Hall of Fame

Recognizing outstanding Gables alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their fields and have continuously shown the attributes of a Cavalier. The Hall of Fame also recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the school community.

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hall of fame ceremony 2023

This year’s Hall of Fame inductees represent an extraordinary group of individuals who have made exceptional contributions in their respective fields. From the brilliant medical mind of Dr. Mitchel Berger to the remarkable legal expertise of Judge Paul C. Huck, and the unwavering dedication of Alberta M. Jones, this diverse group embodies excellence. To learn more about all CGHS HOF inductees, click here.

Friends of Gables High resurrected the Hall of Fame after 15 years left dormant due to budget cuts. While it is expensive to host an induction ceremony and reception, we feel it is important to continue the tradition of honoring exemplary alumni and Gables educators who have risen to top of their fields and who exemplify the characteristics of a Gables Cavalier. Consider donating today to help us continue this important tradition. 

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hall of fame ceremony 2021

In its nearly 75 years, Coral Gables Senior High has produced alumni successful in careers ranging from astronauts to artists, broadcasters to business leaders, champions in sports to politicians and publishers. On Friday, November 5, 2021, a ceremony was held in the auditorium in which five alumni were inducted into the Gables Hall of Fame for their contributions to Gables and the community. The Gables tradition was revived by Friends of Gables High 12 years after the last time alumni were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

hall of fame nominations

The Gables ​Hall of​ F​ame​ recognizes and honors alumni who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen fields while also continuing the legacy of CGHS by giving back to their community. The ​Hall of Fame​ will also recognize individuals who may not be CGHS graduates but have made significant contributions to the school community. Nominations are accepted on a rolling basis and remain evergreen, which means they will be considered in every successive Hall of Fame induction vote.

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hall of fame inductees: Alumni

