The inductees are: 

Brandon Abel

Class of 2000

Academic/Career Accomplishment

Bobbi and Joe Ieropoli

Nominated by Linda Sebo and Monica Wales

Presented by Monica Wales

Brandon Abel graduated from United High School in 2000. While at United, he was a two-year letter winner and captain of the basketball team and a three-year letter winner and captain of the football team. In 2001, he joined the United States Marine Corps. In 2009 he became a Marine Recruiting Depot Drill Instructor and then rose through the ranks to become a Gunnery Sargent. He has been deployed three times. He has received many military awards including two Navy and Marine Corps commendation medals.

Retired after almost 22 years of service as a Gunnery Sargent, Abel currently lives in Miami, Florida with his wife Elizabeth. They have five children, Matthew, Ashlee, Gianmarco, Peyton and Sophia. Involved and busy with his family, he likes to work out and go to the gym. 

Edna Steffen Anderson

Brandon Abel

Special Honorary Achievement

Nominated by David Starcher

Presented by Sarah Hrovatic Underwood and David Starcher

Edna Anderson taught ninth-grade English at Wellsville High School and then coordinated the Occupational Work Experience program. In 1977, she became the assistant high school principal at Jefferson Union High School and also became the first female boys athletic director in Ohio. From 1980 to 1985, she was principal of United High School. In 1985 she was selected to become the superintendent of the Columbiana County Career and Technical Center, retiring in 2011. She was superintendent of the CCCTC for 26 years.

As the first female principal at United High School, Anderson touched many lives with her goal of opportunities for all students. She married her husband, Joe, in the summer of 1958. They raised three children, Donna, Joey and Cherie. She lives at Guilford Lake. She is an active supporter of the East Liverpool and United Communities. 

Daniel A. Imhoff Jr. BSN, RN

Dannie and Judy Baker

Class of 1965

Outstanding Service to United Local Schools

Nominated and presented by Sue Drotleff

Dannie and Judi Baker each graduated from United in 1965 and were married in 1970. In 1973, they started their family run dairy farm, which is still in operation today. Dannie started his towing business in 1984. Baker’s Towing, which is also a family business, now has nine tow trucks operating in the local area. With Judy often accompanying Dannie on a road call, Baker Towing has assisted many local drivers.

Denise Ward

Dannie has been a member of the Hanoverton Township Fire Department for 62 years. Judy retired from the Columbiana County Jobs and Family Services in 2008. When not working they enjoy going to Amish Country and spending time with their nine grandchildren, all of whom were raised on the family farm and graduated or will graduate from United. They also have four great grand sons who live close by and will be future students at United.

Daniel A. Imhoff Jr. BSN, RN

Class of 2001

Academic/Career Accomplishment

Nominated and Presented by Sue Drotleff

Edna Steffen Anderson

Dan Imhoff Jr. was an active member of the Class of 2001. He played tennis for four years, played two years of basketball and was part of marching and concert band for two years. He participated in United’s musicals and dramas. He was an active member of many clubs, Student Council and National Honor Society. He was the recipient of the US Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award and was the Class Salutatorian. 

After graduating, Imhoff attended Kent State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Magna Cum Laude in 2005. He worked for St. Elizabeth’s Hospital Level 1 Trauma Center and was a Travel Emergency Room RN. He joined the staff of the Salem Regional Medical Center Emergency Department in February 2013. He continues to work there as the charge nurse in the emergency department overseeing quality care and treatment for everyone. He was the recipient of the SRMC Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses in July 2025. 

Imhoff is married to Chelsea and lives in Hanoverton.

Joshua McLaughlin

Class of 2011

Athletic Accomplishment

Nominated and presented by Mike Ward

Josh McLaughlin participated in many school clubs while attending United High School.  He was captain of the baseball team and captain and quarterback of the football team.  Known for his ability to “read to the field,” playing both offense and defense all four years, he set many records during his four years and still holds the United record for most yards passing in a career (5,219), most completions in a season (146), least yards penalized in a season (302), and longest pass (96 yards).

McLaughlin was named to All-League first team quarterback in 2009 and 2010, All-County first team in 2009 and 2010, Morning Journal All-Area First Team in 2010, All-NE Ohio Inland Honorable Mention in 2009 and All-NE Ohio Inland First team in 2010. He was a member of the Quad County First Team in 2010 and was recognized as All-Ohio (Third team) in 2010. He attended Malone University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing. He was a four-year starter, team captain and all conference slot receiver on the Malone football team.

Living in Columbus, Ohio, McLaughlin has built a successful career in the Enterprise Resource Planning industry, helping organizations to streamline and integrate their business processes through centralized software solutions. He balances his professional life by traveling, cooking, reading, gaming and cheering on Cleveland sports teams. He is the proud dog dad to Ghost and he is the proud cat dad to Kiki.

Denise Ward

Special Honorary Achievement

Nominated by Sue Drotleff 

Presented by Mike Ward

Denise Ward is a graduate of Minerva High School and earned her Bachelor’s degree from Kent State, in Spanish and English. She also earned a Master’s degree in Education and a second Master’s from Kent State in library/media science. She joined the United High School Staff in 1992 teaching Spanish. She married fellow teacher Mike Ward in 1995.  She became the high school librarian and media specialist in 2011. 

Ward also coached track for 27 years as boys assistant, girls assistant and girls head coach. She inspired many young runners to accomplish personal bests as well as achieve team wins and set records. 

Denise and Mike have organized and led several trips to Europe, opening up and widening the view of the world for many United students and their families. Experiencing the tragic loss of their son Gavin in 2009, Denise later wrote a book entitled “Defining Moments: My Journey Back to God.”  She generously donated the proceeds from her book to United Local Schools for scholarships for Gavin’s classmates. Her nominator, Sue Drotleff, wrote “Denise has touched the lives of everyone; she not only tells, explains, and demonstrates, she definitely inspires those she comes into contact with on a daily basis.”

Denise and Mike live in Salem. They have one daughter, Rhys. Newly retired, Denise is expanding her love of antiques by having an antique booth at I-76 Antique Mall and working at Mr. Darby’s Antiques in Boardman where she also has a sales booth.

Bobbi and Joe Ieropoli

Mark’s Landing Restaurant

Golden Eagle Award 

For their contributions and support of United Local Schools 

Nominated by Casey Anderson 

Presented by Steve Mercer

Joe and Bobbi Ieropoli bought Mark’s Landing in 1988. Joe and Bobbi are the fourth owners of Mark’s Landing and have owned Mark’s for 37 years. They have donated to countless United fundraising activities and scholarships. They have offered the restaurant as a no cost venue for sports banquets, meetings, reunions and many other school related activities. They are very caring and generous people who believe strongly in their community and helping others. Joe and Bobbi have enjoyed the opportunity to make lifelong friendships with their customers and employees. They have two daughters, Angela and Linda, both United graduates and three granddaughters and one grandson. When they are not working, they enjoy pontoon rides, long drives in their vintage Mustang and traveling.

2026 nominations

The Wall of Fame Committee invites anyone to nominate a United graduate who has been out of school 10 years or more to the United Wall of Fame. Nomination forms for the United Wall of Fame, Class of 2026, and instructions on how to nominate someone can be found on the United Local Schools website. Applications must be submitted by May 1, 2026.

Joshua McLaughlin