Shaker Nation Hall of Fame

The Shaker Nation Hall of Fame is an award presented to alumni who have positively contributed to the Shaker community in a variety of ways. The following alumni were the inaugural inductees in 2015. 

Herbert V. "Chub" Arnold (1928-2018) was Saltville's ambassador and truly loved his town and its people. Not only was he a Saltville High School Class of 1946 graduate and an outstanding multi-sport athlete, he gave to the Shaker community his time and talent in coaching multiple sports, mentoring young people, and always finding ways to help others with whatever their needs might be. He was a longtime player and manager for the Saltville Alkalies, having been its only team captain. With his typical modest attitude, Chub is remembered as having said, "Many of us had a chance to play professional baseball, and several did. Me, I thought I was in the Big Leagues playing for the Alkalies."  He was a mainstay at R. B. Worthy events and he continued that practice well into his eighties for Northwood events until his declining health prevented his attendance. Chub was married to the former Betty Coe and was father to Brian, better known as Yogi. He was active in his church and assumed the role of town historian while also maintaining a substantial collection of artifacts related to the town. If there ever were a true friend to all, Chub Arnold was that friend. 

Mike Kestner (1957-2015) was a standout athlete at R. B. Worthy High School, having won the John W. Galbreath Best Player Award Trophy of 1974. Often referred to as "Maneater" like his father before him, he took his fondness for his town and the Shakers to a higher level than many. He is fondly remembered for yelling, "Go Big Shakes" at ballgames and in more recent memory, posting it frequently as a comment on social media to rally the Shaker Nation group.  He was an avid sports fan and family man until his untimely passing at age 58. He was posthumously inducted into the Shaker Nation Hall of Fame in 2015, with his mother and sisters accepting the award on his behalf. 

The Shaker Nation

Bill "Jock" Lee (1926-2021) was a legend in a striped shirt or an umpire's uniform. A member of the Saltville High School Class of 1944, he lived his entire life in Saltville. He served as an official for 42 years until his retirement in 1991, having worked more than 300 games in football, boys' and girls' basketball, baseball, and softball. It is generally believed that he has worked more games than any other person in state history.  He was not only popular as an official, but his friendly rapport with his community often led to ovations from the crowd as well as crowning homecoming queens.  Not only an official, he still found time to coach little league baseball, basketball, and football and is fondly remembered for instilling toughness in his players. He made time for all of this while being husband to Mildred and father to six children, as well as holding down a full time job.  Each year he would ask who was being nominated for the Shaker Nation Hall of Fame, as he was an inaugural inductee; the response was always that we needed to find someone who contributed as much to the school and the community as he did.