2008 Hall of Fame Inductees

Robert J. Valachovic (deceased), JHS Class of 1942

Following graduation from Johnstown High School in 1942, Robert J. Valachovic attended the Fort Schuyler Military Academy. After service in World War II, he was discharged in 1946 at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He then went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Hartwick College, and both a Master’s degree and a Doctorate in Education degree from the University at Albany.

Professionally, Dr. Valachovic held positions as an English teacher, guidance counselor, school psychologist, director of career education, director of pupil personnel services and superintendent of schools. He also served as a counseling psychologist at the State University of New York at Fredonia and as an adjunct professor at SUNY New Paltz and the College of St. Rose.

On a community service front, Dr. Valachovic served as mayor of the City of Johnstown from 1994-1998, assisted the Fulton County Mental Health program, helped to organize Fulton County First Night, assisted with Meals on Wheels, helped to organize Holiday Meals on Wheels, assisted with Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day celebrations, and was an active member of the Fulton County Republican Club, St. Patrick’s Lodge and the New York State Masons,. He was also an elder of Johnstown’s First Presbyterian Church and the treasurer of the Johnstown Council of Churches.

Frank Shields, JHS Class of 1949

Before graduating from St. Lawrence University in 1954, Frank Shields was a quarterback and kicker for their football team and set a scoring record with 34 consecutive extra-point kicks. He next served as a United States Army officer from 1955-1957, after which he accepted a position teaching and coaching at Watertown High School, where he began a high school lacrosse program in 1958. Mr. Shields moved on to coach football at Manlius-Pebble Hill Military School, where he established a lacrosse team in 1960, and then to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to coach at Lehigh University. He later accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Massachusetts, during which time the football team made the Tangerine Bowl and several of the players went on to the NFL.

In 1966 he returned to St. Lawrence University to coach football and lacrosse while pursuing a master’s degree in education. Upon completion of his degree, he accepted a position as an assistant in lacrosse and football at Hobart College. In 1975 he left coaching to become a school guidance counselor in Victor, New York.

In 1981 Mr. Shields once again returned to St. Lawrence University, this time as the Director of Alumni Relations, where he remained until his retirement in 1993. In 1994, St. Lawrence University awarded Frank its highest award, the Distinguished Alumni Award, for his service to the university.

Jon “J.D.” Aldrich, JHS Class of 1967

Jon “J.D.” Aldrich attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, earning a Bachelors of Music degree. Mr. Aldrich has been an associate professor of music at Berklee for more than 35 years, where he is well loved by his students, teaching courses in jingle writing and songwriting. Of special note is that these courses were the first of their kind when started by him.

J.D. has been hugely successful as a writer, arranger, producer and vocalist for numerous television and radio jingles, creating works for advertising campaigns used by Coca-Cola, Calvin Klein, Keds and OshKosh B’Gosh. He has also performed on television shows, such as Touched By An Angel, General Hospital, All my Children, The Jaime Fox Show, The Young and the Restless and Beverly Hills 90210. Among his other accomplishments are writing and singing a 1986 Super Bowl song and singing in a rock opera.

Mr. Aldrich plays lead guitar and provides vocals for the band, “Americana,” and has also played nationally for over 20 years with his trio, “J.D., Billy and Ken.” Never forgetting his hometown, he generously donates his time twice yearly to perform at the hugely successful Johnstown Block Party and the Fulton County Scholarship Dance. Mr. Aldrich also personally gives a scholarship each year to a graduating JHS senior.