York College will recognize three alumni for their lives of service and success with 2015 Alumni of the Year awards at Homecoming. The awards will be presented to Dickie ’64 and Onita (Touchton ’65) Hill and Brad Reischl ’99 during alumni chapel at 10 a.m., Saturday, October 24.
Alumni of the Year: Dickie and Onita (Touchton) Hill
Dickie and Onita met at York College and married before transferring to Abilene Christian College. Dickie earned his undergraduate degree there and went on to earn a master’s of physical education and a PhD in health education. He has taught PE and health and coached for 48 years. He has taught in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at Abilene Christian University since 1977.
Onita attained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from ACU after their three children had graduated from college. She worked as a real estate broker for ten years, then went to work for ACU as the learning enhancement coordinator. She served in that capacity for 15 years and recently retired.
Dickie and Onita were the founding members of the Lettermen’s Association at York College and the Athletic Hall of Fame. Dickie led the organization for the first three years as president. They also initiated a scholarship at York College to honor Onita’s parents Catherine and Ellis Touchton.
The couple is active at University Church of Christ in Abilene where they work with the Young At Heart ministry and Onita teaches children’s Bible classes. The couple has three grown children and four grandchildren.
Dickie and Onita met at York College and married before transferring to Abilene Christian College. Dickie earned his undergraduate degree there and went on to earn a master’s of physical education and a PhD in health education. He has taught PE and health and coached for 48 years. He has taught in the Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition at Abilene Christian University since 1977.
Onita attained her undergraduate and graduate degrees from ACU after their three children had graduated from college. She worked as a real estate broker for ten years, then went to work for ACU as the learning enhancement coordinator. She served in that capacity for 15 years and recently retired.
Dickie and Onita were the founding members of the Lettermen’s Association at York College and the Athletic Hall of Fame. Dickie led the organization for the first three years as president. They also initiated a scholarship at York College to honor Onita’s parents Catherine and Ellis Touchton.
The couple is active at University Church of Christ in Abilene where they work with the Young At Heart ministry and Onita teaches children’s Bible classes. The couple has three grown children and four grandchildren.
Young Alumnus of the Year: Brad Reischl
Brad Reischl of Harlan, Iowa, attended York College from 1995-1999. Before coming to York, he worked at the family business regularly doing everything from sweeping the warehouse floors to eventually running a crew. After graduating from York College with a Business Management Degree he went back to work in the family business full-time. In 2002 he bought the company, which is located in Denison. In 2007 he brought on a partner in the business, Nick Bieker ’03 and later added Curt De Boer (parent of YC student) as a business partner.
Since that time the business has continued to grow, expanding from 25 to 55 employees and increasing the company footprint from western Iowa to all of Iowa and Nebraska. Part of their strategy for success has been to give back—they have provided a number of roofs at YC over the years, including those on Sack Hall, Mackey Center, Levitt Library, Middlebrook Hall, Freemen Center and Bartholomew Performing Arts Center.
Brad is married to Tina. The couple has three young daughters, Macy, age 10, Emercyn age 7, and Brinkley age 3. They are very active in their church, Fresh Encounter Fellowship in Harlan, where Brad is a member of the leadership team. Brad is also a member of the York College Lettermen’s Association and President’s Council.
Brad Reischl of Harlan, Iowa, attended York College from 1995-1999. Before coming to York, he worked at the family business regularly doing everything from sweeping the warehouse floors to eventually running a crew. After graduating from York College with a Business Management Degree he went back to work in the family business full-time. In 2002 he bought the company, which is located in Denison. In 2007 he brought on a partner in the business, Nick Bieker ’03 and later added Curt De Boer (parent of YC student) as a business partner.
Since that time the business has continued to grow, expanding from 25 to 55 employees and increasing the company footprint from western Iowa to all of Iowa and Nebraska. Part of their strategy for success has been to give back—they have provided a number of roofs at YC over the years, including those on Sack Hall, Mackey Center, Levitt Library, Middlebrook Hall, Freemen Center and Bartholomew Performing Arts Center.
Brad is married to Tina. The couple has three young daughters, Macy, age 10, Emercyn age 7, and Brinkley age 3. They are very active in their church, Fresh Encounter Fellowship in Harlan, where Brad is a member of the leadership team. Brad is also a member of the York College Lettermen’s Association and President’s Council.