Story - The Meade County Messenger


Vol. 115, No. 25	June 18, 2008

Two inducted into Meade County High School Hall of Fame

By SANDRA STONE
Messenger Staff

It was the year for risk takers and barrier breakers when two women were inducted into the Meade County High School Alumni Hall of Fame June 7 during the annual Meade County High School Alumni banquet.

Deborah Benham-Sobel

Deborah Benham-Sobel, MCHS Class of 1970, had an illustrious career in the U.S. Army, serving from coast to coast in the United States and all over the world.

She broke the gender barrier many times during her 22-year career. She was the first woman to graduate from the III Corps NCO academy at Fort Hood, Texas; the first female honor graduate of the Basic NCO Course at Fort Gordon, Ga., the first female sergeant assigned to a number of duty stations, including the Washington-Moscow Hotline at the Pentagon. She was the only female command sergeant major ever assigned to the 1118th Signal Battalion in Sacramento, Calif.

Upon her retirement, Benham-Sobel returned home to Meade County, where she and her husband, Jim, own and operate Creature Comfort Inn. Several years ago, her love of animals inspired her to be the co-founder of the Pets In Need Society (PINS), Meade County’s animal welfare group which has accomplished much in ensuring the health and well-being of our four-legged friends.

“I thank the committee and thank Mary Ruth (Stephenson) for my nomination,” she said.

“Tonight is special to me because we are celebrating the fact that I’m standing here at all,” said Benham-Sobel, who has been battling kidney cancer. “I don’t plan to give up yet,” she said and added the hope she would be at the alumni banquet next year to witness the next hall of fame induction.

Diane Bennett Medley

Diane Bennett Medley, MCHS Class of 1973, is the co-founder, CEO and managing partner of Chilton & Medley PLC, Certified Public Accountants, Louisville.

Medley was the first woman to serve as managing partner in the CPA industry in Louisville. Chilton & Medley PLC, founded in 1988, was ranked the #1 largest firm in the Louisville Metro area and one of the top 10 best place to work in Kentucky in 2006 and 2007.

She graduated from the University of Louisville, the valedictorian of the School of Business with a bachelor of science degree in commerce with focus in accounting.

Her awards include, but are not limited to, KYCPA award for highest grades on May 1981 CPA exam, Elijah Watt Sells award for National High Distinction on May 1981 exam; Outstanding CPA, 1987; and Outstanding Alumnus Award, 1993, from the UofL Beta Alpha Psi accounting fraternity. She was also named Woman Business Owner of the Year, 1996, and Woman of Distinction, 2004, by the National Association of Women Business Owners.

“Accounting is the excuse to get to know the people,” said Medley, who continues to reside in Meade County and is honored to touch so many lives each day.

Medley is married to Gene Medley. They have four children, Rachel, Eugene, Leah and Rebekah, all graduates of MCHS. She thanked her family for their continued support of her dreams.

To those gathered, she offered this advice: “When you’re dealing with people who are dreaming dreams, don’t tell them not to do it. You never know what road they’ll travel.” To the dreamers, she offered this: “Be willing to try.”

“Thank you,” Medley said. “Hopefully, there will be many more recipients who do even greater things.”

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