On February 24, 1987, Charlotte Ford Spillane, Assistant Principal of Toms River High School South, obtained approval of the Board of Education of the Toms River Regional Schools to found a Toms River Schools Hall of Fame to honor those who had attended or graduated from the public schools of Toms River and who had made significant contributions to the cause of humanity in their various fields of endeavor.

     A Board of Trustees was formed with thirteen members, each of whom had either graduated from Toms River or had been employed in the school system for a long period of time.  Responsibilities of the trustees  would be to research possible candidates, to manage financial support, to collect memorabilia and other gifts, and to organize a display of the honorees.

The honorees are listed by decade of graduation.

1880  1890  1900  1910  1920  1930  1940  1950  1960  1970

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF CANDIDATES

1.  A candidate will begin to be considered for induction twenty years after leaving school.

2.  A candidate must have attended one of the public schools in a town now included in the Toms River Regional School District.

3.  A candidate shall have made a significant contribution to the cause of humanity, improved the quality of life, or achieved outstanding recognition in his or her career or education.

Honorary Award

     In 1990 the Hall of Fame created a plaque on which a Hall of Fame medallion was mounted.  The plaque with an appropriate inscription was given to two who sanctioned, championed, and facilitated the goals of the Toms River Schools Hall of Fame.

Albert J. Dietrich

John R. Garrabrandt

     In 1991 the Hall of Fame Distinguished Honorary Medallion was awarded for the first time.  The medallion, which is mounted on a plaque, was created to honor those who did not attend the Toms River Schools but who contributed in an exemplary was to the ideals and educational philosophy of our school system.

Last year attended or Graduation

Honorees

Year Inducted

2000

Dr. Russell C. Cattley

Distinguished Honorary Medallion