WATERLOO | Six people will be inducted tonight into the East High Hall of Fame during halftime of the homecoming football game vs. Dubuque Hempstead at Waterloo Memorial Stadium.
The Hall of Fame honors East High School graduates who have distinguished themselves through their achievements, service and contributions to both their alma mater and the community in which they have lived. They are Ray Grant, Barbara Norman, Marla Padget, Robert Savereide, Sue Savereide and Paul Wurtz.
Ray Grant
Ray Grant, Class of 1979, is a stand-up comedian and published poet and a former creative writing professor. He taught three years at Tuskegee University and 11 years at Spelman College after earning bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Iowa.
While teaching, he began his comedy career and, in 1993, made his TV debut on HBO's Comedy Def Jam hosted by Steve Harvey. He later showcased his comedic talents on BET's Comic View hosted by Ricky Smiley. Grant also is a punch-up writer for comedian Chris Tucker, with his works seen on such movies as Rush Hour 3.
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In addition to movie writing, he has done song writing with one of his most famous works performed for American Idol during Season 5. He's performed spoken word on TVOne's Verses & Flow with fellow Iowan actor Hill Harper, singer Angie Stone and rapper Bone Crusher. Grant is currently a Hollywood film writer and producer.
Barbara Norman
Barbara Norman, Class of 1963, attended the University of Northern Iowa and earned degrees at the U of I and Columbia University. She was the first woman and first female African-American reporter at KWWL-TV, beginning in 1972. She went on to become a reporter, talk show host and producer at the ABC-TV affiliate in Moline, Ill.
During her stint as general manager at KUCB-FM radio in Des Moines, she raised initial funding and managed the operation of the station from inception to broadcast. She served in a similar instrumental role as director of cable TV for Cook County in Chicago during 1997. She also served as a planner in the Cook County Department of Planning and Development and press aide to the Cook County State’s Attorney.
Marla Padget
Marla Padget, Class of 1980, was a member of East's swimming and tennis teams, participated in the annual Swing Show, was on the yearbook staff and a member of the National Honor Society. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees from UNI
She was a social studies teacher at East High and received “The Gold Star Award for Outstanding Teaching.” Padget went on to be the assistant principal and athletic director at Central Middle School for four years and then principal for another eight years. In 2012, she returned to East High as the principal.
Dr. Robert Savereide
Dr. Robert Savereide, Class of 1962, was the senior class president and served on a number of councils and committees. He played in the state championship baseball tournament his senior year and was first team all-conference. He earned a bachelor's degree from the U of I and a doctor of medicine degree from the Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University. He completed a surgical residency at Loyola University Hospitals in Chicago in 1978 despite being diagnosed and treated for stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His peers awarded him the highest honor given a senior surgical resident: the Charles Puestow Surgical Society’s Kaiser Award.
Savereide returned to the Cedar Valley in 1978 and joined the staff of Sartori Hospital in Cedar Falls as a general surgeon. In 1982, he became a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. In the early 1990s, Savereide joined Covenant Clinic as a staff general surgeon and served there as chief of surgery, chief of trauma, executive committee and credentials committee. He has played a major role in developing a breast clinic that is certified by the American Society of Breast Surgeons. He continues to work full time as a general surgeon in the Cedar Valley. His community service includes leadership roles at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cedar Falls and membership on the Iowa State University parents advisory board.
Sue Saveraide
Sue Savereide was valedictorian of the Class of 1962, editor of the Orange & Black newspaper, and vice-president of the student council and Olympiad Club. She was named to the Iowa High School All-State Newspaper Staff and placed first in editorial writing and column writing.
She earned a bachelor's degree from UNI and was awarded the Purple & Gold Award “for meritorious scholarship in English.” She taught English and journalism in Riverside, Ill., 1966-1970. After returning to the Cedar Valley, she received her master's degree from UNI in 1989 and taught language arts at Northern University High School until 1996.
Her community service included serving on boards of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Guild, the Salvation Army of Waterloo-Cedar Falls, the Sartori Hospital Healthcare Foundation and the Sartori Hospital Auxiliary. She served seven terms as senior warden of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church vestry and on the ISU parents advisory board. She received the Cedar Valley Mayors’ Volunteer Performance Award in 1988 and the Downtown Waterloo Rotary Service Above Self Award in 2010.
Paul Wurtz
Paul Wurtz, Class of 1983, was active on East's golf team and has continued that passion ever since. He won the amateur division of the Waterloo Open in 1995 and has had other top finishes in the tournament over his golfing career. He also has been a member of the Swingers Golf Club, which aids disadvantaged kids in the Cedar Valley.
In 1993, Wurtz won the Cedar Falls Citizen of the Year Award for outstanding support of the police department for reduction of criminal activities within the city. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Adjustments for the City of Elk Run Heights. He also is a member of the building and grounds committee for the Gilbertville Depot, which works to preserve and enhance the historical site. Wurtz has worked for almost 23 years at Airgas USA, where he is a senior medical and life science specialist. He was awarded medical specialist of the year in 2008.