Community pride was on full display July 24-26 as Frankfort came together to honor four remarkable individuals during the 8th annual Frankfort Hot Dog Hall of Fame celebration. Events in this year’s lineup included storytelling, golf, and a formal ceremony recognizing Frankfort High School alumni and honorary Hot Dogs who have achieved extraordinary lifetime accomplishments. The Hall of Fame, launched in 2018 and housed at Frankfort High School, now includes 64 members. “It’s not just about achievement,” said Hall of Fame Board President Don Rusk. “It’s about recognizing the people who made a difference.”
The celebration kicked off with a live Hoosier Storytellers event at the Frankfort Library on Thursday night, followed by the 5th Annual Golf Scramble on Friday. The outing brought together 112 players, generous sponsors, and several past inductees. Overall champions were FHS Basketball Coach Albert Hendrix, Judi Hendrix, Clayton Campbell, and Trey Hendrix, who finished 14 under par. The top women’s team was Lisa Cox, Grace Cates, Janet Cripe, and Marcie Cates with a score of 71. The weekend concluded on Saturday with the formal induction ceremony at Frankfort High School, hosted by alumnus Tyler Stock (’05) and attended by school leaders, family, friends, and community members.
Here are our 2025 inductees to the Frankfort Hot Dog Hall of Fame:
Dr. Robert Carnahan (Class of 1989) – A professor of pediatrics and infectious disease at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Carnahan co-developed an antibody treatment for COVID-19 that was later recognized as one of Time magazine’s top inventions of the year. In his speech, Carnahan reflected on the power of mentorship and small-town values. He credited his success to the support he received growing up in Frankfort, saying, “I had so much freedom to fail, and still be accepted.”
Larry McCoy (Class of 1955) – A writer, editor, and producer for major news outlets like UPI and CBS, McCoy is also the author of four books. Known for his wit and humor, he regaled the audience with stories of Halloween pranks, aging with grace, and Hoosier pride. “Despite all the moving,” he said, “I’ve never really left Indiana.”
Dr. Tom Pearcy (Class of 1979) – A professor of Latin American History at Slippery Rock University, Pearcy has worked internationally as a Fulbright Scholar, U.S. government historian, and advocate for cultural understanding. Pearcy thanked FHS teachers who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself: “Any success I’ve had,” he said, “is because I grew up in Frankfort.”
Janet Priest (Honorary Inductee) – A music educator who served Frankfort High School for 40 years, Priest led the school’s orchestra program and helped take students on international performance tours. She reflected on her strong ties to Frankfort, as well as her Hot Dog pride: “You don’t stay somewhere for four decades unless you love it,” she said.
Special Recognition: 1925 Basketball Team – A Special Recognition Award (a first for the Hall of Fame) was presented to the 1925 Frankfort High School State Champion Basketball Team in honor of their 100th anniversary. Matt Martin, Executive Director of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, shared stories of the team’s remarkable season and its legendary coach, Everett Case, who many credit with popularizing the tradition of cutting down nets after championship wins. He called the team’s historic win “a tone-setter for Hoosier Hysteria.”
While this year’s festivities have come to a close, Superintendent Dr. Matt Rhoda encouraged the public to nominate future inductees. The nomination form is available online at frankforteducationfoundation.org/nominatehotdoghalloffame, and once submitted, remains active for three years. The Hall of Fame would not be what it is today without the continued support of the Frankfort community, and it sends a clear message to our students about both the power of education and hometown pride. “This weekend exemplifies what we mean by excellence,” Dr. Rhoda said. “It shows our students what’s possible.”