Newcomerstown 1956 grad Allen Gaskill has been added to high school's wall of honor
Newcomerstown High School recently held it annual scholar award ceremony and named the new addition to the Wall of Honor for 2024. The committee made up of school personnel, teachers, and board members unanimously selected Allen Gaskill.
Jason Peoples, superintendent, presented the award and began by saying, “Only N.H.S. grads can receive this distinction. Mr. Gaskill is a proud graduate of Newcomerstown High School and was a member of the class of 1956. He has distinguished himself in several areas, especially serving the school district and students of Newcomerstown as well as the community in an educational and humanitarian sense."
"As a young farmer just beginning in 1964, I visited the school, and asked about becoming a bus driver to help supplement the farm until we were able to fully make it operational. I completed the necessary steps to become one, but I never thought 40 years down the road I would still be driving the bus," Gaskill said upon receiving his plaque. "Without the support of my wife, family, and friends it would not have been possible to achieve both the farm duties and be at the school for the early morning route. I had very few issues on the bus with students, but if I did, mentioning a trip to see the principal fixed it pretty quick. Overall, I had great students and great parents of students so that made my job even more enjoyable.”
Gaskill was born May 12, 1938, and he has lived his entire life on the family located on County Road 21 just north of Newcomerstown. He was a bus driver for the Newcomerstown school district for approximately 40 years. He served as an adviser for 4-H members and prepared them for tractor rodeos, where they were judged on their abilities to manage a tractor in various situations. His farm, Pine Tree Acres, has been used as one of the farms in the county that other farmers would come to visit and learn how to operate a dairy farm. The Gaskill farm was named Farm of the Year in 1976.
As a volunteer, Gaskill has been appointed to several boards in the field of dairy production. He was on the dairy boards for Knox, Holmes, Coshocton, and Tuscarawas counties. He has made and donated gallons of homemade ice cream to events and fundraisers
He and his wife, Treva, have been married for more than 65 years.
Gaskill was nominated for the honor by David Palmatier, a former resident who now lives in California. Palmatier still owns part of his family farm which is located near the Gaskill farm. He and more than 40 others attended the recent ceremony.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Allen Gaskill honored by Newcomerstown High School
