Induction Class of 2025

Class of 2011

During his Finneytown High School years, Donavon Clark's personality made him a big man on campus with his infectious smile, bellowing laugh, and positive demeanor. And, by the way, Donavon (Class of 2011) was also physically the biggest man on campus. Standing at six feet-four inches tall and more than 300 pounds, Donavon was a celebrated Finneytown football player and record holder in the shot put.

As an offensive lineman, he was unusually agile for a big man. He couldn't be missed on the field, and his size, quickness, and adroit technique allowed him to blow open big holes in the opposing team's defense. Watching from the hometown bleachers, Finneytown fans could sense this Wildcat was going places. 

And they were right. His football seasons at Finneytown culminated in first-team All-Ohio honors. Ranked among the best high school linemen in the nation, Donavon and his family evaluated 21 full-ride scholarships to play college football.  

He picked the powerhouse Michigan State University (MSU) Spartans.

Finneytown folks eagerly checked the national TV listings for MSU, which had one of the top college football programs. As it turned out, the Finneytown kid would be in the thick of some of the most thrilling college games of the 2013-2015 era.

During his sophomore year, Donavon played all 14 games, including a career-high five "knockdowns" (dominating a defensive lineman) against South Florida. The Spartans went 13-1 overall during that 2013 season, and beat Ohio State University (OSU) in the Big Ten Championship. In the Rose Bowl, the Spartans beat Stanford 24-20 in a thriller.  "I feel like there's a presence on the field," Clark told the media at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California. "When I first walked on the field, I kind of took a step back and just looked up and thought 'Here I am, a kid from a small Division IV school (Finneytown), and now I am in Pasadena.'"

Donavon proved equally durable during the 2014 season when the Spartans went 11-2 overall and 7-1 in the Big Ten. He started all 13 games, collected a career-best 67.5 knockdowns, and ranked second on the team with 17.5 dominators (winning individual matchups). Better yet, he played best in big games. In the season finale against Penn State, he tallied a season-best 9.5 knockdowns. On January 1, 2015, in one of the most thrilling Cotton Bowl games ever, MSU rallied from 20 points behind to defeat Baylor 42-41. In the game, Donavon ranked second on the team with 7.5 knockdowns. The 2015 season is considered one of MSU's most thrilling because the Spartans beat OSU in Columbus, Ohio, and won the Big Ten Championship. After losing to Alabama in the College Football Playoffs, the Spartans finished 12-2. Donavon started all 14 games and was named third-team All-Big Ten.

Perhaps the personal greatest thrill of Donavon's college football career was playing week after week in front of his mother, Jacque Clark, who watched from a wheelchair while battling multiple sclerosis. "I learned (from Jacque) that whatever situation you are put in, you've just to keep pushing," Donavon told the media in 2015.

Then the National Football League came calling. Donavon was drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. Unfortunately, his pro career was cut short by serious knee injuries, and he was forced to retire. Donavon earned a degree in sociology at MSU. Today, he is building a career in sales and works for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. He and his wife, Elissa, have one daughter, Adrianna.

His work ethic took him on a storied football career and subsequent life in corporate sales. And, he will forever view Finneytown as critical to his journey. "Finneytown taught me a lot about community, mental toughness, perseverance, but most importantly, family," he said. "Finneytown has always held a special place in my heart. I'm a person who has always had the mindset of never forgetting where you come from. We were and still are a small school, but at the time, I didn't care about that because it always felt like home. I grew up with a lot of different people, and that definitely prepared me for life after high school."

While Donavon excelled in memorable college football games, the big man on campus treasures his Finneytown gridiron experiences. "We finally beat Indian Hill in my senior year," he said. "I remember after the game I broke down in tears."

Class of 1974

A Wildcat Leading on the World Stage

As CEO of food giant Nestlé USA from 2006 to 2012, Brad Alford would meet with political leaders in Washington D.C. to discuss industry and regulatory issues. Leaving the White House after one committee meeting, he encountered a tall man who looked to be his age with graying curly hair and a broad smile.

It was Jeff Immelt, CEO of General Electric Company. Brad and Jeff had grown up together in Finneytown and both graduated in 1974 from the high school. “We both looked at each other, immediately recognized one another and simultaneously said ‘What are you doing here?’ ’’ Brad recalled. “What are the odds of two people from a small, public Midwestern high school randomly running into each other thirty something years after high school at the White House?”

Given the success stories within Finneytown High School (FHS) graduation classes over the decades, it was a perfectly logical encounter. A new inductee to the FHS Hall of Fame, Brad joins a roll call of Wildcat graduates who have made significant contributions to society across different professions.

