North Bend High School inducted five men into its Hall of Fame on Friday evening, including a standout student, a few retired coaches and teachers, as well as a former superintendent.

In its 10th year, the Hall of Fame inducted George Gebhart, who graduated from North Bend in 1933; Cliff Saxton, who coached football for the Bulldogs from 1957 to 1964; James Ulum, who served as North Bend’s superintendent from 1970 to 1993; Rick Wetherell, the current mayor and a former coach and teacher at North Bend; and Tom Younker, who was an outstanding athlete for the Bulldogs, before returning to coach girls basketball as well baseball and football.

They all told fabulous stories of their lives outside North Bend, but the accomplished men brought everything back to their time at the high school, whether as a student, coach or otherwise.

Gebhart, who won the Coos County extemporary speaking contest and was selected as Outstanding Senior Boy in his time at North Bend, is also a World War II veteran and worked in various states as a geological engineer, restaurant owner and in the real estate industry. He said he’s accomplished many things throughout his life. But he offered one statement of advice: “You can do any one of 50 things. It’s out there if you put your mind to it.”

Saxton coached the Bulldog football team to a 45-24-3 record through eight seasons, and attributed his success to others.

“When I got here, I found a lot of things in place and ready to go,” he said, pointing out humbly that he had to do little work to get the team ready.

He served as athletic director for Sprague High School, and was a  talented football player from Jefferson High School, and finished as an All-American in football at Linfield College. Despite his achievements, he said he had a great time at North Bend.

“My years at North Bend were my best years,” he said.

Ulum, who is deceased, rallied for North Bend’s gym construction and founded the North Bend Scholarship Fund during his time as superintendent. His wife, Ann, thanked the Hall of Fame for honoring her late husband.

“It is a real joy for me to be back here at North Bend, in this gym, which has become a big deal to my whole family,” she said.

“Jim loved North Bend. He was proud of the community and he was proud of the schools.”

Wetherell, who taught various classes over his 40-year career at North Bend, was named Oregon Teacher of the Year in 1995, and through his coaching stints in baseball, football and basketball, was named Assistant Coach of the Year by the Oregon Coaches Association in 2005. He said he was “totally, totally thrilled” to be considered among his fellow inductees.

Wetherell has truly enjoyed his time working in North Bend, saying he began attending school in 1949, and still is there every September.

“I’ve been going to school every year for 60 years,” he said. “And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

He thanked his family for their support through his busy coaching schedule, and said that his life changed when he moved to North Bend in 1965.

“I’ve had more people to love, respect and understand, and it’s because in 1965, I drove my little yellow Mustang into North Bend,” Wetherell said.

Younker was an outstanding baseball, basketball and football athlete in his years at North Bend, though he modestly denied much talent. He later coached the Bulldogs’ girls basketball team to eight state tournament appearances and one district title, and reveled in stories of working with the girls. When Younker and Wetherell coached together, they tried to teach the girls life lessons.

“This is not about winning and losing,” he said. “This is about life.”

But he echoed everyone’s sentiments, when he said that despite all his travels and accomplishments elsewhere, the time he spent at North Bend was time he truly valued.

“I’d like to say to North Bend, thank you for all the joy you’ve given me,” Younker said.

This was North Bend’s 10th Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The hall now includes 54 individuals and one state champion team.