Three alumni will be inducted into the Honeoye Falls-Lima Alumni Hall of Fame during Fall Weekend activities on September 30 during a ceremony at 4 p.m.
The inductees are:
Amo T. Kreiger
Honeoye Falls High School
Class of 1917
Paul S. Worboys, who nominated Amo T. Kreiger for the HF-L Alumni Hall of Fame, had only a passing awareness of her value to Honeoye Falls. Being a half-century younger, as his interest in local history grew, his admiration for her became greater in the myriad ways she contributed to the written record and the many organizations she touched. “In the end,” he concluded, “although she was blessed with roots in a pioneering family and a modicum of wealth, she fit the mold of a civic-minded superstar every community needed back in the good, old 20th century.”
Kreiger was the daughter of Dr. G. H. Thompson (a dentist, who died when Kreiger was only seven years old) and Nellie Tring Thompson (whose father, William Tring, was a Civil War veteran). She was also the great-granddaughter of Thomas Sanford, a pioneer, whose family came to Honeoye Falls in a covered wagon in 1810. Along with being a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she worshipped in an 1830s edifice, and she was married for nearly fifty years to long-time HF Postmaster, Lyle Kreiger.
While in Honeoye Falls High School, Kreiger played on its first female basketball team in the upper floor of what, until recent years, was Tichenor’s Furniture Restoration. When she graduated from H.F.H.S. in 1917, her salutatory address was “American War Songs.” Following graduation, she studied at the University of Rochester and Syracuse University.
Subsequently, over twenty-five years, Kreiger wrote feature stories and articles of historical interest for the Honeoye Falls Times and Rochester’s Democrat & Chronicle and Times-Union. She was part of the Women’s Club, the Writer’s Club, and the Folklore Society, all of Rochester. Her civic attentions in Honeoye Falls were devoted to the: Fortnightly Literary Club (founded by her mother in 1895), Order of the Eastern Star, and she was indispensable in forming Totiakton Garden Club, which, from 1959 into the 1990s, beautified village and hamlet settings.
Kreiger also devoted her energies to the development of a permanent repository for the history of her native community. Appointed the Town of Mendon’s first official historian in 1951, she also helped engineer the incorporation of the HF-Mendon Historical Society that year. A decade later, she authored a comprehensive history of Mendon for the township’s 1963 Sesquicentennial celebration.
Late in 1969, months after she helped the Society open its museum in the former livery of the Wilcox Hotel (Masonic Temple), and weeks after being pictured endorsing the opening of “The Mill Restaurant” at the falls, Amo Kreiger died. Even as a kid, delivering the Times-Union to her door, she was the nominator’s first vision of “High Society.” With no children or siblings to survive her, the rare flame of a pioneer family was snuffed out, until this singular honor finally emerged, albeit 56 years later.
John Thomas Reynolds
Lima High School
Class of 1959
Grandson Jesse writes, “I appreciate all veterans, but, to me, you are #1. I don’t even think that I would be the boy I am today if I couldn’t look up to you for your bravery. Finally, I think that the fact you helped save people’s lives and kept them safe is the most amazing thing of all.” Saving lives and serving others is what John Thomas “Tom” Reynolds has done for quite some time. For that and lots more, we honor Reynolds with induction into the HF-L Alumni Hall of Fame.
Reynolds was the oldest of the seven Reynolds children that grew up in the American Hotel. He played soccer, basketball, and baseball while at Lima High School. He was also Class President, active with the newspaper and Library Club. Following graduation, Reynolds went on to earn a B.A. in History at Niagara University, graduating Cum Laude. He earned a Law Degree at Albany Law School.
Active in ROTC all through college, Reynolds joined the Army after Law School as 1st Lieutenant. Deployed to Vietnam, he became Captain and then Company Commander of his unit. During his service, Reynolds refused to be evacuated in a helicopter until all in his unit were airlifted out in Vietnam. For these efforts, he earned a Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Infantry Badges.
Daughter Jessica Reynolds-Amuso writes, “Upon his return from military service overseas, Reynolds embarked on a decades long legal career where he helped generations of Livingston County citizens attain justice in the courts, start businesses, buy homes and plan for their futures. He served in the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office, was a member of the Lima Town Board for years, and served as counsel to the Village of Geneseo for about twenty-five years. Reynolds was always willing and eager to do pro bono work representing those in need and took special care when the courts asked him to represent children. He was always willing to lend a hand and mentor young attorneys learning the intricacies of legal practice, myself included. It was my honor to practice law with my dad for several years and learn at his side.”
Michael J. Falk, Lima Town Supervisor writes, “Reynolds is a past commander of Lima VFW Post 26 and currently serves as Post Chaplain. He helps to organize the VFW community service efforts throughout the year including the annual collection of comfort items for Veterans in hospitals and nursing homes, poppy sales, Memorial Day and Veterans Day Ceremonies and the Honor Guard at Veteran’s Funerals. Reynolds is a fixture in Lima: always out walking downtown, always a kind word, always willing to help.”
In addition to being a kind and caring older brother to his six siblings, Reynolds has been married to Kathie for 55 years, has two grown children and five grandchildren.
Randy “Hawke” Hurley
Honeoye Falls-Lima High School
Class of 1985
“Randy was four years old; he heard the voice on the radio and started grilling Dad about where that voice was coming from. ‘Is there a guy in there, Dad?’ Dad had to explain what ‘radio’ was,” Wendy Hurley wrote. She goes on to share that from that day on, Randy knew that’s what he wanted to do when he grew up. He had a goal which he pursued that led him to a 33-year career as a radio personality and leader in the broadcast community.
While growing up, Hurley kept busy as a paper boy, Little League Baseball player, track athlete, pizza maker at Murphy’s Pizza in Mendon, and Fire Explorer.
Hurley attended Edinboro University and graduated with a degree in TV & Radio. Upon graduation, he took a job in Erie, PA and was on his way. He currently works as Vice President of Content and Brands for the Mid-West Family Broadcasting Company in Madison, Wisconsin.
Throughout his career, Hurley has made it a priority to give back. His “28-Hour Radiothon” raises funds for Veterans allowing them to support several initiatives, including Guitars for Vets, Beds for Vets, and Job Programs for Vets. Lifelong friend, John French shares, “He has always had a positive, can-do attitude. He is dedicated to his family, his friends and the community and will drop everything to help anyone. What impresses me most is his dedication to helping veterans. Every year, he leverages his career by hosting a radiothon for the greater Madison Veteran’s Charities. He is on the air for over 24 hours talking with veteran’s organizations and local heroes, raising money to help those less fortunate.” In addition, he uses his time and talents to support the American Family Children’s Hospital Radiothon Advocate and Fundraiser, City of Madison Police Department Capital K-9’s Fundraising Champion, and Kibble for a Cause Advocate.
His sister Wendy proudly shares Hurley’s guiding principle, “B.E.B.O.S.-Be Exceptional. Be of Service.” Thomas Walker, President, General Manager and a Shareholder of Mid-West Management, Inc. writes to share how Randy carries that principle forward in his work and life. “He has been successful in every position he has held in his career. He is legendary in the state for his radio programming skills, community service commitment and his service to the industry. He has lobbied and spoken on behalf of his state and National Broadcasting Association. He has received state and national recognition for his radio programming accomplishments by several industry associations including Radio and Records, FMQB and Jacobs Media. He is truly an industry leader and a role model for your current students on what you can accomplish with a commitment to hard work, smart thinking, and a life-long commitment to learning and self-improvement.”
Hurley is married to Heidi and father to Aidan and Reese.
