Kenneth Tollefson fondly recalled days at Sparks High School when he put stink bombs in the air vents, pushed girls into mud puddles and became the prom king. And on Tuesday he was inducted into the Sparks High School Hall of Fame.

His adventures in high school eventually became the foundation for a distinguished career in The Air National Guard and defense technology development.

The former Railroader joined Duane Gillies, Paul "Bud" Tholl and Paul "Pat" Arthur Tholl on the school's list of distinguished alumni who were inducted at Tuesday night's ceremony.

Sparks High School has recognized prominent alumni in its hall of fame since 2002, filling the walls of the school's conference room with plaques chronicling individual accomplishments.

"I failed more than I succeeded," Tollefson said. "But you learn from your failures. Or at least you should."

After graduating from Sparks high in 1957, Tollefson joined the Air National Guard where he earned the Bronze Star for his service in Vietnam. Following the war, he began a career in defense technology and was a recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal, the nation's highest peacetime defense award. Tollefson also went on to become the purchasing manager for the city of San Diego and designed a new information management system for the city's surrounding area.

Gillies left Sparks High School in 1959, eventually joining the Sparks Fire Department and becoming a Battalion Chief.

"Bill Farr was the fire chief at the time and he told me that they were not hiring," Gillies said as Farr sat in the audience. "He was even my Sunday school teacher. You would have thought that I had an in," Gillies continued with a laugh.

Gillies then put himself on the waiting list for hire at the Reno Fire Department, eventually becoming a firefighter for, what he called, West Sparks.

Gillies eventually landed a position with the Sparks Fire Department and hired the first female firefighter in the Reno/Sparks area. Gillies worked as an operator and a captain as well as a battalion chief.

"Believe in yourself, set high goals and prepare for the future," Gillies said.

"Bud" Tholl was the oldest inductee, graduating from Sparks High in 1940. As he accepted his plaque, he quipped with the other inductees that he may have double-dated with their mothers.

Tholl is the owner of Tholl Fencing, a business that was started by his father in 1912. After graduating, Tholl started work on his engineering degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. However, his studies were interrupted by World War II. He joined the army and served in Europe from 1943 through 1946.

"When you are young you don't think very far ahead," Tholl said. "You just go."

Tholl has been the recipient of many local awards and has been a charter member of the Sparks Rotary Club since 1948.

Tholl was honored along with his son, Paul Arthur "Pat" Tholl, who died on Nov. 30, 2005 and was inducted posthumously into the hall of fame.

Pat Tholl was a distinguished sportsman during his time at Sparks High, earning player of the year in 1967 for his accomplishments on the basketball team. He went on to play for UNR, graduating from the college in 1972.

Tholl was the past president of the Reno Sunrise Rotary, the Better Business Bureau and the Northern Nevada Horseshoe Pitchers Association. He also coached basketball at Vaughn Middle School and baseball for the Reno Continental Little League team.

"It is a real honor," Tholl's wife, Terry, said after accepting the award on her husband's behalf.

The Hall of Fame at Sparks High School is sprinkled with the photos and accomplishments of the school's alumni. The inductees who were honored Tuesday added four names to the wall of 31 plaques.

"Tonight is all the outcome of the dedication and loyalty people have to Sparks high," current principal Doug Parry said. "It gives us an opportunity for our students to see their predecessors. They are the role models."