2016 Distinguished Alumni Award goes to Plymale
FT. GAY, W.Va. — The Fort Gay High School Alumni Association has selected Richard Plymale as recipient of its 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award. Plymale, a 1947 graduate, is being honored for his commitment to community service and career achievement. The award will be presented to him on September 2, 2016, at the annual alumni banquet in Louisa, KY.
Mr. Plymale resigned in June after serving 22 years on the board of the Fort Gay HS Alumni Association, including the past 20 years as its president. Under his leadership, the Fort Gay HS Memorial Scholarship was established through Marshall University Foundation Inc. Recipients of this academic scholarship are graduates of Tolsia High School, Fort Gay, WV. “We wanted to give back to our community out of gratitude to the faculty who provided us with a great education and passed along a strong work ethic”, said Plymale, a 1960 graduate of Marshall University.
Plymale was instrumental in the endowment’s growth to its current level, which includes a corpus of nearly $350,000, and the sharing of $12,000 annually by four Marshall
students, one in each undergraduate class. The program has awarded 57 annual scholarships to 24 Fort Gay scholars since it began in 1999.
“The scholarship program is successful largely because of Richard’s belief in our
community’s greatest resource, our youth”, said Gary Huff, Alumni President. “His contribution to the endowment and his tireless efforts on behalf of our alumni resulted in his unanimous appointment as an emeritus member”, Huff added.
In 1960, Plymale also began a successful 33-year career with Ortho Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. After joining Ortho, he completed two years of study at the CMR Institute in Roanoke, VA, receiving specialized training for pharmaceutical professionals. Later in his career, he managed sales in Kentucky and coordinated marketing in the public sector as well as state and federal health programs in over 10 states. He taught professional and ethical selling skills to new sales reps all across America. He also served on the Council of Southern Mountains and Mountain Maternal Health League, two commissions that helped meet the health needs of Appalachian women and children.
He was recognized over 40 times during his career with sales and marketing achievement awards, culminating in his receiving the Distinguished Contribution Award, the company’s most prestigious sales and marketing honor.
Mr. Plymale served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, and he is a Mason, Shriner, and member of the Royal Order of Jesters. He has also been a deacon, youth sponsor, and supervisor for building and grounds at his home church, Hill N Dale Christian Church in Lexington, KY.
Richard married his wife, Jean, in August 1950. He is the father of two children, three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
The alumni banquet will be held on September 2, 2016, at the First Baptist Church, 301 W. Pike St., Louisa, KY. There will be a reception at 5:00 pm followed by dinner at 6 pm. It is open to all past graduates of Fort Gay HS and their guests. The banquet will also honor new inductees to the FGHS Sports Hall of Fame, as well as the graduating class of 1966. Tickets can be purchased in advance by contacting Mrs. Rita Pelfrey, Banquet Chairwoman, at r.pelfrey@yahoo.com or by dialing, 304 525-5563.