  • Barrow, Henry. (Class of 1954 – Inducted in 1993) A staple on the South Florida airwaves since the early 1960’s, Mr. Barrow became an integral part of the Dolphins broadcasts for the better part of three decades. He was there for all five of Miami’s Super Bowl visits and gained the trust of one of the most secretive coaches in NFL history, Don Shula. He pioneered the position that is now the standard in any radio or television sports broadcast. He was the first to stand on the sidelines while on the air, reporting on things that had never before been a part of a football broadcast.
  • Berger, Mitchel: (Class of 1970 – Inducted in 2023) Dr. Mitchel S. Berger is a nationally recognized expert in treating brain and spinal cord tumors as well as tumor-related epilepsy in adults in children. He is also a specialist in brain mapping techniques used to identify and preserve areas of motor, sensory, and language function during surgery. He developed a technique in the 1980-90s that allows surgeons to safely snip out tumors from the tangle of electrical pathways that give people the ability to speak and move. He recently stepped down as Chair of Neurological Surgery at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) to remain a full-time professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery. He is past president of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and was recently appointed by President Biden to be on his three-member Presidential Cancer Panel that directly advises the President on all matters related to the National Cancer Plan.
  • Blecke, Alberta “Berta” Bachelor (Class of 1968) Dept. of Defense Teacher in Okinawa, Japan. Dir. Of Governor’s Constituency for Children in 1986. Many community organizations and awards.
  • Calderon, Lissette (Class of 1992 – Inducted in 2020) – Ms. Calderon is the founder of Neology Life, a visionary development company with trendsetting projects along and near the Miami River. She has made extraordinary contributions to the community, focusing on disadvantaged kids and women as a board member of Amigos for Kids and the Sundari Foundation, Inc. Lissette graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business. At Gables High, some of her many accomplishments included: Senior Class President, Senior of Distinction, Silver Knight Honorable Mention, and Outstanding Senior of Distinction.
  • Calzada, Humberto (Class of 1962) – Classical Latin American Artist. 
  • Carbone, Ralph (Class of 1956 – Inducted in 1996) – Mr. Carbone is a retired decorated Miami Dade County Firefighter, beginning his career in 1963 when it was the Dade County Fire Division with 127 firefighters covering 2,000 square miles of unincorporated territory (Now there are over 3,000 firefighters). He co-founded the University of Miami Jackson Memorial Burn Center, now located inside the Ryder Trauma Center. He spearheaded a fundraising campaign for the Center with firefighters and FPL electrical workers soliciting donations on the streets and raised over $6M in six years and started the Center’s endowment fund for research of how best to treat burn wounds and grow skin, and to support the Center overall. He teamed up with Burger King, which funded his development of a computerized robot named Snuffy that he took into schools in Dade and Broward as well as to county fairs on his days off to teach kids the importance of burn safety. He did this for 18 years reaching more than a half million school age children. For his distinguished accomplishments over the years, he has received numerous awards. Among them: The Miami Herald Spirit of Excellence, 1987; University of Miami Awards for Service (The University Founders Society, The Ibis Society, UM School of Medicine “Man of the Year”); Florida American Legion Firefighter of the Year, 1987; Florida Firefighter of the Year, 1985 (Presented by Gov. Bob Graham); The American Burn Association, 1991, for “significant efforts in burn prevention.” This was the first time that the North American association of doctors and nurses gave its highest award to someone outside of the medical field. He wrote a history of the Dade County Fire Department that is available in several libraries in Dade County. 
  • Carlson, Art (Class of 1967 – Inducted in 1992)– Mr. Carlson is a seven Emmy award winning reporter and video producer who reported local news at WPLG in Miami for 17 years. He is a writer and video producer at Florida Municipal Electric Association and is the owner of Voice Beyond. 
  • Cepero, Eloy “Bill” (Class of 1964 – Inducted in 2002)- Mr. Cepero left Cuba with his two brothers with the help of the Methodist Church as part of “Operation Pedro Pan.”  He served in the military and is a general partner at Eloy Cepero & Associates in commercial/ mortgage banking. He is the host of radio and television shows.
  • Clark, Maxine – (Class of 1966) Ms. Clark is the founder of Build-a-Bear Workshop, a teddy-bear themed retail entertainment experience. In 2008, she was named one of The 25 Most Influential People in Retailing by Chain Store Age. In 2005, Build-a-Bear Workshop Portfolio was named Company of the year by the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies. In 2017, Build-a-Bear Workshop was named to the FORTUNE Best Companies to Work For list for the ninth year in a row. In 2017, Maxine was named to the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame and in 2015 was named one of the Women of the Year by the Greater Missouri Leadership Foundation. She serves on many boards including Footlocker and Gymboree. In 2006, she published her first book, “The Bear Necessities of Business: Building a company with Heart.”
  • Colson, Bill (Class of 1970) – Mr. Colson was the Managing Editor (1996-2002) of Time Inc.’s Sports Illustrated magazine, stepping down in 2002 after 24-years at the magazine. Under his leadership, Sports Illustrated produced insightful and widely acclaimed sports journalism, including a detailed look at domestic violence by athletes, a cover story on the diminishing number of white athletes and an expose on internet gambling. 
  • Colson, Dean (Class of 1970) – Pres. Dade County Bar Assoc. Florida Bar Board of Governors. President of the OB committee 2003. Mayor of Miami’s Citizen of the Year Award. Much more.
  • Colzie, Cornelius “Neil” (Class of 1971 – Inducted in 1996) (February 28, 1953-August 19, 2001) Mr. Colzie was an American football defensive back for the Oakland Raiders (1975–1978), the Miami Dolphins (1979), and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1980–1983). He also played for the Orlando Renegades of the USFL in 1985. He was All American out of high school and played on the Gables national championship football team. 
