News

HHS inducts six to Hall of Fame

By Bill Moss, Published: October 6, 2014

Community leaders, a veteran television actor, a congressman and the hardest working hot dog man in America were inducted into the Hendersonville High School Hall of Fame on Friday.

The Hall of Fame induction, sponsored by the Hendersonville High School Alumni Association, was held Friday evening at the HHS Auditorium.
The inductees were:

• Thomas Shepherd, class of 1959, presented by Cam Boyd. A 1959. Besides serving as class president, Shepherd was also active in sports and school clubs. He received a degree from the University of North Carolina in banking and finance in 1963. After the death of his father in 1965, he took over the family business, Shepherd Funeral Home. He has served on many local boards and has held offices in the Rotary and Shrine Clubs, Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce and the Community Foundation of Henderson County. His compassion has helped many over the past years and he continues to be a great supporter of HHS.
• Chris Collins
, class of 1968, presented by Carey O'Cain. After graduating from N.C. State Unviersity, Collins worked for Westinghouse in Alabama and eventually relocated back to New York, where he was born. During his lifetime he has started businesses in cabinetry, solar panels, micro wind turbines, a biotech and a commercial dinnerware manufacturing. A successful small businessman for 36 year, he entered politics in the late 1990s. He is represents the 27th Congressional District of New York.
• Steve Katsadouros
, class of 1986, presented by Katsadouros. Born in Greece, Katsadouros came to the United States in 1970. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Katsadouros founded Hot Dog World and still works daily behind the counter making hot dogs and greeting customers with a smile and inquiry about their children, business or sports team. Katsadouros's generosity to the community is well known throughout Henderson County. The Lions Club, Red Cross, Civitan Club, Flat Rock Playhouse, Shriners and many more all have benefited from his support. He has been a great supporter of Hendersonville High School and is always there anytime the school has a need.
• Thomas (Bud) Hunter III, class of 1956, presented by Joe Poole. After graduating from Davidson college in 1960 and serving two years in the military, Hunter returned to Hendersonville and established the Hunter Corporation. His many civic activities include serving as president of the Salvation Army board and helping build
its facility; president of the YMCA, spearheading a campaign to pay off debt; president and board member of the Henderson County Chamber of Commerce; and vice president and board member of the Henderson County Community Foundation.
• Brian Finney, class of 1984, presented by Tom Orr. After graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts on a Sanford Scholarship, Finney moved to Los Angeles and has had great success in theater, movies and television. In 2001 he received the prestigious Ovation Award for Best Actor for his role in "Underneath the Lintel." He has taught in the Actors' Gang Prison Project that works with inmates as cognitive therapy to assist them in their return to the world outside of prison. Brian can presently be seen in the AMC program "Turn" and has performed in "Modern Family," "Grimm," and "Frasier"' and worked with such notables as Clint Eastwood, Curtis Hanson, Cameron Crowe and David Lynch.
• Ruby Rivers
, presented by Grant Rivers. Valedictorian of her class at the former Ninth Avenue School, Rivers was active in and worked for the YMCA and the Hendersonville School system. She developed the Youth Academic Enhancement program — a General Electric scholarship program for college bound disadvantaged students. Ruby also worked as a state representative for the teachers association, and served on several boards including the Henderson County Zoning Board of Adjustment and other organizations. Her four children are all graduates of Hendersonville High School.