Captain William J. Diehl
OHS Class of 1978

William Diehl was one of nine Diehl children to graduate from Olean High. The day after his graduation, he entered the Coast Guard Academy and graduated four years later with a degree in Civil Engineering. Diehl later earned a Master’s Degree in Naval Architecture, Marine Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and was accepted into the Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honor Society.

Captain Diehl served in a variety of challenging jobs in the Coast Guard, including his position as the Senior United States Diplomat at the Panama Canal. He also commanded the largest operational unit in the Coast Guard: Sector Houston-Galveston, where he led 2,600 personnel in the highly successful response to Hurricane Ike in 2008. The response saved 235 lives while cleaning up 240 oil spills, and was the largest waterway restoration effort in the history of the United States Coast Guard.

Thomas F. Vroman
OHS Class of 1943

Tomas F. Vroman graduated from Olean High in 1943 and later attended the Beaux Art School in Paris and graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He enjoyed a career as an accomplished painter, which has earned him numerous awards from various art organizations the world over.

During World War II, Mr. Vroman applied his artistic talents to highly unique projects needed to fulfill the direct requirements of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Bradley, General John Lee and others. He was a member of an elite team assigned to the intelligence unit of the European Theatre Headquarters. Mr. Vroman’s paintings have been selected by the United States Information Agency and Department of State to tour Russia in exhibitions, and his work has also been exhibited in France. He was chosen as one of the 13 leading contemporary artists in the United States.

As an artist, designer and businessman, Mr. Vroman worked in New York City for many years, founding Thomas Vroman Associates as a design and marketing communications firm. Mr. Vroman also co-authored a book entitled “Design Sources and Resources.”