  • Davids, Keith: (Class of 1986 – Inducted in 2023) A native of Miami, Florida, Rear Admiral Keith Davids is a SEAL Officer, a 1986 graduate of Coral Gables High School, and a 1990 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy. He has a Master of Science in Manpower Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Science in National Security Strategy from the National War College.  He currently leads the Navy’s Naval Special Warfare Command. His operational command tours include serving as the commanding officer of SEAL Team One where he deployed to Iraq to fight Al Qaida and, more recently, as the commander of Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, Iraq, to fight ISIS and liberate Mosul.  His most recent assignment was in Homestead where he served as the commander of Special Operations Command SOUTH. While serving in Homestead he was designated as the Joint Task Commander to lead military aide and rescue efforts in the wake of the most recent earthquake in Haiti.  He has made numerous operational deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Pacific, and Europe. He served as the Military Aide to President Bush and later served as the Director of the White House Military Office overseeing military support to the Executive Office of the President. He grew up sailing on Biscayne Bay and was a youth national champion sailor. When he has time he still enjoys sailing and a few years ago even managed to win a Masters World Championship title in the one person Laser sailboat. He is married to Rear Admiral Yvette Davids who is a Surface Warfare Officer.  Yvette and Keith are the only dual Admiral couple in the US Navy’s history.  They have twin 13-year old boys, Kai and Kiernan. 
  • Decker, Gail Edwards (Class of 1966 – Inducted in 2001) – Ms. Decker is a retired American actress best known for her roles as Dot Higgins in ABC’s It’s a Living, Sharon Lemure in NBC’s Blossom, and Vicky Larson in ABC’s Full House.  In 1970, after graduating from the University of Miami, Cum Laude, Edwards wrote, produced, and starred in the off-Broadway musical Becoming. It won the Miami Herald Critics’ Choice award three times before the musical debuted in New York. While in New York, she landed the role of “Sandy” opposite Peter Gallagher in Broadway’s East Coast tour of Grease. 
  • Del Greco, Albert Louis “Al” (Class of 1980 – Inducted in 2001) – Mr. Del Greco is a former American football placekicker for the Tennessee Titans and a current sports radio personality and high school coach in Birmingham, Alabama. Ranked #14 on the NFL’s list of all-time leading scorers.
  • Fox, Roberta (Class of 1961 – Inducted in 1994) (1943 – 2009) Ms. Fox was a Florida attorney, politician, and feminist. She served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives (1976-1982) and the Florida Senate (1982-1986). During her time in politics, she focused on issues such as family law reform, especially with regard to women’s and children’s rights.  As an attorney, she successfully litigated landmark cases in employment, personal injury, and family.  She is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions, including the 1973 One of Ten Outstanding Young Women of America Award; the 1986 Florida Women Lawyers Association’s Judge Mattie Belle Davis Award for service; and the 1996 Women of Impact Award. 
  • Glass, Lillian: (Class of 1970 – Inducted in 2023) Dr. Lillian Glass is a world-renowned communication and body language expert, best-selling author, and currently an award-winning filmmaker. She is also a media personality providing commentary on the body language of newsmakers. She also is an expert witness in behavioral analysis for state and federal cases Her best-selling books include “Toxic People” as well as “The Body Language of Liars.” As a film director and producer has made several award-winning films including “Reinventing Rosalee ” which won 57 awards worldwide.
  • Grossman, Stuart (Class of 1964 – Inducted in 2020) – Mr. Grossman is recognized as one of America’s pre-eminent trial lawyers. He is co-founder of the Grossman, Roth, Yaffa, Cohen law firm in Coral Gables, and has been recognized by numerous groups for his unparalleled legal advocacy. He has made a lasting impact through his generous support of many civic and charitable causes, including as Chairman of Margaux’s Miracle, which funds pediatric cancer research. Stuart was a manager of the Gables High basketball team and on the debate team. He holds both undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Miami.
  • Huck, Paul C.: (Class of 1958 – Inducted in 2023) A self boot-strapped success story, Paul Huck worked his way through college, and after graduating from the University of Florida School of Law with honors, Judge Huck practiced civil trial law with several prominent law firms in Miami. In 2000, he was appointed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, where he continues to serve as a senior judge. He has also sat by designation as a visiting judge on the Eleventh and the Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals each year for the last twenty years. Judge Huck has dedicated much of his life to teaching and mentoring both students and lawyers. He has taught the Litigation Skills and Professional Responsibility classes at the University of Miami since 1981. In addition, he has been a faculty member of the Florida Bar Advanced Trial Advocacy Course since 2007, and of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and the National Advocacy Center. He has also developed mentoring and teaching programs for students ranging from elementary school to high school. His dedication to leading by example has been recognized through several awards, including the Florida Bar’s William M. Hoevler Judicial Professionalism Award, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the University of Florida School of Law’s Distinguished Service Award.
  • Kerdyk, Tracy L. (Class of 1984) – Ms. Kerdyk is an American professional golfer who played on the LPGA Tour. She played college golf at the University of Miami where she won a record 11 times in 1988. She was a two-time All-American and 1988 NCAA Collegiate Player of the Year. She also played on the 1988 U.S. Curtis Cup team. She played on the LPGA Tour from 1989 to 1999 and won once in 1995. 
  • Labbie, Dr. Andrew S. (Class of 1976 – Inducted in 1996) – Dr. Labbie is board-certified in pediatric urology and urological surgery. He earned his medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in 1982. He is affiliated with medical facilities such as Baptist Hospital and Jackson Memorial Hospital.
