By Paul Garrod
Staff Writer
news4garrod@gmail.com
PAW PAW – This year’s Paw Paw High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held Jan. 16, between the girls’ and boys’ varsity basketball games, approximately 7 p.m. at Paw Paw High School.
A reception to honor the inductees will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.
The Class of 2026 includes Coach Terry Kannegieter, Dr. Haleigh Gokey Leslie, Class of 2006, and Richard McLellan, Class of 1960.
Kannegieter taught at Paw Paw Middle School from 1973 to 2012. He served as the Paw Paw High School wrestling coach from 1973 to 1980 and achieved one state finalist.
Kannegieter is credited with resurrecting the PPHS boys’ cross-country team in which he coached from 1985 to 2010.
1993 was a banner year for Kannegieter as his undefeated team was a state qualifier. The team produced nine state finalists. In addition to the 1993 state qualifying team, he also had state qualifying teams in 1994 and 1995. It was 1995 that Kannegieter saw his team mark an undefeated season and were regional champions. That stellar season, with 20 state finalists, saw Kannegieter named 1995 Class B Regional Coach of the Year.
Kannegieter was also instrumental in the start-up of PPHS girls’ cross-country team, which he coached from 1985 to 2010.
As the boys’ varsity track coach from 1983 to 2010, Kannegieter had 27 state finalists, and nine All State athletes.
Serving as the girls’ varsity track coach from 1980 to 2010, Kannegieter had 50 state finalists, 18 All State athletes, and two state champions. In 2006, the team was regional champions.
Kannegieter oversaw the implementation of metric measurements and fully automated timing in events.
Dr. Gokey Leslie graduated from Paw Paw High School in 2006.
She was named to the Basketball 2005 All Conference First Team, Team Captain, Most Valuable Player; 2004 Second Team All-Conference; KVA Conference Champions 2003; Top 20 all in scoring.
In track, she was four time All Conference 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006; four time State qualifier All Region 4×200 (2004 and 2005); 4×400 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006); 4×800 (2003).
She was Team MVP 2006, Team Captain 2005 and 2006.
As Regional Champions in 2006, she set a school record in the 4×200 and 4×400.
She graduated from Paw Paw High School with 4.06 Grade Point Average (GPA). She was a member of the school’s National Honor Society and was a HOBY representative. She was a four-year Academic Learning Lamp Award recipient, and was named Female Senior Athlete 2006.
Attending Hope College, she was on the basketball team for one year, and four years on track and field, serving as the team captain in 2010.
She was on the MIAA Academic Honor Roll for three years, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
Dr. Gokey Leslie graduated cum laude in 2010, with a BA in Exercise Science and Psychology. She is a member PSI CHI, Mortar Board Society, and was on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Oregon State University in 2012, where she received her master’s in public health (MPH).
She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwest Christian University in 2019. She received a master’s degree in business administration (MBA), and is a member of Sigma Beta Delta. She graduated from East Tennessee State University in 2025, where she received her Doctorate in Public Health (DrPH).
McLellan graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1960. He was class treasurer, a member of the Thespian and Latin clubs, and a member of the football team. He was editor of Paw Paw High School yearbook and newspaper, as well as president of the Journalism Club.
Following high school graduation, he graduated from Michigan State University (MSU) in 1964. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan (U of M) in 1967.
In 1973, he became a partner in McLellan, Schlaybauch & Whitbeck law firm. In 2010, he founded McLellan Law Offices.
McLellan served as Acting Director of Michigan Office of Drug Abuse. He was an Advisor to Commissioner of Food and Drug Administration, appointed by Gerald Ford. He was president of the Michigan Japan Foundation.
He served as George H. Bush’s Presidential Observer in the People’s Republic of Bulgaria 1990 election and was a Presidential Observer Nigerian in the1999 National Election.
He was a Volunteer Education Advisor for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and rewrote Michigan School Aid Act. He was an Adjunct Professor of International Studies at Michigan State University, and provided legal counsel to TEACH Michigan, drafted Michigan’s charter school law.
McLellan served on board for Ghana and Somalia, organized business delegation to West Africa.
McLellan was named Lawyer of the Year by Lawyers Weekly magazine, and was a three-time Michigan Super Lawyer – 2006, 2007, 2009 by Law & Politics magazine.
He was recognized with the Robert A. Taft award.
McLellan served on committees including the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Supreme Court Historical Society, and Michigan State University College of Law
