During her years at Shelby High School, Susie Bashore Henkel epitomized Whippet spirit. Ever smiling and gracious, she was a cheerleader for two years, Pep Club member for four years, a member of the Thespian and Glee Clubs, and on the staffs of Whippet Tales, the school newspaper, and the Scarlet S yearbook. That same spirit would continue to manifest itself in the decades to come.
After graduating from SHS Susie attended Bowling Green State University and then graduated from Mansfield Beauty College. She then worked at American Machine & Foundry and operated her own beauty salon. Susie has been a long-time Red Cross volunteer and has donated 104 units of blood.
In the autumn of 2001 she became one of the initiators of multi-class reunions in Shelby and was integral to planning the 11-class reunion held the following summer.
Subsequently, she has taken on numerous volunteer roles for all-class reunions. In addition, she became a charter member of the SHS Alumni Association Board of Trustees which she continues to serve. None of this comes as a surprise to a former teacher and two classmates. As one alumna said, ever since the Class of ’62 began having reunions, Susie has headed up the planning team. “Susie is thorough,” says this classmate, “not wanting any name to be forgotten and going to great lengths to obtain addresses for each classmate.”
For 43 years Susie was married to the late Jim Henkel ’63, himself a Hall of Distinction inductee, and they raised three children – Andy ’86, Amy ’87 and Aaron ’94. Observes another alumna, “She and Jim were Shelby’s best cheerleaders.”
Nominators: Harryet Snyder, Rob & Jodi Seaton Lowery ’62, Mike Johnson ’63 Presenters: Andy Henkel ’86, Amy Henkel Roberts ’87, and Aaron Henkel ’94