PEM History
DECEMBER 2009
On December 11, 2009 at the Greenhills Jam Session, Finneytown High School Alumni John Hutchins (FHS 1980) and Steve Bentz (FHS 1980) brainstormed an idea to create a memorial for our 3 friends who tragically lost their lives on December 3, 1979.
The Jam Session was to be a simple dedication to Stephan Preston FHS 1979, Jackie Eckerle FHS 1982, and Karen Morrison 1982.
Our 3 young friends, along with 8 others from surrounding local areas, lost their lives outside Riverfront Coliseum awaiting entrance to a festival seating concert featuring The Who on December 3, 1979.
The initial idea to honor these three young lives was a simple one, but in the months to come – bigger dreams took flight.
Steve and John decided on a memorial bench to be placed in front of the Performing Arts Center at Finneytown High School. The design included having an etched guitar on the bench which symbolized their shared love of music and the arts.
The inscription “My Generation” was also included in the etching on the bench. The significance of this phrase was not known until later when Mary Anne Medlock (FHS 1982) brought out that it was this song that served as the mantra of The FHS Class of 1982. The memorial took on a whole new meaning at that point and the group was eager to get it completed and in place.
SPRING, 2010
The dedication and installation of the memorial bench took place on August 21, 2010 in front of numerous FHS Alumni, friends, family and staff.
The etching on the bench also contains the words “Dedicated to our Friends and Classmates” and highlights the names of our 3 lost friends “Stephan Preston ‘79, Jackie Eckerle ‘82, and Karen Morrison ’82”.
The Bench was cemented in it’s permanent spot by the FHS Band of Brothers, Mike Simkin, Matt Wergers, Randy Rouse, John Hutchins and Steve Bentz
With the memorial bench now in place, the group turned their attention towards plans to build a living memorial in the form of a scholarship fund which is when Fred Wittenbaum FHS 1983 joined the group.
The “P.E.M. Memorial Scholarship” was born, honoring Stephan Preston, Jackie Eckerle and Karen Morrison. These three students were passionate about music and the arts. The group thought it fitting to develop a scholarship that would be awarded to 3 Finneytown graduating seniors each year that share the same passion for music and art.
Preserving Three Memories ~ Building Three Dreams, The driving force behind the creation of three scholarships for graduating seniors of Finneytown High School heading to college with a major or minor in the field of the Arts and / or Music.
In the coming years, the area outside the Performing Arts Center where the bench resides has transformed into a beautiful brick plaza containing the names of FHS Alumni, FHS teachers, Friends of PEM, The Who and their Management Team. A brick wall was completed surrounding the plaza in 2015 to complete the project.
In addition, 3 plaques were permanently affixed to the framing wall with the pictures of Stephan Preston, Jackie Eckerle and Karen Morrison.
Every first Saturday in December at Finneytown High School in the Performing Arts Center (PAC), The P.E.M. Memorial celebrates the lives of our 3 friends with an event to raise funds for the 3 scholarships.
The P.E.M. Memorial Event includes an amazing performance by the Finneytown Alumni Band including various local musical artists, under the direction of Finneytown Alumni, Walt Medlock.
The P.E.M. Memorial Scholarship Fund has given out 31 scholarships to graduating Finneytown seniors.
The 31st scholarship was given in 2020 as a special one-time offering in the memory of the other 8 lost friends from December 3, 1979 to mark the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.
The P.E.M. Memorial cannot express enough how much we appreciate everyone’s help and support over these many years. This memorial could never have taken place and endured over time without the Love and support from all of what we now reverently call “The Extended PEM Family”.
Special thanks to the Finneytown Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools, All of the FHS Staff, The Finneytown Music Parents and The Finneytown Schools Educational Foundation.
