The Bonner Springs/Edwardsville Education Foundation and the Bonner Springs High School Alumni Association are proud to announce that Frank O’Flaherty Class of 1936, and Bill Miller, Class of 1973, will be inducted into the BSHS Hall of Fame on Friday, January 15th.
Frank O’Flaherty joined the Navy soon after his graduation from BSHS. He was appointed an Aviation Cadet in 1941 and was commissioned Ensign and ordered to active duty as a pilot on the USS Enterprise in September of that year. In June of 1942 Frank participated in the Battle of Midway against the Japanese invasion fleet. After several successful diving runs on the Japanese carrier group, Frank and his co-pilot ran out of fuel and were captured by the Japanese. They died at the hands of their captors soon after. Frank’s valor and heroism was noted by the Navy and an appreciative nation, as he was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross (the highest honor in the Navy) and a ship, the destroyer escort USS O’Flaherty, was named in his honor. The ship was commissioned in April 1944.
The BSHS Hall of Fame also welcomes Bill Miller, a well known Businessman and Community Activist. The Bonner Springs and Edwardsville communities have long appreciated Bill’s community involvement; he is currently the President of the Rotary Club, and his business acumen as the owner of Body Works Massage Therapy. Bill also has been involved in numerous civic activities including the Lake of the Forest Historic Preservation Society, the Sierra and has served in numerous leadership positions in the St Martin’s of the Fields Episcopal Church.
The Induction Ceremony for the 2016 BSHS Hall of Fame will be Friday January 15th at the District P.E. Center. The ceremony will take place at approximately 8:30 PM at half time of the Boys’ Basketball Game with Lansing. The Alumni Association will have a display in the lobby of BSHS artifacts, and will host a social event at Twisters following the game.