- Dr. Ernest Little, JHS Class of 1907
- Major General Daniel Doubleday, JHS Class of 1923
- Richard McGuire, JHS Class of 1945
- Barbara McMartin, JHS Class of 1949
- G. Wallace Hart, JHS Class of 1978
Dr. Ernest Little (deceased), JHS Class of 1907
Dr. Ernest Little graduated from the University of Rochester and Columbia University and did graduate work at the University of Graz in Austria, earning a B.S., M.A., M.S., and Ph.D., also receiving honorary degrees from Rutgers University, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Temple University.
He began teaching in 1911 and became a professor of chemistry, physics, and toxicology in 1918. In 1926 he was appointed acting Dean of the New Jersey College of Pharmacy. Following the incorporation of the college with Rutgers University in 1927, he continued to serve as Dean until 1946. During his tenure as Dean he was instrumental in the expansion and renovation of the college facilities, building up the faculty, starting a research program, and expanding the two-year pharmacy program to a four- year program in order to meet new requirements for accreditation.
Dr. Little served as President of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 1934. The AACP appointed him to the Board of Directors of the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education during the years 1942-1948, where he held the office of Vice-President from 1946-1947. In addition, he held a top spot in the revision committee of the United States Pharmacopeia from 1930-1960. Dr. Little was elected President of the American Pharmaceutical Association in a nationwide mail poll of 15,000 Association members in 1948, and was chosen as the Remington Medalist in 1949.
Major General Daniel Doubleday (deceased), JHS Class of 1923
Major General Daniel C. Doubleday graduated from the US Military Academy in 1929 and then completed basic and advanced flying training and the Air Corps’ communications course. In 1943 he served in the United Kingdom and North Africa on a technical mission, spearheading the introduction of VHF communications. In 1949 he served as Deputy Air Communications Officer for the Far East Forces and then as an observer with the Atomic Bomb Investigation Mission in Japan. He graduated from the National War College in 1950, spent a year with the Armed Forces Special Weapons Project, and joined the Airways and Air Communications Service in 1954, serving as first commander of the European-African-Middle Eastern AACS Area, then as commander of the worldwide organization.
Doubleday earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for his development work and test flying at Wright Field, including the first use of command radio sets in fighter aircraft, the first instrument landing systems, aircraft bombing radars, automatic radio compass and many other forerunners of today’s equipment. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his WWII work on the Air Staff and command of the Communications Service, and was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his WWII service in collaboration with members of the Royal Air Force. Doubleday was posthumously inducted into the United States Air Force Communications & Information Hall of Fame in 2003.
Richard McGuire, JHS Class of 1945
Richard McGuire earned a BS in Marine Engineering from the United States Merchant Marine Academy while commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Naval Reserve, and received his engineering license from the US Coast Guard in 1949. He served as Asst. Engineer in USNT Mission Buena Ventura and USNT Caney until the year 1951, when he began his career in education. He continued his involvement in the naval reserve until the age of 60, retiring with the rank of Captain. Earning an MA from Columbia University and an MST from Union College, McGuire taught science at Canajoharie High School and physics at Draper and Scotia-Glenville, and enjoyed many successful years as a varsity football coach. In 1971 he was appointed Scotia-Glenville High School principal, a position he held for nineteen years. Following retirement, he was recruited to serve as Gloversville’s interim principal and Mohonasen’s interim athletic director, and then appointed Interim Superintendent of the Greater Johnstown School District.
During his long and dedicated career, McGuire received the Schools of Excellence Leadership Award; the NYS PTA Distinguished Service Award; the Distinguished American Award from the Capital District Chapter of the Football Hall of Fame; the James E. Allen Jr. Memorial Award for Outstanding Principal in NYS; and the NYS Athletic Administrators Distinguished Service Award.
He is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Foothills Group Homes; a current member of the Board of Directors of Wells House; volunteers with the Meals on Wheels program; has served as Treasurer for the NYS Federation Basketball Tournament and President of the NYS Public High School Athletic Association; and was a member of the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education for six years, serving as president for two.
Barbara McMartin (deceased), JHS Class of 1949
Valedictorian of the JHS class of 1949, Ms. McMartin graduated cum laude in mathematics from Vassar College in 1964; received a Master’s degree from Hunter College; and earned a PhD in mathematics from the Graduate Division of City University of New York.
In 1972 she became involved with the environmental movement in the Adirondacks, leading to her service as board member and officer of the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Association for the Protection of the Adirondacks. Between 1974 and 2003 Ms. McMartin was a member of two High Peaks Advisory Committees and chairwoman of the Forest Preserve Advisory Committee, where she helped to write many Department of Environmental Conservation policies. During this time she was also a volunteer curator for the Caroga Lake Historical Museum and the Fulton County Museum; wrote a series of pamphlets and citizen’s guides for the Adirondack Park Agency; and chaired the Adirondack Park Centennial at the request of Governor Mario Cuomo.
Ms. McMartin was the prolific author of twenty-five guidebooks and histories, including “The Great Forest of the Adirondacks”, “The Privately Owned Adirondacks”, and the popular eleven book “Discover the Adirondacks” regional series. She also published many magazine articles, held photograph exhibits of her work and gave numerous guest lectures. The New York Daily News once dubbed her “the Rand McNally of upstate New York” for her knowledge of the Adirondacks.
G. Wallace Hart, JHS Class of 1978
Wally Hart ran for a seat on the Greater Johnstown School District Board of Education while a high school senior, and earned the distinction of becoming the youngest ever GJSD board of education member when he was elected a year later at the age of 19. During his term of office, he twice served as Board President.
Following graduation Hart attended Fulton Montgomery Community College and worked in local banks. In 1987 he left the area to work for an interior design company in New York City, and traveled around the world to purchase items for a variety of projects. Returning in the early 1990’s, he established a successful business venture in downtown Johnstown known as Wally’s Diner. Mr. Hart currently serves as President of the Fulton County Regional Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
A dedicated and exemplary volunteer, Hart has served in such capacities as a founding board member and president of Literacy Volunteers; member and officer of the Johnstown Public Library Board of Trustees; co-founder, past president and treasurer of the Johnstown Business & Professional Association; board member of the Fulton Montgomery Community College Foundation; board member and treasurer of the Foothills Youth Services; founding member and volunteer for First Night Fulton County; board member and campaign chair for the Glove Theater; and board member of the Fulton County Economic Development Corp.