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MILL HALL -- The Keystone Central Foundation is hosting its 4th Annual Alumni Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Thursday, May 22, at Central Mountain High School.
The following article is one in a series highlighting this year's inductees.
The honor recognizes outstanding graduates from the Keystone Central School District who have demonstrated exceptional achievements in their personal or professional careers and have made significant contributions to their communities.
To reserve tickets or a table, or to place a congratulatory ad, visit www.kcfoundation.com or call 570-660-1306.
Kenneth Bressler
Sugar Valley High School
Class of 1960
Ken began his education as a first grader in the Greenburr One Room Schoolhouse. From second grade through sixth grade he attended the Tylersville Schoolhouse and then the Bull Run Schoolhouse for one year until its closing due to the opening of the new Sugar Valley Area School.
Ken attended grades 8-12 grade with the rest of the students in the Sugar Valley Community. While in high school, Ken was active in the band, orchestra and yearbook. He was the Yearbook Editor his senior year and graduated as the Salutatorian in 1960.
Following graduation, Ken worked as a mail clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigations in Washington D.C. under J. Edgar Hoover. It was among his responsibilities to carry classified documents between FBI Headquarters and the Attorney General, as well as the White House during the Kennedy Administration. He also joined the Pennsylvania Air National Guard in 1964.
Ken returned to Clinton County and was employed by American Aniline Products (Dye Works) of Lock Haven and began his studies in Chemical Engineering at Penn State University at University Park. He also worked at Avery International in Mill Hall until his retirement.
For many years Ken also worked part-time as a mechanic for his family at Bressler's Exxon. The business was closed when his father passed away and was reinvented as he and his brother, Robert, became the local business owners of Bressler Brother's Garage on the same site.
Ken was one of six founding members of the Sugar Valley Concerned Citizens which was organized in 1977. The primary goal of this group was to oppose consolidation of schools in Clinton County and to maintain the successful operation of the Sugar Valley School, which was an excellent school and the hub of the Sugar Valley Community.
In 1977, Ken was a Charter member of the Sugar Valley Lions Club. For 48 years he has been an active member and served as the president for three years. He also served as the cabinet treasurer to the district governor in 2021. Lions Club International is an organization which strengthens communities and helps those in need. For his service, Ken has been recognized as a Lions Club Pennsylvania Fellow and also received the highest award in Lionism, the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award, recognizing him as an outstanding individual.
He served briefly on the Loganton Borough Planning Commission in 1978, but had to resign this post as he was elected to serve on the Keystone Central School Board. He served for 12 years and was the board president for six years prior to the closing of the Sugar Valley Jr.-Sr. High School. He took great pride in serving on this board and was an advocate for public education and all of the students in the Keystone Central School District.
Ken was a member of the Lock Haven Elks Trustee and Officer of the year 2019-2020. Ken also voluntarily served on the Clinton County Rehabilitation Authority for the Clinton County Commissioners for six years.
Ken served as an escort to Miss. Sugar Valley, Nikki Verrier, at the 1963 Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo. Soon after the festivities he proposed to his princess. They have been married for almost 60 years and have three children, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Ken and Nikki have a passion for travel and have visited all 50 states and have explored 12 National Parks. They have also traveled through Canada, England, France, Germany and Greece.