Westerville South High School Hall of Fame inductees Thomas Baker, Kevin Knapp and Jeffrey Reschke.
Westerville South High School inducted three alumni into its Hall of Fame at a luncheon and ceremony held April 26 – Thomas Baker, Kevin Knapp and Jeffrey Reschke. The school’s Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee selected those honored from a pool of applicants who graduated at least 10 years ago, have demonstrated success in their career, and have made significant contributions to their community.
Superintendent J. Daniel Good commended the Student Advisory for setting high but reasonable expectations for themselves and then modeling conduct that is an inspiration to others. He praised the inductees, saying, “What a privilege it is to esteem these men who have contributed to the betterment of our community through their occupations and their avocations.”
Officer Thomas Corbin Baker is an alumnus of the Class of 1978. As a high school student, he participated in band, choir and orchestra all four years. During high school, he was elected Marching and Concert Band president; selected to be a student director of a pep band and the choir; received the 1977 Best Bandsman award; 1978 Outstanding Bandsman and Most Valuable Choir Member; and was selected to be a representative for the American Legion Buckeye Boys State, where he was elected to the office of “Clerk of the Senate.” After graduation, Baker completed a Bachelor of Science in History and Political Science at Otterbein University in 1982. He was a participant at American University in the college exchange program, and served as an intern on Capitol Hill for the House Republican Conference. He is a 1986 graduate of the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy. He serves as a member of the Mid-Ohio Critical Incident Stress Management Response Team since 1998, where he has responded to numerous events including being called to respond, on three different occasions, to the attack on the World Trade Center in New York City. Officer Baker is also a trained instructor in ALICE (an active threat response training,) first aid and CPR, SIDNE (Simulated Impaired Driving Experience,) ICS (Incident Command Systems,) and CIT (Crisis Intervention Team). Since 1985, Officer Baker has been employed as a City of Westerville Police Patrol Officer. He has been the recipient of several recognitions. Currently, his assignment is at Westerville South High School as a School Resource Officer. In the community, Officer Baker is a Deacon in the Central College Presbyterian Church, a member of the church choir, and has been a volunteer on the crisis hotline with Concord Counseling Center. He serves as the secretary of the Ohio Theatre Organ Society and has volunteered in three United States Presidential elections. He was nominated by Laurie L. Baker and Nathaniel R. Baker.
Lieutenant Kevin A. Knapp is an alumnus of the Class of 1987. As a student at Westerville South, he was involved in the football program during 1985, 1986 and 1987. After graduation, Knapp completed a Bachelor of Arts Criminal Justice degree at Ohio Dominican College in 1991. He graduated in 1992 from the 122nd Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy. He attended the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command in 2010. He is currently serving with the Ohio State Highway Patrol as Post Commander of the Delaware Patrol Post. He was on the Special Response Team responding to crisis situations, including the riots in Cincinnati and the highway shooter. He is a gun range training officer and leads groups in Delaware for a safer community. Lieutenant Knapp was recognized as the 1997 Post and District Trooper of the Year. He served on the Special Response Team (SWAT) from 2000 to 2005. His contributions to the community include coaching Little League baseball and football in Sunbury; serving 25 children as a 4H Advisor for Sunbury Halter and Saddle; and conducting gun safety presentations to the local Boy Scout troop and assisting them to earn their Shooting Merit Badges. Lieutenant Knapp routinely provides Safe Driving programs to students in the Northmoor School District. He was nominated by his nephew and niece, Peter and Melissa Rideout.
Jeffrey L. Reschke is an alumnus of the Class of 1975. As a student at Westerville South, he was involved in the Soccer Club (while it was still a club sport), and was selected as an All City First Team honoree. He was also a member of the Future Farmers of America. Reschke attended Franklin University and continues to participate in continuing education classes to keep his licenses current. He holds several State and City licenses – Ohio Electrical Contractor, Ohio and City Fire Alarm Contractor, and Ohio and City Electrical Inspector. Reschke is the owner/operator of Reschke Electric Company, which is an industrial commercial electrical design and construction business. He has held numerous board positions with the International Association. Reschke is a very active civic volunteer. He holds memberships in several organizations including the Westerville Lions Club, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, and the City of Westerville Uptown Review Board. Reschke has participated as a volunteer with the Columbus and Westerville Honor Flight program. He has organized fundraisers for that organization through projects such as pancake breakfasts to help with building floats and displays. He assisted the Westerville Rotary with setting up the Field of Heroes in May, as well as working with the Caring and Sharing program by sorting and distributing food and gifts. He was nominated by his wife, Lisa M. Reschke, who wrote, “Jeff has been paying it forward his whole life, even before it was popular; and he never expects anything in return.”