  • Lenoir, Benjamin William “Bill” (Class of 1957) (March 14, 1939-August 26, 2010). Mr. Lenoir was an electrical engineer and a NASA astronaut. He was backup science pilot for Skylab 3 and Skylab 4, the second and third manned missions in the Skylab program. During Skylab 4, he was co-leader of the visual observations project and coordinator between the flight crew and the principal investigators for the solar science experiments. Lenoir flew as a Mission Specialist on STS-5 (November 11-16, 1982), the first Space Shuttle flight to deploy commercial Satellites and logged over 122 hours in space. 
  • Leopold, Ted: (Class of 1976 – Inducted in 2023) Recognized as one of the “Best Lawyers in America,” Mr. Leopold litigates high-stakes, complex lawsuits on behalf of consumer safety issues, particularly as it relates to product defects, automobile safety, and managed care matters. In 2010, he obtained a $131 million jury verdict against the Ford Motor Company for faulty seatbelts – the ninth-largest verdict against an automobile company in U.S. history. In 2018, he was made the National Law Journal’s 2018 Energy and Environmental Trailblazers list after successfully consolidating and overseeing a series of putative environmental toxic tort class actions filed against E.I. DuPont de Nemours Company and The Chemours Company for knowingly discharging PFAS, such as GenX and other “forever chemicals” into the Cape Fear River, one of North Carolina’s principal drinking water sources. A partner at Cohen Milstein and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, he is also co-chair of the Complex Tort Litigation and Consumer Protection practice.
  • Lowell, Mike (Class of 1992 – Inducted in 2002) Mr. Lowell is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. During a 13-year career, Lowell played for the New York Yankees (1998), Florida Marlins (1999–2005), and the Boston Red Sox (2006–2010).
  • Martin, Dr. Randolph (Class of 1961 – Inducted in 2004): Dr. Martin has received numerous awards and recognitions, including becoming a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and being elected to the “Best Doctors in Atlanta,” “Best Doctors in the United States,” and “Who’s Who.” In November of 2004, Dr. Martin was awarded the Howard L. Lewis Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Heart Association for outstanding journalistic contributions. Since 1994, Dr. Martin has been a medical correspondent for Cox Television’s ABC affiliate, WSB-TV, where he appears two to three times per week on Channel 2 Action News, and has been awarded multiple broadcast awards, including three Emmy nominations. He lectures extensively throughout the world and has served as the host/moderator and producer of the world’s largest professional medical tele-education program, “Echo in Context,” which runs annually with nearly 40,000 physicians worldwide tuned in to the program. He is the past president of the American Society of Echocardiography, an organization of 10,000 Cardiovascular Specialists dedicated to the use of Cardiovascular Ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of heart and vascular diseases. He has over 145 publications to his credit in peer-reviewed journals and is recognized as an expert in Echocardiography and Noninvasive Cardiology.
  • Mayer, Bob (Class of 1965 – Inducted in 2004) – Mr. Mayer spent a record-setting forty-plus years reporting and anchoring the news on WTVJ NBC6 in South Florida where he started as an intern in 1969. He logged more hours in the field and more hours at the anchor desk than any other South Florida broadcaster. He is the recipient of the Silver Circle Award.
  • McCabe, Robert (Class of 1948- Ponce High School, just before Gables opened Inducted in 1988) Mr. McCabe served as Miami Dade College’s president from 1980-1995. He left his mark on local and national education in opening the Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami and also opened the Homestead campus. During his 35 years in steering the college, 16 years as president, he led educational reforms, opened several branch centers and revolutionized the way teachers were rewarded by giving pay raises based on classroom performance, not degrees and research. With his outside-the-box ideas for better education, he was able to grow the college into the nation’s largest two-year college and helped create what is now the Wolfson Media History Center. When he started at the school it was 80 percent white, non-Hispanic. By the time he retired, the college was 80 percent minority and more than 75-percent of entering freshmen had to take remedial classes. The school reached out to immigrants, multigenerational poor families, older residents and middle-class high school grads to boost attendance. His radical reforms reshaped the school’s somewhat lackadaisical approach to education in the freewheeling 1970’s. He demanded more of students, structured challenging course schedules and set standards for graduation.  
  • Mercado-Valdes, Frank (Class of 1980 – Inducted in 2002) – Mr. Mercado-Valdes founded a black television syndication, the African Heritage Network, a television sales, distribution, and marketing company. He tells the story of how, as a student, he was alone and intimidated by white students who harassed him on a daily basis, and he gave up trying to compete academically. However, he did become very good with his fists, and by the ninth grade, his fighting skills were so good that he considered a boxing career. Although he did not go on to make a career of boxing, he earned several Florida Golden Glove championships when he was in high school. His grades continued to suffer, and when he finished high school in 1980, he was at the bottom of the graduating class. Mercado-Valdes joined the military, the U.S. Marine Corp, and served a two-year stint. When he was discharged from the Marine Corps in 1982, he enrolled at Miami-Dade Junior College and graduated with an Associate in Arts degree. He subsequently matriculated at the University of Miami, receiving a degree in political science from that institution. While at the University of Miami, Mercado-Valdes began toying with an entrepreneurial idea that would change his life in ways he had never dreamed. He has shared his inspiring story with students at Gables High.
  • Ortega, Ralph (Class of 1971 – Inducted in 1992) Mr. Ortega is a former American college and professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons in the 1970s and early 1980s. Ortega played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Atlanta Falcons and the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He was All-American out of high school and on the Gables national championship team.
