Northside High School honors alumni and faculty inducted into Hall of Fame 

WARNER ROBINS — Northside High School inducted three alumni and two faculty members into its Hall of Fame on Saturday. 

The school’s seventh annual Hall of Fame included faculty members Martha King and Houston County Board of Education Chairman Dr. Rick Unruh. Alumni inducted included City of Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick, Board of Education Board Member John Nichols and Larry Snellgrove. 

“They will join a distinguished crew that includes professional athletes, superintendents, scientists, military officers, mayors, doctors, senators, Teachers of the Year and many other great people who love and influence our school,” Principal Dr. Dustin Dykes said. “I want to personally thank you for your contributions to Northside’s history and traditions. It is my pleasure to honor you as our most extraordinary alumni, staff and volunteers as you continue to exemplify why it’s great to be a Northside Eagle.” 

Martha King began her career in school nutrition in 1986, when she joined Northside High School, and has been an Eagle ever since. Dykes said King has gone above and beyond throughout her career, ensuring that every student was fed and cared for. 

King has also been recognized at the state and local levels, receiving numerous awards for her hard work, leadership, and commitment to the school and students. 

Created by King, her famous baked chicken recipe became so popular that it is now served throughout the Houston County School District. 

Her biography said, “it’s more than just a meal; it’s a reflection of her creativity, care and legacy she leaves behind in the kitchen and hearts of those she’s served”.

King said she is humbled to be inducted into the Northside Hall of Fame and couldn’t have imagined being recognized in this capacity. 

“I did not do this job for an award. I did it because of our students, our school and this incredible community,” she said. “I am so grateful to have spent the past 40 years surrounded by such wonderful students and staff. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day.” 

Mayor LaRhonda Patrick graduated from Northside High School in 2001. According to her biography, she served as Class President, was a member of the Senior Executive Council and was voted Most Likely to Succeed and Best All-Around. 

She said all of her accomplishments started at Northside High School and finally led her to “put down roots and complete my high school years in one community,” because she was an “Air Force brat”. 

Patrick said she found her voice at NHS and was initially hesitant to speak in large settings. 

“I was challenged by teachers and peers to step forward, lead and believe in myself,” she said. “Northside did more than educate me, it shaped me and prepared me to fly.” 

Patrick has carried “Eagle Pride” wherever she goes and said she will be forever proud to be a Northside Eagle. 

Larry Snellgrove was a part of the first graduating class in 1965 and has devoted his life to service and leadership in Houston County and beyond. 

He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1970 and built a successful career as a contractor and developer, emerging as a key civic leader, serving on the Georgia State Board of the Department of Technical and Adult Education and chairing the committee that selected new Career Academics for the state. 

He also served as the Northside Booster Club’s past president. 

“His leadership and support of local Little League and soccer programs, including helping to secure new fields, later led to ‘Snellgrove Drive’ being named in his honor by Mayor Donald Walker,” Snellgrove’s bio said. 

Dr. Rick Unruh moved to Warner Robins in 1979 to teach music at NHS. Over the next 14 years, his days at Northside were spent “directing choirs, assisting One Act, Spring Musicals, teaching music appreciation, remedial math and computer math”. 

He partnered with Ray Horne, and together they won first place in Region One Act 14 times and at state five times. In 1994, he moved to Houston County High School to begin his career as a media specialist; however, he was not away from Northside too long. He returned in 2002 as their Media Specialist. 

Unruh retired from NHS in 2012 after almost 37 years of teaching. Currently, Unruh has served on the Houston County Board of Education, Post 1, since 2013 and was recently appointed to the position of Board Chair. 

Dykes said he doesn’t think he knows anyone who loves Northside more than Jon Nichols. Nichols has spent his life around or on Green Street and graduated from NHS in 1982. His sons Zakary and Corey are NHS graduates as well. Nichols is currently the Service Center Manager of Bug Out Pest Control. According to his bio, Nichols was elected to the Centerville City Council in 2012 and served one term.

Afterwards, he was asked to serve on the Robins Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors. Now, Nichols has served on the Houston County Board of Education since 2022. He has also served as the Chairman of the School Council and President of the Northside Football Booster Club. Nichols’ “opportunity to serve the Northside Community has been the highlight of his life”, his bio said 

“Learning how to serve from men like Matt Arthur, Ed Dyson, Conrad Nix and ladies like Nancy Rozier, Brenda Littlefield and Lynn Campbell taught him to be the man he is today,” Nichols’ bio said.