CAROL SHETLER/The Luminary L. Eugene Pauling, (right) a member of the first class of inductees into the ‘Hall of Fame’ following the June 11, 2016 Montgomery Area High School Alumni Banquet. With the inductee is Leona Dewalt who submitted Pauling’s name for consideration.  

MONTGOMERY The first class of the newly established ‘Hall of Fame’ at Montgomery was inducted at a banquet Friday, June 10. Each attendee received an engraved clock and gift certificate. The following evening, the three were introduced during the 111th annual Montgomery Area High School Alumni Banquet.

The three successful candidates included Leona Dewalt, whose biography appeared in last week’s issue. The biography of Lynn McCormick Matrisian will be in next week’s issue.

Following is the submission for L. Eugene Pauling which was forwarded to the committee for consideration by Leona Dewalt.

L. EUGENE PAULING was born Oct. 19, 1921 to Lemuel and Margaret Pauling. He lived his early years in Elimsport. He graduated from Montgomery High School in 1939 and served on the school board from 1952 to 1964. He was instrumental in the approval and construction of a new elementary school in Elimsport which was suggested in 1957. Pauling was also a past president of the Montgomery Alumni.

On December 5, 1942, Pauling married Carolyn Grittner and the couple had three children: Carol Jean Westerman, Thomas Pauling and David Pauling. Carolyn died in 1961 and in 1964, he wed Mary Miller, who died in 2007.

Pauling enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and was selected for pilot training. He was commissioned as an officer training as a B-52 pilot. He completed 30 combat missions over Germany and received an honorable discharge in July 1945.

The airman was awarded the distinguished flying cross, a medal with a cluster of four oak leaves, plus a presidential citation.

After his military service, he returned home to the family farm and worked at the Glen Gary Brick Yard.

In December 1964, he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff of Lycoming County. Afterward, he was elected five times without opposition. Pauling is a past president and life member of the Pennsylvania Sheriffs Association.

He is a member of the Muncy F&AM Lodge 299, a past deputy and Grand Master.

Pauling also coached Little League, was a member of Washington Township Fire Department, and in 1990, chairman of the Muncy Valley Hospital Lawn Party. He served as a board member with the AAA of Central Pennsylvania, a member of the Elimsport Methodist Church.