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  • About
  • Support
    • Make a Donation Make a donation to support Central High School.
    • Generation “C” Annual campaign meeting emerging needs and challenges.
    • Honor and Memorial Giving Give in honor of family, friends, or to celebrate special occasions.
    • The Legacy Fund You have the power to share your Legacy.
    • Matching Gifts Double your donation through matching gifts from employers.
    • First Class Challenge An exciting rivalry for classes holding reunions each year.
    • Planned Giving Plan ahead for continuing to give or through an estate.
    • Scholarships Awarding endowed scholarships to graduating seniors.
    • Sponsorships Corporate partners support education in their communities.
    • Emergency Fund Support students and staff through short-term financial difficulties.
  • Impact
  • Events
    • Alumni Luncheon Series Catch up with friends and teachers you haven't seen since first period.
    • Rock the Nest Trivia Night Test your knowledge at our annual interactive trivia contest.
    • Senior Recognition Ceremony Honoring distinguished graduating Central High School seniors.
    • Golf Fore Eagles Play a round of golf with alumni at the historic Field Club of Omaha.
    • Hall of Fame Recognizing distinguished alumni, faculty, and community supporters.
    • Affinity Reunions Reminisce about your favorite Central memories during virtual reunions.
    • StrivTV Watch live events, including games and recognitions, on StrivTV.
  • Newsroom
    • Podcast Listen to interviews of Central alumni on the Eagle Tales podcast.
    • Blog Read the Quill & Feather, the official blog of the Central High School Foundation.
    • Media Read about the Central High School Foundation in local media.
    • Newsletters Catch up on news you might have missed in our newsletter archive.
    • O-Book Archives Relive memories by visiting our searchable yearbook archive.
    • Register Archives Browse the archive of the oldest newspaper west of the Mississippi.
    • Publications Browse historical documents written and researched by alumni.
    • Annual Reports Read our yearly publication detailing accomplishments and stories.
    • Press Releases View statements released to local media.
  • Alumni
    • Reunions We all like to keep in touch, and reunions are a great way to do that.
    • Update Your Record Has your name changed? Mailing address? Update your record today.
    • Lost Alumni We have lost track of these alumni! Help us locate your lost classmates.
    • Deceased Alumni In memory of our classmates who have passed away.
    • Alumni Library Explore the literary and artistic achievements of Central’s alumni.
    • War Casualties In Honor of Those Who Served, In Memory of Those Who Died.
    • Alumni Store Purchase Central merchandise and gifts in our alumni store.
    • CHS Memories Read favorite memories from alumni about their time at Central.
    • Resources Visit this page for preferred vendors of Central High School.
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Home Hall of Fame LT William Marshall Roark

Hall of Fame | Class of 1956

LT William Marshall Roark

Lieutenant William Marshall Roark was killed in action attacking targets in North Vietnam as pilot of a Navy A4C Skyhawk jet. He was flying from the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea on April 7, 1965, while on his second deployment to the Vietnam conflict. Roark had served as cadet colonel and commanding officer of Central’s ROTC regiment and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1960. For his heroism in combat, he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Flying Cross. The destroyer USS Roark was named in his honor in 1967. A plaque on the USS Roark quotes from a letter Lt. Roark sent his wife. “I don’t want my sons to fight a war I should have fought. I wish more Americans felt that way. I will not live in a totalitarian society and I don’t want you to, either. I believe in God and will resist any force that attempts to remove God from society, no matter what the name. This is what the Founding Fathers stood for.”

William passed away in 1965 at the age of 26.

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