 Jeff
"Starsky" Collins and Roger "Hutch" Beam -
TelecommunicationsEver since the
demise of the detective series on NBC in 1979, the rumors have flown
fast and furious about where the original stars of Starsky and
Hutch finally touched down. Through the tireless detective work
of the TIPS staff (with no small help from Systems
Support Supervisor Mike Burke), we've found them - right here in
Fayette County!
Jeff Collins, a.k.a. Starsky, was born in South
Bend, Indiana, but moved to Lexington at 8 months old, where he
subsequently graduated from
Lafayette High School. Two years after leaving the show (1981), he
was awarded an associates degree in electrical engineering from
Lexington Technical Institute (now Lexington Community College),
during which he was a University of Kentucky cheerleader.
("Great way to meet girls!") His
professional life began as a fire alarm servicer with a firm under
contract with Fayette County Schools, but in 1985, he was hired by
Fayette County to do the job in-house. He joined the Office of
Educational Technology's Telecommunications staff in 2002. Jeff
holds state certificates in fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems,
and as an electrician. He lives in Nicholasville with son Kurt and
daughter Kristin, both attending West Jessamine High School. When he
finally retires, he hopes to find a balmier place to play tennis and
strum his
guitar...in Florida.
Roger "Hutch" Beam's small screen career
also ended with S&H's cancellation. A Winchester native who
graduated from George Rogers Clark High School, Roger spent time at
Eastern Kentucky University, and gained a degree in industrial
electronics from Kentucky Technical School. After the show was
cancelled, Roger worked at a new PC store (they were just starting
to get popular), leaving in 1987 to be the first microcomputer
specialist at Fayette County Schools. There were seven PC's then! In
the 90's Roger moved to network technician, where he rode herd over
the first network wiring for
most of the schools, back when there wasn't any perceived need for
student and teacher Internet access! He moved to Telecommunications
in 2001. "Hutch" likes to lift weights, trade baseball
cards, and is in the midst of restoring his historic home in
Winchester.
 Please,
if you see Jeff or Roger in the pursuit of their duties, don't
mention the new movie based on their series. As the original stars,
they're still a little bitter about being passed over by the
director. "...Hey, I know Todd Phillips had our phone
number," says Jeff. "Wanna peanut?" adds Roger...
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 Janyl Humlong, Technology Resource Teacher
Janyl counts herself (with Paula Whitmer and Cathy Brandt) as one
of the three original technology resource teachers in Fayette
County, beginning work at the Office of Educational Technology in
1998. She left that position for a two-year stint as a TRT at
Breckinridge Elementary, but returned this year
through the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant. She is
currently assigned to Jessie Clark Middle
School, where her work with the live news program and other
technology integration initiatives has earned her a permanent place in
the school's educational support staff.
Mrs. Humlong was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, moving to
Kentucky to attend Asbury College where she obtained a Bachelors in
Elementary Education. She also holds a Master's Degree in Juvenile
Law from Eastern Kentucky University. She began her teaching career at Cardinal Valley
Elementary, teaching first grade in what is now their computer lab.
Her time there was followed by stints at Southern Elementary and
Julius Marks. It was at the latter that Janyl became involved in
instructional computing, eventually becoming a technology resource
teacher there. She returned to Asbury in the summer of 2000, and has
subsequently added a Master's Degree in Instructional Media to her
résumé.
Janyl, with George, her husband of 15 years, is heavily committed
to helping children in the foster care system. Beginning three years
after they got married, they have cared for over 35 foster care
children. They adopted Ryan in 2000, and are in the process of
adopting a sibling group which includes a 21 month old boy and a
four week old girl. Janyl is currently president of the Foster Care
Association, and serves as a mentor to newly approved foster
families as they receive their first placement. She also trains for
the Cabinet, and writes home studies for families waiting approval.
When they aren't pursuing these important interests, George and
Janyl like family activities such as hiking and playing together.
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