a new malaria-carrying mosquito species. Commissioned in the Navy, he served 23 years, rising to captain and directing the Armed Forces Pest Management Board with a $10 million research program. Decorated with 24 medals, he later led technical services at Terminix, Atlantic Paste and Glue, and Rose Pest Solutions. Author of 80 papers and president of the American Mosquito Control Association during the Zika crisis, Cope remains a respected global authority and educator.

Marine Private Russell McCurdy was on board the USS Arizona when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Just 24, he had enlisted earlier that year rather than face the draft. Assigned as orderly to Admiral Isaac Kidd, McCurdy was climbing to his battle station when a bomb ignited the Arizona’s ammunition, splitting the ship apart. Burned while escaping down a rope ladder, he swam to Ford Island and survived — one of only 15 Marines from the ship to do so. McCurdy later fought in the Pacific, including the brutal battle of Peleliu, before rising through the ranks and retiring as a Marine lieutenant colonel in 1965. Settling with his wife in Huntington County, he spent his later years sharing his story as a tribute to fallen comrades. McCurdy died in 2005, urging Americans always to remain vigilant.

Dr. Helen Meredith Kidd McIlvaine was a pioneering physician whose career marked a milestone for women in medicine. Raised in Wabash, she was inspired by her educated sisters, including Rose, also a physician. Helen earned her medical degree from Woman’s Medical College in Chicago in 1895, the same year she married railroad engineer Thomas McIlvaine. She soon became Huntington’s first full-time female doctor, quickly gaining respect for her intelligence, compassion, and determination. In 1902, she was appointed resident physician at Huntington’s first hospital, later becoming its director and establishing a nursing school to expand opportunities for women. In 1910, she transformed a Frederick Street mansion into a modern hospital. Tragically, complications during surgery in 1913 ended her life at just 41. Though her career was brief, Helen’s leadership, vision, and groundbreaking role continue to inspire future generations of women in medicine.

Steve Overmyer’s journey from small-town Andrews to the nation’s largest media market is a story of talent, perseverance, and opportunity. A 1990 Huntington North graduate, he found his passion for broadcasting on the school’s radio station, WVSH. After earning a journalism degree from Vincennes University in 1994, he began in radio but a last-minute offer from a Florida TV station shifted his path to television. Overmyer quickly excelled, winning Florida AP Sportscaster of the Year in 1995 and later anchoring in Phoenix. In 2001, he joined CNN-Sports Illustrated, gaining national exposure, then moved to New York in 2006 with SportsNet, covering Super Bowls, a World Series, and Derek Jeter’s finale. Since 2011, he’s been with CBS New York, winning an Emmy in 2018. Deeply community-minded, he mentors Huntington North students and proudly honors his local roots.

For more than four decades, Rose Souers Wall has been a cornerstone of Huntington County’s civic life. A 1976 Huntington North graduate, she built a reputation for servant leadership, earning recognition as the Herald-Press Citizen of the Year in 2010 and Heritage Days Chief of the Flint Springs Tribe in 2011. With her husband, Tom, she has celebrated 50 years of marriage, raised four children, and embraced 16 grandchildren. Their family farm doubles as a teaching site for kindergartners and home to state-champion Haflinger horses. Rose also operated Wehr Into Flowers, serving families at life’s milestones. Her volunteer record spans the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, United Way, Relay for Life, Main Street, and numerous festivals. Known for her approachable, mentoring style, she rarely turns down a request. Rose’s efforts have strengthened Huntington and proven an example for steady, selfless service for coming generations.

Robert E. “Bob” Wilson is remembered for a life defined by integrity, generosity, and service. Born in Terre Haute, he began with a small grocery in Muncie, quickly realizing that relationships, not transactions, defined success. By the 1960s he had expanded to eight supermarkets across Indiana, earning trust as a fair and dependable businessman. Later, he founded Bob’s Finer Foods in Huntington, a store that reflected his values of respect and service. Beyond business, Wilson was a Mason, Shriner, and community supporter who quietly funded youth programs, nonprofits, and local causes. He even earned a private pilot’s license. Passionate about the arts, his longtime support of Huntington University led to the Robert E. Wilson Gallery. Though accomplished, he valued family most, especially his daughter, Nancy. Wilson, who died in 2018, was a lifelong learner who leaves an enduring legacy that lives on in the communities he strengthened through kindness and generosity.

Charles “Chuck” Wohlford’s legendary basketball statistics included a “team worth” for each player. Wohlford’s worth to Huntington County was immeasurable. A graduate of Roanoke High School and Huntington College, he went on to teach history and government for 42 years, retiring from Huntington North in 1993. Beloved for his engaging classes that began with current events and Cubs talk, he also served as ticket manager, cross-country coach, and longtime track meet clerk. His greatest passion, though, was statistics. For more than 40 years, he meticulously recorded basketball stats by hand, producing annual stat books and eventually authoring “The History of Huntington County Basketball.” Beyond the classroom and court, he helped develop Forks of the Wabash Historical Park, served in civic organizations, and was named 1998 Citizen of the Year. Wohlford attended 44 consecutive state finals before his death in 2000.

Gilbert “Gib” Young has spent more than 25 years captivating audiences nationwide as Theodore Roosevelt, a role inspired by his striking resemblance to the 26th president and his love of history. A Lafayette native, Young first portrayed Roosevelt at a school event and soon immersed himself in the president’s life, studying his voice, mannerisms, and wardrobe. He served aboard destroyers as a Navy signalman and moved to Huntington with his wife, Sandy, after his military discharge. Retired after 38 years as a State Farm agent, Young has performed at venues from classrooms to the Smithsonian and the White House, often alongside top Lincoln interpreter Fritz Klein. His work has taken him annually to Mount Rushmore, where he portrayed Roosevelt in his later years. Beyond T.R., Young is active in Civil War history, vintage baseball, and numerous historical organizations.

Louis Zahm’s life was rooted in Huntington, where his family’s legendary Erie Department Store became both his vocation and his legacy. Born in 1929 in Fort Wayne, Louis moved to Huntington at age five and dreamed of becoming a doctor. That dream changed when his father died unexpectedly in 1947, and Louis, just 18, left school to help his mother run the family business. From then on, he dedicated himself to service through the Erie, a store that included more than 40,000 items and the unofficial motto “If the Erie doesn’t have it, you don’t need it.” He married Kathryn Annan in 1951, had nine children, and briefly served in the Korean War. Beyond the store, he contributed as a photographer, civic leader, and church volunteer. Zahm died in 1992, but the impact of his commitment to faith, family, and community is still woven into the everyday life of Huntington.