Olympia High School Hall of Fame
Olympia School District proudly announces the
Olympia High School Hall of Fame Class of 2020 inductees!
As in tradition, we will be recognizing this year’s inductees at a home boys’ basketball game. This year’s game is January 17th vs. Flanagan High School. The introductions will take place at halftime of the Varsity Boys game (approximately at 7:30 p.m. that evening).
The Loeffler Family (Friends-Outstanding Contribution)
The Loeffler family has been committed to the Olympia School District and supported Olympia High School activities in numerous ways. Don Loeffler was the first Loeffler to graduate from an Olympia School, when he graduated from Stanford High School in 1964. Don married Lynda (Munsell) Loeffler in 1969 and they are the parents of Kelly and Brian. Both Kelly and Brian were highly involved in Olympia activities during their time at Olympia High School. During Kelly’s high school years, she was involved in Basketball, Band, Cross Country, Track, Yearbook, Math/Science Club, and Student Council just to mention a few. After graduating from Olympia in 1988, Kelly went on to get her Bachelors at University of Illinois in 1992 and then received her MBA from Depaul in 1999. Kelly was previously the CEO BAKKT at Intercontinental Exchange where she met her husband Jeffrey Sprecher (CEO International Exchange). Currently she is serving as an U.S. Senator from Georgia. Don and Lynda’s son Brian graduated from Olympia High School in 1990, where he was actively involved in FFA, Football, Basketball, Student Council, and German club. After graduation he went on to get his Bachelors from University of Illinois, graduating in 1994. Brian met his wife Molly and settled in Stanford where they have been an important part of Loeffler Farms since the mid 1990’s. Brian and Molly are the parents of Collin and Addison, who participated in a wide variety of Olympia activities. The Loeffler family has been committed to the Olympia district for over half a century by not only being lifelong residents; but by being incredibly generous supporters through giving back to the Olympia district especially to the Olympia activities in numerous ways.
Kari “Larkin” Klien (Class of 1991 –Distinguished Individual)
Kari “Larkin” Klien is a 1991 graduate of Olympia High School. While attending Olympia, Kari participated in numerous school activities. She was a member of the Speech Team (State Finalist, placing 6th in Dramatic Duet and 7th in Dramatic Interp), Group Interp (Juli Anne Crum Reader’s Theater Award), National Honor Society (President – Senior year), Yearbook (Yearbook Award), Class Officer (Sophomore thru Senior), German Club (four years), Principal’s Advisory (Junior and Senior), Junior Advisory, Bank Board (Senior year), and Math/Science Club (Junior and Senior). After high school, Kari attended Eastern Illinois University and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Economics in 1995. Kari has also received her certification as a Chartered Financial Consultant, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Advisor for Senior Living, Long-Term Care, and is a member of the local chapter of Society of Financial Service Professionals. She has been with State Farm since 1995 and is currently a State Farm Agent in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Jerry Webb (Coach/Sponsor-Outstanding Contribution)
Before Jerry Webb began his contributions to Olympia School District, he first served in the United States Air Force from 1967 to 1971. Mr. Webb started teaching at Olympia High School in 1973, after graduating from Illinois State University. Jerry was the Fresh/Soph Baseball Coach from 1976 to 1983, then took over as the Varsity Baseball Coach from 1984 to 1991. Olympia Baseball was lead to three CornBelt Championships (1985, 1987, 1989), a Regional Championship (1987), a Sectional Championship (1987), and were State Qualifiers (1987) under the leadership of Jerry Webb. He was also the President of OEA Teacher Union, OEA Negotiator (1994 and 1995), and OEA Head Negotiator (1996). Jerry retired in 2004, dedicating 31 years to Olympia High School and leaving an everlasting impact.
David Maurer (Class of 1979- Distinguished Individual/Graduate)
A 1979 graduate of Olympia High School, David Maurer was involved in several activities. He was a member of Band (Freshman thru Senior), Swim Team (Freshman thru Senior, Captain- Senior year), Track (Freshman and Sophomore), Letterman’s Club (Junior and Senior), Math/Science Club (Freshman thru Senior), Student Bank Board (Senior year), Scholastic Showdown (Senior, Captain-Senior year), and National Honor Society (Senior). During his time at Olympia, David was not only a member of the Olympia FFA (Sophomore thru Senior) but he was Chapter Greenhand President (Sophomore), Chairman of Corn Test Plot (Junior and Senior), Chapter Vice President (Senior), and Section 9 FFA Sentinel (Senior). David was also awarded with the Chapter FFA Degree (Junior), Chapter DeKalb Award (Senior), Chapter Crop Production Proficiency Award (Senior), and State FFA Degree (Senior) during his time at Olympia. After graduation he was elected Section 9 FFA President from 1979-1980 and while attending the University of Illinois and earn a Bachelor’s degree in Ag Sciences. David continued his success in FFA at the University of Illinois by being elected as Sante Fe FFA Scholarship recipient and Major State Officer (Secretary/Treasurer), and was awarded State FFA JE Hill Scholarship along with the American FFA Degree. After graduating in 1984, he started his career at Dow AgroSciences / Corteva. David has over 30 years in business leadership positions in the professional pest management, turf and ornamental, crop production and range & pasture market segments and was awarded the Marketing Excellence Pinnacle in 2015. In addition, David has been manager and operator at Maurer Farms since 2009. While David has had many successes in ag business, he has stayed close to the Olympia FFA by being a major donor to the IL FFA Foundation on behalf of our Olympia FFA chapter for more than 30 years.
John Neisler (Class of 2006- Distinguished Individual) John Neisler is a 2006 graduate of Olympia High School. During his years at Olympia, John participated in a variety of activities. He was a four-year participant in Band and Chorus and was a member of Chamber Choir (2003-2006) and a Drum Major (2003-2005). John also participated in Speech all four years and was a State Qualifier in Special Occasion and Prose (2006). Some of John’s most notable accomplishments occurred during Cross Country and Track & Field. John was a four-time State Qualifier in both Cross Country and Track & Field. In Cross Country, he earned All-State in 2004 and 2005 and was a former school record holder. While in Track & Field, he earned All-State 800m in 2005, All-State 4x800m in 2006, was a former school record holder in the 4x400m, and is currently an Olympia record holder in the 400m (50.3 secs in 2006). After graduation, John continued his success in Track & Field at Illinois State University. He earned All MVC Indoors 800 (2009), All MVC Indoors 800 (2010), All MVC Indoors DMR (2010), and was Team Captain (2009-2010) while a member of ISU’s Track team. Currently, John is a Math Teacher and coaching Girls’ Cross Country and Girls’ Track & Field at University High School in Normal.