Seven will be inducted into the Salem Community High School Academic Hall of Fame this Saturday morning at nine in the school cafeteria as part of the All Class Reunion.
The inductees include Frank Brinkerhoff – Class of 1953 – widely known as Salem’s unofficial historian and was instrumental in the founding of the Marion County Genealogical Society. He spent his life in education, serving as a principal and administrator across Marion County schools. The Brinkerhoff family’s connection to Salem goes back to 1885 when J.H. Brinkerhoff arrived as superintendent of schools.
Tony Harris – Class of 1968 – leveraged a chemical engineering degree from the University of Illinois into a dynamic, 30-year career at Shell Oil. Based primarily in New Orleans, Harris worked across the Gulf Coast in both onshore and offshore exploration and production. Harris collaborated directly with steel manufacturers to design specialized, high-collapse-resistant materials to withstand extreme pressures for deep water drilling.
Dr. Archie Garces – Class of 1975 – fled from Cuba during political unrest with his family relocating to Salem where Garces entered eighth grade. His passion for science and history fueled his dream of practicing medicine which led to a practice in Family Medicine which eventually brought him back to Salem. Garces started practice in Family Medicine in 1986 and stepped back from full-time medicine in 2023.
Dr. Emily J. Sprague, Captain, US Navy – Class of 1997 – who had a four-year commitment to the Navy evolve into a distinguished nearly three-decade career earning multiple prestigious professional fellowship in the health care field. Today, Captain Sprague provides military service personnel the “Sight to Fight” at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.
Chris Owen, Colonel, Illinois State Police – Class of 1997 – who has more than two decades of service with Illinois State Police ultimately rising to Colonel and Deputy Director of the Division of Patrol. He has held operational and leadership assignments involving patrol, K-9 operations, criminal interdiction, investigations, executive protection, training, and efforts to combat violent crime.
Andrea (Fisher) Tanner, PhD., RN, NCSN, FNASN – Class of 1998 – who had a distinguished career in school nursing and nursing education. She is currently an assistant professor at Illinois State University in Bloomington where she focuses her research on student mental health and advocates for the vital role of school nurses. Tanner lead efforts that shaped the National Academy of Medicine’s Future of Nursing 2020-2030 Report and creation of the School Nursing Practice Framework, which guides school nursing practice around the world.
Ryan Burge, PhD. – Class of 2000 – who has become a leading political scientist and author. After years of dual service as a professor at Eastern Illinois University and a church pastor, he joined the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis in 2025. Despite his national profile, he remains grounded in Mt. Vernon, actively serving on the local school board and coaching youth sports alongside his wife, Jacque, and their two sons.
An induction ceremony is held every five years as part of the All School Reunion.
