Brigadier General Thomas Edwin Bowen
OHS Class of 1952

Brigadier General Thomas Edwin Bowen is a 1952 graduate of Olean High. He completed his undergraduate studies at St. Bonaventure University and medical school at The Medical College of Wisconsin.

Dr. Bowen had a long and distinguished career as a highly regarded thoracic/cardiac surgeon, and was a key administrator in the United States Armed Forces Hospital System. He is a decorated war hero from his days serving as a thoracic/cardiac surgeon in the Vietnam Theater-of-War, as well as elsewhere. In addition to serving as an academic professor, Dr. Bowen was also an organizer of healthcare initiatives in the Tampa VA Hospital System, where he chaired numerous boards and committees and served as the chief of staff. During that time, he helped build the Tampa VA into one of the nation’s most prestigious full-service care providers for our veterans.

Dr. Bowen has had numerous academic appointments, published several academic papers, and presented at healthcare conferences around the country. He is a charter member of the Seneca Battalion Army ROTC Hall of Fame, and his name also resides on the Wall of Achievers at Air University, the intellectual and leadership center of the United States Air Force.

Tonya Previglian
OHS Class of 1982

Tonya Previglian is a 1982 graduate of Olean High School. She graduated with her B.S. in Nursing from Alfred University, and later received her M.S. in Nursing from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo.

Ms. Previglian has worked as a Critical Care Registered Nurse in the Burn Trauma Unit at the University of Rochester Medical Center, and currently serves as a Nurse Anesthetist in the Buffalo area. She often volunteers her time on medical mission trips to assist people in need around the world. Her missions have taken her to the Grenadine Islands, Mexico, Africa and the Philippines among other places. Ms. Previglian has also volunteered with Urban Christian Ministries , the Block Club Basketball Program and was a youth leader at Knox Presbyterian Church. Ms. Previglian’s dedication to helping others in both her professional career and personal endeavors are unparalleled. Her service to others is a tremendous example of the values that are taught on a daily basis within the Olean City School District.

James M. McCarthy
OHS Class of 1973

James M. McCarthy is a 1973 graduate of Olean High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science from St. Bonaventure University, and later received his Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh.

Mr. McCarthy has dedicated his career to public service, and began working in the United States Department of Commerce in 1983. During his professional career, he spent the majority of his time working overseas in the Foreign Commercial Service, serving in Indonesia, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Honduras and South Africa among several other countries. As a Deputy Senior Commercial Officer for the U.S. Department of Commerce in South Africa, Mr. McCarthy coordinates our nation’s trade promotion efforts in the region.

Mr. McCarthy has also contributed to the Volunteers for the Visually Handicapped, and often refers large corporations to various charitable projects overseas. He credits his studies in the Olean City School District for fostering and encouraging his interest in traveling and working around the world.