Dale C. Melendy, Class of 1949, and Jack Wells, Class of 1944, recalled memories of their high school years during their inductions into the 2022 Hennessey High School Hall of Fame

They were inducted during the 2022 HHS graduation ceremonies at noon Saturday, May 14, in the Hennessey Event Center.

Hall of Fame honorees are chosen by graduating seniors from nominations made by the community of graduates or educators “who have gone above and beyond to inspire and touch the lives of those around them.”

Dale C. Melendy

Melendy’s graduating Class of 1949 nominated him for the Hall of Fame. They wrote of their classmate: “A cheerful lad with eyes of blue, honest, friendly, kind and true.”

People who know him now say he still has those qualities, except he’s not a lad any more, and maybe that’s something a classmate wrote in his yearbook in 1949.

He’s the 91-year-old man who was born on the family farm west of Hennessey in 1931, and still lives west of town with his bride of 68 years, Billie Lou (Burton).

After they were married, Dale continued farming and drove a Hennessey school bus route. He also built homes and other structures, along with his brother, Allen. They built five custom homes in the area and remodeled many others. He was also a rural mail carrier and retired from that job.

He has been a supporter of the community in many ways, and the lifeblood of the Hennessey Powder & String Club for more years than some other “oldtimers can remember.” Dale has been president of that organization many times, and same goes for the Member of the Year title.

“He has given unselfishly of his time, helping to maintain NS preserve the Maple Grove school house, where the club meets,” wrote his classmates. “Dale also volunteered his time to mow and maintain the neighboring Maple Grove cemetery in support of the friends and families of those deceased. … He cares about his heritage.”

Melendy has served many times as president of the Hennessey Sons & Daughters of the 89ers.

Melendy has been a member of the first Christian church of Hennessey, since 1954. There, he served in many capacities, including serving on the building committee when the church moved to its current location.

Then, many years later, he and Monte Bullis volunteered their service to build the new fellowship hall and kitchen for the church.

Melendy served as Christian men’s fellowship past president. He and his wife were recently awarded the Elder Emeritus Award for their service.

One of Melendy’s most generous acts of kindness has been the watermelon patch he planted on two or three acres of his land, each year for the last 18 years, a classmate wrote.

“Dale’s patch was planted for his friends, and the Hennessey community to come and pick melons free of charge. He would even deliver watermelons to those who were unable to pick them for themselves.

“The way Dale has lived his life is a true example of serving his neighbors and the community.”

Jack Wells

Jack Wells, 95, was born in Hennessey, and after graduation, joined the Navy. He was an electrician’s mate during World War II, then went to OSU where he earned a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering in 1950.

He went right to work for Public Service Company of Oklahoma in Tulsa. He worked there for 40 years and retired as senior vice president of engineering in 1990, when American Electric Power System/ PSO became PSO’s parent company.

His retirement hobbies include going to air shows and museums, and rebuilding WW II airplanes because, after all, he has had experience with those planes.

Wells said he also tries to find time rebuilding a 1937 Ford that has been in his family for 68 years.

Astronomy is also one of his interests and he was a member of the TulsaAstronomy Club for many years.

He has chased solar eclipses around the world, and seen 11 of those events on six continents.

Wells and his wife, Barbra, have been married 74- 1/2 years. They have four children, eight grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.