Now 69 years old, Brad said his years growing up in Finneytown were typical of his schoolmates. “I started at Cottonwood Elementary, then went to Whitaker Elementary, then off to the high school,” said Brad, whose father, Jack Alford, created the Alford Motors, a venerable used car dealership on Vine Street.  “Like so many of us at that time, I went to the different neighborhood public schools in Finneytown from the beginning to the end, and it was a wonderful experience. Then, my business career took me to places all over the world. But when I go back to Finneytown, the memories come pouring back. It is a small and special place, and it feels like home.”

After graduating from FHS as a National Honor Society member, Brad completed undergraduate studies at Miami University, and then earned an MBA from Indiana University. In 1980, he took a marketing job at The Carnation Company (best known for its evaporated milk brand) in southern California, which was acquired in 1985 by Nestlé, the food conglomerate headquartered in Switzerland.

Brad stayed with Nestlé for his entire career, including two leadership assignments in Australia, and moved up the food chain to ultimately head the company’s largest division, Nestlé USA. During his six-year tenure as that division’s CEO, its revenues grew from $7.5 billion to $12.7 billion. Also, during Brad’s years as a company leader, Fortune magazine recognized Nestlé year after year as one of the world’s most admired food companies.

He attributes Nestlé USA’s outstanding reputation to the investments made in the company’s people. He urged Nestlé’s future leaders to think globally and become students of the world. “Don’t sit behind your desk,” he told MBA students during a speaking engagement at IU. “Get out and meet people. Always do what is in the best interest of the group. Be yourself, and perform to win. A successful business culture has to include a winning attitude.”

Brad’s intense focus on employee development during his long tenor at Nestlé correlates to his classroom experiences at FHS. He cites a few high school teachers – including James Powell and David Bean – as strong positive influences. “These teachers were typical of the school’s environment,” he said. “Today, I don’t actually remember much about the classes they taught, but I remember how those two teachers were really invested in us. I got an excellent education in Finneytown because it was a place where the teachers really cared about the kids.”

Given the demands and travel involved in Brad’s career, he was not connected to Finneytown for many years. Recently, that has changed. “Well, there was a little recruitment on the part of Jeff (Immelt) in my getting involved again with the school,” said Brad, who resides in southern California. “Going to my 50th class reunion (in 2024), and seeing all of the guys and girls these many years later was just a blast. My wife commented how we are all such good friends. And it’s true. We were all in a nurturing community together.”

Class of 2000

A standout in three sports, Jason Gardner graduated in 2000 from FHS as one of the school’s most celebrated athletes. Naturally, he cherishes those years. And yet, the FHS experiences that most built his character involved adversity as much as athletic prowess. 

For starters, the 1998 FHS football team, which Jason captained, lost every game – despite averaging more than 30 points a game. For many, that would be a career ender. Not for Jason and his teammates. “We couldn’t get over the hump,” he said. “Tough loss after tough loss, and the team continued to show up. We kept fighting, and we learned how to battle through adversity. There were about 45 players on that team, and some very successful people who came out of that experience. I have told this story a bunch of times throughout my coaching career.”

It became part of a tale of two sports seasons. Because after that football season ended, Jason helped to lead the FHS basketball team through the memorable 1998-1999 campaign, winning sectional and district titles while finishing 18-7 as the regional runner-up. “We went to the ‘Elite 8’ that season,” recalled Jason, who earned first-team, all-city honors in basketball during his junior and senior years. “We were a great team. We trusted and played for each other. We hung out outside of basketball. We had fun!”

These were heady days for tiny Finneytown. Wherever the Wildcats played, the community showed up in droves  – whether on the school’s home court, or later in the season during tournament play at University of Dayton and Wright State University. “The most rewarding part was seeing our community come together,” said Jason, who grew up on Hempstead Drive, a short stroll from the high school. “The crowd sizes that season were unbelievable. What a great time to see everyone happy and enjoying the success.”

That winning spirit continued into the next fall when the 1999 football team, again captained by Jason, staged a comeback, going 6-4 for the first winning football season at FHS in a quarter century. Then, after a heart-breaking loss, the team failed to reach the playoffs. Again, adversity led to personal growth. “The ability to persevere and work through adversity was one of the greatest experiences we could have to prepare us for the real world,” Jason said.

Jason’s resume of athletic awards for football, basketball, and baseball during his FHS years runs as long as Winton Road. Among his achievements: A marksman from the three-point line, he set a school record for three-point scores in a FHS basketball season with 66. He also earned numerous academic and athletic awards from the Cincinnati Hills League (CHL).

After graduation, Jason played sports for two years at Mount St. Joseph University, but soon he felt the call to coach. “I made my way back to Finneytown and coached basketball and football from 2002 to 2008,” he said.  Among the boys that Jason coached, he grew close to Chevis Jackson, an outstanding running back on the football team.  Then, on April 4, 2006, the unthinkable happened when Chevis was killed.  “I wanted to help give Chevis a great experience that I was fortunate to have growing up,” Jason said. “When his life was cut short, it definitely was a tough time in my life, but I realized I was given that opportunity to spend time with him for a reason. He (Chevis) helped me become a better version of myself.”