  • Oster, Jeff: (Class of 1975 – Inducted in 2023) Mr. Oster has distinguished himself in the musical genres of New Age, Ambient, Funk, and Jazz. He has achieved a GRAMMY® nomination, has performed at Carnegie Hall, has released multiple albums worldwide of his own and has been a guest artist on over 60 recordings from multiple GRAMMY® winning and nominated artists. Having begun playing trumpet at 8 years old, Jeff developed a love and passion for music. He never gave up on his dreams of making music. Jeff worked for many years in the business world, but eventually realized his musical dreams. He continues to live this dream as he has developed into a premier musical artist. He has said many times that the motivation for his career came from his experiences in the Band of Distinction at Gables High through the inspiration of beloved music instructor, William “Uncle Willie” Bill Ledue.
  • Pilafian, Sam (Class of 1967 – Inducted in 2001) Mr. Pilafian was an American tuba player. He was active in the jazz scene, having played with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, among other notable artists. Performed with Leonard Bernstein at the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Also performed in the NY Philharmonic, NY Opera Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Boston Pops Orchestra. Once considered to be the best premier tuba player in the world.
  • Reno, Janet (Class of 1956 – Inducted in 1988) (July 21, 1938 – November 7, 2016)- Ms. Reno was Former Attorney General of the United States (1993–2001). She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993, and confirmed on March 11. She was the first female Attorney General and the second longest serving Attorney General after William Wirt. Janet was captain of the debate team in high school. 
  • Rodrigues, Beverly Counts (Class of 1971)- Ms. Rodrigues was a news anchor/reporter for WFOR CBS 4. She was one of the Gables’ first black graduates along with fellow Hall of Fame Inductee, Frank Mercado-Valdes. She went on to be a Public Information Officer for the Florida Department of Children and Families, District 11, and then the Community Relations Manager for The Miami Herald where she initiated and implemented The Herald’s Black History Month Special Section, which continues today as a vital community service. She is currently the President and CEO of BCR and Associates of South Florida Inc., a marketing company.
  • Sadowski, William (Class of 1962 – Inducted in 1988)- Mr. Sadowski was Managing Director, Head of Municipal Underwriting Syndicate Desk for Loop Capital. Prior to joining Loop Capital, he spent over two decades at PaineWebber as Manager of their Municipal Underwriting Department. He also held senior positions at Cowen and Reinoso & Co. and John Nuveen and Company, where he was Manager of the Bond Department. 
  • Scott, Winston E. (Class of 1968)- Mr. Scott was the astronaut who launched Endeavour (January 11-20, 1996) on a 9-day flight during which the crew retrieved the Space Flyer Unit satellite (launched from Japan 10-months earlier), deployed and retrieved the OAST-Flyer satellite, and conducted two spacewalks. He was also part of the Navy for many years. He became the executive director of the Florida Space Authority and in September 2006 he became Vice President and Deputy General Manager of the engineering and science contract group for Jacobs Engineering in Houston, Texas. He is a retired U.S. Navy Captain. Wife is Marilyn. Phone: 713-560-4662 email:jazzairllc@gmail.com Address: 1437 Pineapple Avenue, #506, Melbourne, FL 32935
  • Sekoff, Roy (Class of 1977 – Inducted in 2020) – Mr. Sekoff was the Founding Editor of the Huffington Post and President and co-creator of HuffPost Live. His book of humorous essays, “Lacks Self-Control,” has won multiple writing and publishing awards. Earlier in his career, he was a writer and on-air correspondent for Michael Moore’s Emmy-winning “TV Nation.” At Gables High, he was President of Thespians Drama Club, a Senior of Distinction, a Silver Knight nominee, and played leading roles in Barefoot in the Park and Pinocchio. Roy is a graduate of the University of Miami.
  • Steinhardt, Paul: (Class of 1970 – Inducted in 2023) Mr. Steinhardt is currently the Albert Einstein Professor in Science at Princeton University where he is on the faculty of both the Departments of Physics and of Astrophysical Sciences. He is best known for his development of new theories of the origin, evolution, and future of the universe, especially the proposal of a cyclic universe. He is also well known for his discovery of a new form of matter, known as quasicrystals. He predicted their existence and co-developed the fundamental theory to explain their unique physical properties. Years later, he was a co-discoverer of the first natural quasicrystals, an effort which culminated in his leading a geological expedition to the desolate tundra north of the Kamchatka Peninsula in far Eastern Russia.  The expedition revealed quasicrystals embedded in fragments of meteorites dating to the beginning of the solar system.  He has written two popular books on these topics. Endless Universe: Beyond the Big Bang (2007), co-authored with Neil Turok, which describes the early struggles in challenging the widely accepted big bang theory leading to ideas which are currently being explored and tested. The Second Kind of impossible: The Extraordinary Quest for a New Form of matter describes the adventure in search of natural quasicrystals.
  • Verneka S. Silva – First black female Assistant Principal, CGHS. Who’s Who of American Women. Many service awards. Presented in 1993.
  • Silver, Jeffrey (Class of 1973 – Inducted in 2004) – Mr. Silver has produced over 30 feature films through his production company, Biscayne Pictures. He is currently working on a remake of “The Little Mermaid” (Disney) directed by Rob Marshall. His most recent release was the photo-real re-imaging of “The Lion King” (Disney). Other recent releases include the epic fairy-tale “Beauty and the Beast (Disney). He also produced the sci-fi actioner, “Edge of Tomorrow” (Warners), and “Tron: Legacy.” (Disney),”Training Day,” (Warners) and the “Santa Clause.” (Disney). He won an Emmy as producer of the hit television series, “The Wonder Years.”
  • Stokes, Roberta Boyce (Class of 1957)- Ms. Stokes is on the Orange Bowl committee and was an Honoree for the ITCOX Pioneer Award in 1992. She is a longtime community leader and champion of fitness, physical education and girls sports. She is a Professor Emeritus at Miami-Dade College, where she once served as Associate Dean and Athletic Director. Ms. Stokes a member of the Baptist Health Board of Trustees and the Doctors Hospital Board of Directors, and has been elected chair of the Board of Directors for Baptist Outpatient Services. 

