Dr. Lorraine Breckenridge-Sterling and Community Voice publisher Bonita Gooch are among seven graduates selected for induction into the Wichita North High School Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
The class also includes Wichita-born billionaire businessman Phil Ruffin, a 1953 North graduate who built his fortune through convenience stores, hotels, real estate and gaming. His Las Vegas holdings include Treasure Island and Circus Circus, while his Wichita-area holdings include the Marriott hotel in east Wichita and the development that includes 6S Steakhouse and Tillie’s.
The induction ceremony will be held Oct. 3 at North High as part of the school’s Alumni Weekend, which will also include building tours and class gatherings.
Breckenridge-Sterling, a 1972 North graduate, will be inducted in the Math/Science/Medical category. A retired clinical psychologist, she earned her undergraduate degree from Kansas State University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Florida State University before completing her clinical internship at Baylor College of Medicine.
She went on to a distinguished career as a licensed clinical psychologist and has remained active in civic and community organizations in Houston, where she now lives. She is a longtime member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and previously served as president of the Houston Chapter of The Links, Incorporated.
Breckenridge-Sterling also has deep family ties to North. Her father, Lorenza Orrin Breckenridge Sr., was the school’s first African-American teacher.
Gooch, a 1973 graduate, will be inducted in the Arts/Entertainment category, which encompasses careers in media and communications. A publisher, editor, writer and business owner, she has led The Community Voice since her family purchased the publication in 1996.
Under Gooch’s leadership, The Community Voice grew from a small monthly Wichita newspaper into a bi-weekly, multi-platform news organization serving Wichita, the Kansas City metropolitan area and communities across Kansas through print, web, newsletters, social media and video.
Gooch earned bachelor’s degrees in journalism and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas. Her previous honors include induction into the Kansas Newspaper Hall of Fame in 2023 and Wichita Black Business Hall of Fame in 2022.
Seven Selected for 2026 Class
The other members of the 2026 Hall of Fame class are:
- Bill Bequette, Class of 1980 — Politics/Humanitarian
- Lisa Hambelton, Class of 1984 — Business/Education
- Robert Hollowell, Class of 1937 — Faculty/Staff
- Mel Redburn, Class of 1971 — Business/Education
- Phil Ruffin, Class of 1953 — Business/Education
North established its Hall of Fame in October 2005 in conjunction with the school’s 75th anniversary. Inductees must have been away from North for at least 10 years and have achieved significant recognition locally, statewide or nationally. Selection also considers whether nominees have been pioneers or role models in their fields and positive contributors to North and the broader community.
The Hall of Fame’s previous inductees include some of North’s best-known graduates. Basketball great Lynette Woodard, Class of 1977, and football legend Barry Sanders, Class of 1986, were inducted in Sports in 2006. Some other sports inductees include Bob Love, Tim Carter and Larry Dennis.
Previous honorees also include journalist Mark McCormick, Class of 1986, in Arts/Entertainment; Dr. M. Lee Pelton, Class of 1968, in Business/Education; and Gene and Val Jackson, both Class of 1951, in Math & Science.