On Friday, Oct. 18, the Monticello Central School District will induct three individuals into its Hall of Distinction at the eleventh-annual induction ceremony. The public is welcome, and encouraged, to attend. The event will commence at 4:30 p.m., with light refreshments, mingling and guided tours of Monticello High School. The ceremony will begin at 5 p.m.in the Arnold Packer Hughs Auditorium in front of the families of the inductees, MCSD staff, the MCSD Board of Education, the Hall of Distinction Committee and the local community. Please join us on Oct. 18 to celebrate these extraordinary men and woman.
The inductees for the 2024 Hall of Distinction are (click on each inductee’s name to read their biography):
- Emma C. Chase, First Superintendent of “Third District of Sullivan County,” which includes what is now the Monticello Central School District
- John Conway, MHS Class of 1970
- Blake Washington, MHS Class of 1994
Emma C. Chase
Emma C. Chase, born in Sullivan County, New York, in 1885, was a pioneering educator and dedicated public servant known for her impactful role as a New York State Superintendent of Schools in Sullivan County.
Chase graduated from the State Normal School in Albany, where she developed a passion for education and a commitment to improving the public school system.
Her career began as a classroom teacher, where she quickly earned a reputation for her innovative teaching methods and dedication to her students. In 1920, Emma Chase was appointed Superintendent of Schools, a position she held for over two decades. During her tenure, she implemented significant educational reforms that improved the quality of education in the region. Her initiatives included curriculum enhancements, teacher training programs, and the establishment of community engagement strategies to foster stronger partnerships between schools and local families.
Chase was also instrumental in advocating for the expansion of educational facilities and resources, ensuring that students across Sullivan County had access to a well-rounded education. Her leadership was characterized by a forward-thinking approach and a deep commitment to the educational needs of the community.
Upon her retirement in 1935, Chase left behind a legacy of excellence in education and a lasting impact on the school system she so fervently served. Emma C. Chase passed away in 1944, but her contributions continue to be remembered and celebrated in Sullivan County, where her influence on the educational landscape remains significant.
Anecdote from a Student in Mamakating District 11 (Wurtsboro)
“Mrs. Chase gave us a lengthy lecture on cleanliness- bathing, brushing our teeth and cleaning our fingernails. When she was ready to leave, her Model T was stuck in the mud. She prevailed upon us kids to push her out. We complied with enthusiasm, but also with dire results. We were covered with mud from head to toe. As she pulled away, she waived her gloved fingers daintily and called out to us, ‘Tell your mothers it’s CLEAN dirt.’”
John Conway
John Conway is an internationally recognized historian and historiographer.
Born in Monticello and raised in Rock Hill, he graduated Monticello High School in 1970. In high school, he was a member of Student Council and Key Club, wrote a regular sports column for the student newspaper, played varsity soccer and baseball, and captained the wrestling team.
He studied Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, where he was on the varsity wrestling team, wrote for the college newspaper, and worked at the college radio station. That led to a career in broadcasting, and he eventually created one of the country’s first call-in sports talk shows on FM radio, while also doing play-by-play for Georgia Tech baseball and working as Sports Editor of Atlanta Scene magazine.
Returning to Sullivan County, he was News Director and Operations Manager at WSUL radio in Monticello, and News Director at WVOS radio in Liberty. He began writing his Retrospect column on Sullivan County history for the Times Herald-Record newspaper in 1987. The column still runs weekly in the Sullivan County Democrat.
He was named official Sullivan County Historian in 1993, and has held the position nearly twice as long as any of his predecessors.
He has written thousands of newspaper columns, dozens of magazine articles, and nine books, has discussed Catskills history on radio and television shows and podcasts in several countries, and averages more than 50 speaking engagements a year, talking about Sullivan County’s storied history to students, service organizations, and public gatherings throughout the country.
Blake Washington
Blake G. Washington is the youngest of three children born to John and Patricia (Gregory) Washington of Monticello. Blake graduated from Monticello High in 1994 and continued his education at the University of New York at Albany, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Blake began his career in public service as a probation officer in Sullivan County and subsequently was employed by the New York State Assembly for more than 20 years, culminating with his appointment as Secretary to the Ways and Means Committee. For eight years, Blake served as chief fiscal advisor to the Speaker of the Assembly, and as lead negotiator on the New York State Budget.
In 2023, Blake was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul as Budget Director for the State of New York. The Monticello native is responsible for the development and management of New York’s $240 billion budget and leads a team of public servants to administer the fiscal duties of the state, including economic and revenue forecasting, tax policy, fiscal planning, capital financing and management of the State’s debt portfolio.
Blake credits educators from Monticello schools for his success, including his third-grade teacher, Mrs. Colleen Cooke, for inculcating a lifelong love of reading, and Dr. Edward Escobar for encouraging a pursuit of higher education.
Blake lives in New York’s Capital Region with his wife and daughter.
About the Hall of Distinction
The Hall of Distinction honors highly successful Monticello alumni, former board of education members and former employees who have achieved distinction, outstanding accomplishments or made significant contributions within their school, family, career, community and/or personal lives. It was established during the 2012-2013 school year and is located in the lobby outside of the Arnold Packer Hughs Auditorium in Monticello High School. Visit the Hall of Distinction webpage to learn more.