  • Studeman, William “Bill”: (Class of 1958 – Inducted in 2023) William “Bill” Studeman is a retired admiral of the United States Navy and former deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with two extended periods as acting Director of Central Intelligence. He served in the administrations of both George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He is a 4-star Admiral, serving as Director of Naval Intelligence and as Director of the National Security Agency (NSA). As a young man he joined the Navy after college and went on numerous tours of Viet Nam. Admiral Studeman also had a leadership role in Operation Desert Storm. He was appointed to the Iraq Intelligence Commission, an independent panel tasked with investigating U.S. intelligence surrounding the United States’ 2003 invasion of Iraq. He currently serves on the National Advisory Board on Bio-Security and the Public Interest Declassification Board. He is also a member of the Defense Science Board as well as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Advisory Board, Defense Intelligence Agency Joint Military Intelligence, among other distinctions.

  • Sutton, Rear Admiral Robert “Bobby” (Class of 1959 – Inducted in 2004)- Admiral Sutton served as a Surface Warfare Officer for 34 years, serving on seven ships and commanding two of them. He was a commander in the US Navy and served in the Persian Gulf and received the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for service with the Naval Advisory Group in Vietnam. His commands included USS MITSCHER (DDG-35), USS PREBLE (DDG-46), USS THOMAS S. GATES (CG-51), NAVAL FORCES CENTRAL COMMAND (Pearl Harbor), Naval Logistics Support Force (Bahrain), Training Command Atlantic Fleet, and Naval Ordnance Center.  
  • Tinker, Gerald (Class of 1969 – Inducted in 1984) – Mr. Tinker is a former American athlete and American football player, winner of gold medal in the 4 x 100 meters relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics. After the Olympics, Tinker was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2nd round (44th overall) of the 1974 NFL Draft as wide receiver. He played for the Falcons (1974–1975) and the Green Bay Packers (1975). 
  • Dianne Edwards Thorington (Class of 1966) – Taught at Gables High, UM, U of Montana, and Cypress College, CA. Associate TV Producer, Paramount Studios (Family Ties, American Dreamer, Art of Being Nick). Performed Coconet Grove Playhouse, and Miami Beach Theatre of Performing Arts.
  • Ventulett II, Thomas (Class of 1953 – Inducted in 2004)- One of the founding principles of Thompson, Ventulett Stainback & Associates, Inc., Tom Ventulett is Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Directors. Since the firm’s inception in 1968, TVS has been honored with over 200 design awards including a National AIA Honor Award for McCormick Place in Chicago and Honor Award – Urban Design for the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.
  • Winston, George (Class of 1967)- Mr. Winston is an American musician and pianist who has inspired fans and musicians alike with his singular solo acoustic piano songs for more than 40 years while selling 15 million albums. He was first recorded by John Fahey for Fahey’s Takoma Records. Winston’s 2002 album Night Divides the Day – The Music of the Doors took the music of the 1960s band The Doors and transformed it into solo pianos. Since 1980, he has released ten solo piano albums including, AUTUMN, WINTER INTO SPRING, DECEMBER, SUMMER, FOREST, LINUS & LUCY – THE MUSIC OF VIINCE GUARALDI, and PLAINS. He is a household name and one of the foremost instrumental composers of our time. 
  • Wolin, John (Class of 1965 – Inducted in 2001) – Mr. Wolin was a reporter and editor at the Miami Herald for 21 years. He was born an achondroplasia dwarf, a degenerative condition he chronicled in a memorable 1991 article for the Sunday Tropic magazine as he prepared for a risky spinal-cord operation to preserve the use of his arms. The piece, entitled Walking Tall, drew hundreds of cards and letters and showcased the gifts that made Wolin a master of making other writers better, as well as his blend of sharp humor and sharper clarity. During his years at The Herald, Wolin lost the use of one leg, then the other, yet kept coming to work, hobbling along on braces and canes at first, then getting around on an electric scooter. He was passionate about his work.  A scholarship was created in his memory for aspiring journalists. 
  • Woodward, William “Woody” (Class of 1960 – Inducted in 1988) Mr. Woodward is a retired player and general manager in Major League Baseball. Woodward played college baseball for the Florida State University Seminoles. He played for the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves (1963–1968) and the Cincinnati Reds (1968–1971). A shortstop and second baseman, Woodward appeared in 880 games played, garnering 517 hits. He hit for a .236 batting average with one home run and 148 runs batted in.
  • Yacoub, Ron (Class of 1992 – Inducted in 2020) – Mr. Yacoub is the founder of Pinecrest Physical Therapy, a highly successful company that has expanded throughout South Florida and into the Dominican Republic. His passion is to help his patients return to an active lifestyle. Ron regularly and generously supports Gables High and Gables High athletes. Ron obtained his Masters in Physical Therapy and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Miami. He was a Gables High Senior of Distinction and student athlete on the JV and Varsity football teams.

