Shelbyville High School announces 2023 Alumni Hall of Fame induction class

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Shelbyville High School has announced the three newest members to the Alumni Hall of Fame.

Jan Asher (photo), Ken Gunning and Wilbur Pell will be inducted on Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. in the Golden Bear Room at Shelbyville High School. The trio also will be honored on Sept. 1 at halftime of the Shelbyville High School football game at McKeand Stadium against Delta.

The induction ceremony on Aug. 31 is open to the public.

Jan (Rowland) Asher, Class of 1967

Asher was a 1967 SHS graduate and a lifelong Shelbyville resident. She graduated from Purdue University in 1971 and embarked on a 40-year teaching career with Shelbyville Central Schools.

Asher was an outstanding adult athlete and became an enthusiastic advocate for athletic opportunities for female athletes. She was Shelbyville High School’s first volleyball coach and also coached basketball, track and field, and gymnastics during her career.

In addition, Asher (photo, right with husband, Mike) was a respected IHSAA tournament volleyball official for 25 years.

As a teacher, she created the nationally-recognized SHAPE physical education program. She also served as a volunteer for “Jump Rope for Life,” PAWS to PAWS and Shelby County Relay for Life.

Ken Gunning, Class of 1933

Gunning was a 1933 SHS graduate and Paul Cross basketball award winner. He graduated from Indiana University in 1937 and was a three-year letter winner in basketball, baseball and track.

Gunning (photo) was the leading scorer for three seasons for Indiana University basketball. As captain and leading scorer of the 1936 Big Ten championship basketball team, he would be named All-Big Ten his junior and senior year and earned All-American honors.

In 2013, he was named one of the top 50 players in Indiana University men’s basketball history. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023 (photo).

Gunning would go on to coach basketball at Western New Mexico University, Wichita State University, and Connersville High School. He also was inducted into the Western New Mexico University Hall of Fame.

Wilbur Pell, Class of 1933

Pell was a 1933 SHS graduate with honors. He would graduate from Indiana University in 1937 and was the editor of the university yearbook.

Pell (photo) graduated from Harvard Law School magna cum laude and served on the Board of Student Advisers. He returned to Shelbyville to practice law with his father from 1940-1970 (with the exception of his service from 1942-1945 as an agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

During his time in Shelbyville, Pell was Director of the Shelbyville Community Chest, Chairman of the Shelby National Bank, District Chairman of the Boy Scouts of America, President of the Indiana Bar Association, and was on the Rotary International Board of Directors.

In 1970, Pell was appointed by President Richard Nixon to serve on the Court of Appeals Seventh Circuit, where he served until his death in 2000.

Pell would be part of several high profile cases, most notably the “Chicago Seven Trial” United States v. Dellinger.

He also received the Sagamore of the Wabash Awards from Governor Bowen and Governor Orr.

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