The Cory-Rawson Local School district is proud of our alumni who are changing the region, state, nation, or world through their great achievements. To honor these alumni, members are inducted into our Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame based on their impacts on society, demonstration of character, and commitment to leadership. Cory-Rawson Local School district is excited to announce the inductees for 2026: Richard K. Warren and Natalie K. Cupples Pickering.
Richard K. Warren, Cory-Rawson Class of 1959, has dedicated over 50 years to the legal profession and public service, consistently demonstrating the highest levels of integrity and professionalism. During high school, he was senior class President and was all Hancock county in both football and basketball. After graduating from Heidelberg University in 1963 and Ohio Northern University College of Law in 1966, he began a diverse career that included 20 years in private practice and a two-decade tenure as an Assistant Allen County Prosecutor. In 1988, he was elected to the Allen County Common Pleas Court, where he served with distinction as both Administrative and Presiding Judge until his retirement in 2012. Throughout his judicial career, he presided over more than 300 jury trials, including high-profile cases featured on national programs like NBC Dateline. Even in retirement, he continues to serve his community as a Magistrate for the Lima Municipal Court.
Beyond his work on the bench, Judge Warren is a visionary leader in rehabilitative justice who founded the first Sex Offender Risk Reduction Court in Ohio and established one of the state's first Re-Entry Court programs. He was also a co-founder of the Western Ohio Regional Treatment Habilitation (W.O.R.T.H.) center, which provides inpatient treatment for non-violent offenders. His innovative contributions have earned him numerous prestigious honors, including the Ohio State Bar Foundation’s Ritter Award for promoting the highest level of ethics in the justice system , and the Ohio Northern University Alumni Association’s "Distinguished Alumni" award. A deeply involved citizen, he has served as a Sunday School teacher for 20 years, a former President of the Allen County Bar Association, and a leader within the Lima Rotary Club. His commitment to the next generation is further evidenced by his receipt of the 2016 Hulsken Youth Service Award for his work with the "High Octane Drum Line" project.
Dr. Natalie K. Cupples Pickering, Cory-Rawson class of 1993, is a distinguished organizational development psychologist, board-certified coach, speaker and author whose career reflects a profound commitment to leadership and service. Her academic foundation began with an honorable transfer from the United States Air Force Academy, followed by a B.A. from Wheaton College, an M.S. from the University of Houston-Clear Lake, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Louisville. Early in her professional journey, Dr. Pickering served as a secondary educator and athletic coach in the United States and West Africa, where she also provided vital psychotherapy services to expatriate and local communities.
Throughout her extensive tenure with the Veterans Health Administration, Dr. Pickering has held pivotal roles, including PTSD Clinic Psychologist and EAP Program Coordinator. Currently serving as an Organization Development Psychologist for the VISN9 VA Midsouth Healthcare Network, she oversees development services for healthcare systems across Tennessee and Kentucky. In addition to her federal service, she is the CEO and Founder of Becoming Works, a leadership development firm where she applies her research on identity-first leadership to coaching, training, and consulting leaders globally.
A recognized expert in burnout, resilience, and emotional intelligence, Dr. Pickering is a TEDx speaker and the author of Leading Becomes You: A Real-World Framework for Leading from the Inside Out. Her contributions extend to numerous research publications and global service, including providing consulting and therapy to faith-based organizations and healthcare workers in underserved areas worldwide. Her dedication to excellence has been recognized through honors such as the University of Louisville Graduate Research
Have someone in mind who deserves to be nominated? Please visit cory-rawson.org/page/distinguished-alumni-hall-of-fame to review the eligibility criteria and to access the nomination form!