  • Zinner, Michael: (Class of 1963 – Inducted in 2023) Dr. Zinner is the founding CEO and Executive Medical Director of Miami Cancer Institute established in 2017. As a Johns Hopkins trained cancer surgeon, he was previously the Chairman of the Department of Surgery at UCLA and then Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School. For the previous 22 years he was also the Clinical Director of the Dana Farber/Brigham and Women’s Cancer Center at Harvard. He has held the office of President of several national surgical organizations and was Chairman of the Board of Regents of the largest surgical organization in the country; the American College of Surgeons.

  • Zweig, Martin E. (Class of 1960 – Inducted in 2001)- Mr. Zweig is an American stock investor, investment advisor, and financial analyst. He is, according to Forbes Magazine renowned for his eccentric and lavish lifestyle” as well having the most expensive residence in the United States. It was listed on the New York City real estate market a few years ago for $70 million. His particular investing methodology is based on selecting growth stocks that also have certain value characteristics, through a system that uses both fundamental analysis and market timing. He predicted the stock market crash the Friday before the 1987 crash. 
  • Zwilch, Ellen Taaffe (Class of 1956 – Inducted in 1984)) – Ms. Zwilch is an American composer, and the first female composer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Among her many recognitions are the Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge Chamber Music Prize, the Arturo Toscanini Music Critics Award, the Ernst von Dohnányi Citation, an Academy Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Guggenheim Fellowship, 4 Grammy nominations, the Alfred I. Dupont Award, Miami Performing Arts Center Award, the Medaglia d’oro in the J.B. Viotti Competition, and the NPR and WNYC Gotham Award for her contributions to the musical life of New York City. Ms. Zwilich is in the Florida Artists Hall of Fame.