After graduating college in 2004, Jason began his career at Gold Medal Products in Evendale, where he is a sales manager.  He considers his greatest achievement to be his marriage to his high school sweetheart, Ashley, and in raising their three kids. He coaches 3rd and 6th grade boys at Kings Local School District. “I spend a lot of time working with and developing our youth,” he said. “It is definitely a very enjoyable time right now to coach and spend time with my kids, and their friends and families.”

And at the same time, Jason’s connection to Finneytown remains very strong, including his efforts with the Mark Hawkins Alumni Basketball Game and involvement in the Finneytown Alumni Network. “Being born and raised in Finneytown is truly special to me,” he said. “I love everything about the upbringing I had in our community. I am thankful for the upbringing I experienced, and I can’t imagine there was a better place to do that – than Finneytown!”

All-Star Educator

Fresh out of Bowling Green State University, Rick Canter first stepped onto the conductor podium at Finneytown High School (FHS) in the fall of 2000. And as Bob Dylan once sang, “The times, they are a-changin.”

A new era was unfolding. Finneytown band students, grades five through 12, soon learned the joy of playing like a well-oiled machine, while also understanding that it requires discipline, hours of hard work, and, if necessary, a fierce competitive spirit under pressure.   

A college drum major and outstanding horn player, the young Canter pulled into Finneytown an accomplished musician. However, Rick had also been a scrappy, co-captain of his wrestling team at Ross High School. Behind that wide, toothy smile burned an inner drive. And it became contagious across the Wildcat community.

From 2000 to 2012, Rick directed bands for Finneytown Local School District, including several years as music department chairman. Within a few years, he led the FHS marching band to its first-ever appearance at the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) State Finals. Earning “superior” ratings at OMEA state competitions soon became an annual event. His symphonic bands also reached new heights in district and state competitions. The marching band performed at the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., and at Disney World.

Not since the earlier era of Bill Swartzel as music director had Finneytown music programs caught on with such fire.

Rick’s mission was to make music integral to student life. “I am proud that through hard work, collaboration with talented colleagues, and a focus on making music meaningful and accessible to all students, we grew the band to include nearly a third of the entire student body,” said Rick, a new inductee into the Finneytown Hall of Fame. “That growth wasn’t just about numbers. It reflected a culture where students felt valued, challenged, and connected. I worked to install skills like perseverance, creativity, and teamwork.”

His enthusiasm extended to the students’ parents. He collaborated closely with the Finneytown Music Parents Association.  In 2012, the Ohio Music Education Association named Finneytown Parents as “Outstanding Music Support Group.”  During district and state competitions, his music ensembles were not only primed to perform, but he made sure the huge turnout of family and community supporters cheered loudly from the stands. At band contests statewide, many attending knew from crowd volume when the little high school from Cincinnati had taken their position on the field. After one dazzling band performance at a contest in Columbus, the PA announcer shared the size of the FHS student body with the surprised crowd, which exploded in applause and cheers.

Rick’s memories flow when he recalls his Finneytown colleagues: “I loved singing in the faculty chorus led by dear colleagues Theresa Merrill and Jason McKee, directing the pit orchestra for musicals alongside theater director Shawn Maus, working with Mike Kennedy, hosting a faculty scholarship concert to raise money for private music lessons, and working with athletic director Chuck Grosser to support our incredible student-athletes at football and basketball games. These moments showed me that at Finneytown, we weren’t just coworkers. We were a family united by a common love for our students and our school.”

His Finneytown years involved another, and vital, common love. After he began dating Kellie Conlon, a first-grade teacher at Brent, they went to Graeter’s for ice cream after a band concert. While hoping to go unnoticed, they felt like half the school had turned up to watch them! The next day, student Will Hershey raised his hand and asked, “Mr. Canter, do you like Miss Conlon?”  They have now been married 22 years and raised two children. Kellie and Rick live in Sharonville. 

Leaving Finneytown after 12 years and as recipient of the district’s “Educator of the Year” award, his career has continued to blossom. For the past decade, he has been band director of the thriving program at Walnut Hills High School.  He is also music director of the Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble. Rick is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician. He has presented sessions on band pedagogy to music educators’ associations throughout the country, from Oregon to Texas to New York. He has won the Music Educator’s National Conference Music Composition Competition.

However, his journey as a music educator began in Finneytown, and it holds a special place for him. “I feel truly blessed to have worked alongside so many Finneytown students on their musical journey,” he said. “Through it all, I tried to teach more than just music; I hoped to instill a deep sense of leadership, service, and pride that students could carry with them into their futures.”