William Easley
OHS Class of 1964

William “Bill” Easley became a professional musician while still a student in the Olean school system. After graduating from Olean High in 1964, he continued his studies at the prestigious Julliard School of Music.

Mr. Easley’s professional career has taken him to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The White House and other important and prestigious venues throughout the world. He enjoyed a career surrounded by several of his musical heroes.

Mr. Easley credits the most important part of his education musically and academically to the Olean school system. His high school band director, Mr. John Lefquist, remained one of his most important teachers throughout his long career.

Catherine Budzinski Koebelin
OHS Class of 1980

Catherine Budzinski Koebelin graduated from Olean High in 1980 and later earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Bonaventure University. Her professional career has been in the banking industry as she specializes in trust and estate management. Cathy has earned several professional designations in her field.

Cathy’s love for the Olean area and Olean High is evident through her volunteer efforts. She served as a director and in various leadership positions at the Olean YMCA, the Olean Association for the Blind, the Pfeiffer Nature Center, the OHS Alumni Association, the Kiwanis Club of Olean, the Southern Tier Symphony, the Olean Area Campfire Council, Home Healthcare and Hospice, the Greater Olean Area Foundation, Transfiguration Church, and the United Way. She’s been honored as the Olean YMCA’s Volunteer of the Year, was an honoree for the Salute to Olean Award, and was named Kiwanian of the Year.

Cathy credits her success to the english, business and mathematics teachers of Olean High School, who provided a strong foundation for her higher education and business endeavors. Her enthusiasm for Olean was fostered while serving as the OHS Husky Pup.

Eric A. Storch, Ph.D.
OHS Class of 1993

Dr. Eric Storch graduated from Olean High in 1993 and later received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Binghamton University in 1997. He would later earn his M.S., M.PHIL., and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Columbia University.

Dr. Storch is currently an assistant professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the University of Florida’s College of Medicine. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles on Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and related topics, a book on childhood OCD, and has received numerous grants from foundations and the United States government.

During his time at Binghamton University, Dr. Storch was a 4-year Varsity Letterwinner for the soccer team. He was named to the State University of New York  All-Athletic Conference Team as a senior. Dr. Storch was also named a NSCAA College Scholar All-American.

Dr. Storch attributes much of his success to his academic and athletic experience as a student at Olean High.

John Elmore
OHS Class of 1975

As a student athlete, John Elmore was captain of the varsity track and basketball teams. The three-time CCIAC and Cattaraugus County 440-yard Dash Champion and record holder represented Olean High in the NYS Track Meet in 1974 and 1975.

Elmore is a 1979 Honors Graduate of Mansfield University, where he was captain of the track team, and later graduated from Syracuse University’s College of Law in 1984. He is an inductee of the Mansfield Alumni Society of Honors.

In his professional career, Mr. Elmore served as a partner at the law firm of Harter, Secrest and Emery. As a trail attorney, his practice focuses on commercial and labor litigation. Mr. Elmore is a former New York State Assistant Attorney General and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney, and is the author of “Fighting For Your Life; The African American Criminal Justice Survival Guide.”

The nationally acclaimed author serves as the Chairperson of the Eighth Judicial District Attorney Grievance Committee, and is a member of the Erie County Bar Association Board of Directors. Elmore is also past president of the Minority Bar Association of Western New York.

Elmore has received numerous awards, including Citizen of the Year by the Buffalo News, Phenomenal Father by Ebony Magazine, the Erie County Bar Association Criminal Justice Award and the NAACP Medgar Evers Civil Rights Award

Christopher Leichtweis
OHS Class of 1978

Christopher Leichtweis graduated from Olean High in 1978 and later earned degrees from the State University of New York at Brockport and the University of Tennessee.

As chief executive officer of SEC Holdings Corporation, Mr. Leichtweis grew his company an average of 30 percent per year and employed a staff of 475 personnel overseeing $72 million in annual revenue. Under his direction, SEC Holdings Corp. became the 15th fastest growing environmental firm in the United States, and later expanded to an international firm with five offices across the U.S., United Kingdom and Europe.

Mr. Leichtweis received the Ernst and Young 2005 Southeastern United States Entrepreneur of the Year Award. He credits Olean faculty, students and programs which allowed him to grow and gain confidence in all aspects of life.