Hall of fame inductees: Gables Educators

  • Finora, Dan: Inducted in 2023. Mr. Finora has spent more years and time at 450 Bird Road than any other human on the planet – some 60+ years at CGHS. Beloved by students for decades, we honor his service to generations of Cavaliers.
  • Jones, Alberta M.: Inducted in 2023. Born and educated in the State of Georgia with a BA in English and an MA in French, Ms. Jones began working at Coral Gables Senior High School in December 1969 and retired in June 2003. During her tenure at Gables High, she served as Co-Department Chair of Language Arts, Sponsor of Anchor Service Club, Gables Teacher of the Year, Editor for Amsco Publishers, and taught TOEFL in the evenings. Working at Gables, for her, was like “interacting with the members of One Big Family,” of which she always felt like an integral part. The greatest joy was watching her students learn, grow, and mature, while serving as the Navigator during their journey to success. She is presently substituting at a local high school and on the verge of publishing her first book, which is a compilation of poems on the many phases of life experiences which touch every member of society.
  • Kotys, Nick: (April 3, 1913 – July 28, 2005) Inducted in 1984, was an American football coach. At Coral Gables High School near Miami, Florida, he built one of the most dominating programs in Florida state history, winning FHSAA state titles in 1963, 1964, 1967 and 1968, and two mythical state championships before the playoff system was begun. Kotys also won four mythical national titles in 1956, 1964, 1967 and 1968. He retired in 1971 after 20 seasons as head coach of the Cavaliers with a 160-33-9 record.
  • Moore Jr., Ralph: Inducted in 2004. For 16 years (1977-1993), Ralph Moore was principal of Coral Gables High School. 
  • Olkes, Alan T: Inducted in 1996. has a long and distinguished career in education that spans more than 50 years. He was a principal at Coral Gables Senior High from 1972-1977 and was in charge of the music program. In addition to teaching and serving as a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, he held a variety of senior-level positions in the curriculum, technology, and human resources departments of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools.  Alan co-founded Chancellor Academies in 1999. He served in a senior level capacity with Chancellor Beacon Academies and continues to do so with Imagine Schools as Executive Vice President over Texas.
  • Rath, Harry: Inducted in 1984. First Principal of Gables High (1950-1962). Created the school’s logo. 
  • Silva, Vernica: First black Assistant Principal. Who’s Who of American Women. Many service awards. Presented in 1993. 
  • Simpson, Jim: Inducted in 2020. is a Former Gables High Head Coach JV Football Coach and Assistant Coach Varsity. Coach Simpson is the beloved former Gables High Activities Director from 1962-1995, and inspired both athletes and other student leaders alike through his devotion to what Gables High stands for: great academics, leadership, and sportsmanship. 
  • Ledue, William “Bill”: Inducted in 1992, Beloved Band Director of CGHS “Band of Distinction.” He led generations of students in the pursuit of musical excellence on the field and in the concert hall. More importantly, he instilled in them honorable characteristics that could be applied across a lifetime: Discipline, commitment, preparation, cooperation, camaraderie, grace in victory and defeat, and all the while keeping a sense of humor and having fun. His bands travelled the world. They marched in national parades including the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. Bill received many honors, including ASCAP “Music in Sports award for his work on the Orange Bowl Halftime shows. He was inducted into the Miami-Dade County Music Educators, Florida Music Educators, Coral Gables High School and Florida Bandmaster Association Halls of Fame. Bill was born in Whitinsville, Mass. and served in the Coast Guard Combat Unit in World War II. He passed away on September 2, 2011. He was 89. 
  • Wilson, Kathie P. (Kathe): Inducted in 2001. Teacher at Gables High for 19 years. Founder of the National German Honor Society. Earned the Cross of Merit from West Germany in 1976. She was responsible for the retirement law change mandate for retirement at age 70.