District Names Graduates of Distinction Honorees

These individuals have distinguished themselves in their communities, professions, or careers and continue to bring honor to the district. Celebrate alongside these distinguished alumni at a reception in their honor on Tuesday, June 3, 2008 (details listed below). Listen to their stories and hear who helped shape their lives during their school years.

RECEPTION DETAILS
Date: Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Time: 6:15 to 7:30 p.m.
Place: Walla Walla School District Board Room

HONOREES
Claro E. Bergevin is a 1941 graduate of Walla Walla High School. Retired since 2002, Bergevin was a respected leader in the local farming community. He was a breeder of registered Horned Hereford cattle for more than 30 years and he farmed in both Walla Walla and Franklin Counties, raising a variety of crops. For 22 years, he also managed fertilizer and chemical plants in Touchet and Pendleton. During World War II, he served in the Marines and saw action at the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. He has kept contact with his Marine comrades for more than 60 years and will be hosting a gathering for them later this year.

On the community front, Bergevin has been a Walla Walla School District Board member, a county Planning Commissioner, member of the Frenchtown Recreation Club Board of Directors for 18 years, and active supporter for Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days. In 1995, he was the fair Parade Marshall. In retirement, at the age of 85, he still serves the community with his work on the Frenchtown preservation and restoration project.

Bergevin and Betty, his wife of 61 years, are parents of five children. In one of his nomination letters, his granddaughter Tera Zohner wrote: "Claro has instilled in his children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren an overwhelming love for family and community that spreads beyond the bounds of Walla Walla. His devotion to our family's history and future knows no limits and he is truly a hero to each of his family and friends."

Bergevin was nominated by his children: Terry Bergevin, Karen Bergevin-Zohner, Mike Bergevin, Debbie Bergevin-Beal and David Bergevin.

Gretchen Miller Kafoury is a 1959 graduate of Walla Walla High School and a 1963 graduate of Whitman College. After college, she and her husband volunteered as one of the Peace Corps workers in Iran. In 1977, she was elected to the Oregon State House of Representatives and began a public service career that spanned two decades. Following her three two-year terms in the Oregon House, Kafoury went on to serve as Multnomah County Commissioner, then Portland City Councilwoman. She currently serves on the Portland Housing Authority Board of Commissions, while teaching at Portland State University's College of Urban and Public Affairs.

Throughout her career and in her personal life, Kafoury has advocated for affordable housing, community development, criminal justice, civil rights and health care. Several of her nominators agreed that she "has been a champion for fairness and justice." Among her many honors are a Whitman College Alumna of Merit award, Outstanding Alumna and Urban Pioneer awards from Portland State University, and the dedication of the $10 million Gretchen Kafoury Commons by the Portland Housing Authority in 2000.

Kafoury has two grown children. Deborah is a 1989 Whitman College graduate who has followed in her mother's footsteps, serving in the Oregon State Legislature and now running for county commissioner. Katharine is a graduate of Evergreen State College in Washington. She is a personal trainer and regular participant in running events in the Portland/Vancouver area.

Kafoury was nominated by Donna Cook Gardner of Walla Walla.

John E. (Jack) Pelo is a 1974 graduate of Walla Walla High School and 1978 graduate of Washington State University. He worked as an accountant with Price-Waterhouse in Seattle prior to returning to Walla Walla in 1983 to work for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, serving as Manager of the Northwest Division. In 1996, he was offered the opportunity to move to Salt Lake City, where he became President and CEO of Swire Pacific USA, a Coca-Cola bottler for 11 western states that employs nearly 2,000 people. In addition to his role with Swire, Pelo also is chairman of the board of directors of the American Beverage Association.

Pelo has been an active community leader and volunteer in both Walla Walla and the Salt Lake City area. He has been both member and officer of the Exchange Club of Walla Walla; he served on boards for Walla Walla Community College Foundation, the Walla Walla YMCA, Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Salt Lake City, Washington State University Foundation, and Key Technology, Inc.; and he has coached youth teams for Junior Jazz basketball, YMCA basketball and Walla Walla Pacific Little League baseball. In 1995, with co-chair Tom Madsen, he headed up a successful $3.5 million renovation campaign for the Walla Walla YMCA.

Pelo and his wife Melinda (a 1975 Wa-Hi graduate) have three children: Ryan, Kevin and Katie. Pelo's parents, Dick and Kay, still live in Walla Walla, so he maintains close ties with the local community.

He was nominated by Pete Reid.

For more information, please contact Kay Schisler, 526-6735, kschisler@wwps.org