LHS Honors 2017 Alumni Hall of Fame Inductees

LEMONT, IL - Lemont High School has welcomed its third group of Alumni Hall of Fame inductees. Al Albrecht '59, Mary Lou Carlson '71 and Norma (Landgren) Johnson '38 were recognized at the school's annual Jazz Band Dinner Dance on March 4.

LHS said each of the honorees was introduced by Superintendent Dr. Mary Ticknor, who presented each person with a commemorative plaque.

Al Albrecht

Albrecht has served as a teacher, coach, administrator and community member. He has a 50+ year relationship with Lemont, and started teaching at LHS in 1969. He led the school’s Driver Education department and served as the head coach for baseball, wrestling and girls’ volleyball. Albrecht was also the school's Athletic Director from 1991-2001, and supported girls' sports programs as they gained footing in IHSA competition.

Albrecht was also a Lions Club member for more than 50 years, and he helped to create the scholarship program that annually benefits select graduates. He has also served on the boards for the Lemont Library and Lemont-Bromberek School District 113A. He was an auxiliary Lemont police officer for 20 years, officiated youth sports, drove for Gorski Bus Company and was a Lemont Jaycee.

Mary Lou Carlson
Carlson served as an Agriculture Advisor at the University of Illinois for 20 years, and as an instructor and researcher at Penn State University. She has managed international agriculture programs while working for the United States Agency of International Development from 2004-2011, and is now a Senior International Program Specialist at the United States Department of Agriculture, directing international programs focused on food security and food safety.

Carlson has received numerous accolades for her work, including an Exceptional Team Award for a USAID mission to Mali in 2008, an Action Award for a USAID mission to Afghanistan in 2011, and a Meritorious Honor Award from the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan in 2012. Mary Lou also has been a Team Lead with the Peace Corps.

Norma (Landgren) Johnson

Johnson is proud to call Lemont her life-long home, and has served as a pillar of the community for almost 100 years. She has served Lemont's schools, her church and the community for many years.

She has been a Cub Scouts den mother, a Girl Scouts chairperson, and President of the Lemont Band Boosters. Johnson was also a member of Lemont’s Planning Commission for 12 years; she served on the Lemont Library board and was president of the Lemont Area Historical Society.

She is also a member of Bethany Lutheran Church. Johnson has played as an accompanist for Lemont band students and read to second graders at Oakwood School. Johnson was selected as the Grand Marshal for the 1992 Keepataw Days parade, and was tabbed as 1995’s “Citizen of the Year” by the Lemont Chamber of Commerce.

The Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes graduates who have made significant contributions to society and serve as role models to Lemont High School students. This recognition is the highest honor that can be given by Lemont High School to one of its alumni.

The inaugural class of the Lemont Alumni Hall of Fame was unveiled as part of the school’s 125th Anniversary celebration in 2015. That group included Joe Forzley ‘45, Patricia (Dalman) Knight ‘64 and Al Meyer ‘67. Honorees in 2016 included Leo Cattoni ‘69, Terry Duffy ‘73 and Dr. Sam Forzley ‘77.

Photo provided by Lemont High School.