Published: March 28, 2007 09:52 pm         

Terre Haute South announces Hall of Distinction class

TERRE HAUTE — An actor, a marketing expert and a physician/engineer make up the class of 2007 of Terre Haute South Vigo High School’s Hall of Distinction. The three will be inducted during ceremonies on April 13 and 14, said Dan Wunderlich, Hall of Distinction committee co-chairman.

South alumni Jose Pablo “Joey” Cantillo, Carl Cottrell and Dr. Eric Trueblood comprise this year’s class.

Cantillo graduated in 1996 and played on the school’s state runner-up tennis team in 1996.

He discovered his passion for acting while majoring in business at Indiana University.

After graduation from IU, Cantillo headed for New York where he furthered his theatrical training at the prestigious Atlantic Theatre Company and Barrow Group Schools.

While in New York, he landed roles in several off-Broadway theater productions, appeared in “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns” and “One Life to Live” and eventually landed a television appearance on “Law and Order: Criminal Intent.”

Cantillo's additional television credits include: “BONES”; “Nip/Tuck”; “ER”; “Crossing Jordan” and “CSI: Miami.”

Cantillo also has several films to his credit, and can be seen in the upcoming films “The Cleaner,” with Ed Harris and Samuel L. Jackson, and “Ironman,” with Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.

Cottrell was president of the class of 1992. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Indiana State University, he joined the OLFA Division of General Housewares. Within two years, he was responsible for the product development of more than 100 products that are manufactured, marketed and distributed nationwide.

Cottrell has been quoted in several national publications as an expert in marketing and product development and has made guest appearances on several television shows, including “Aileen’s Creative Living,” “For Your Home” with Vicki Payne and “Simply Quilts.”

Active in community service, Cottrell works with the American Marketing Association in coordination with Indiana State University through product donations events. He has worked with Bethany House of Terre Haute; the Fraternal Order of Police and Catholic Charities. Cottrell lives in Indianapolis.

Trueblood graduated from Terre Haute South in 1988.

He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman in 1992 and graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1996.

After completing medical school, Trueblood did his residency at the Wright-Patterson Medical Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

Trueblood has served as an Air Force physician in both the Afghanistan and Iraq combat theaters. In 2005, he worked on the Critical Care Air Transport Team during the Hurricane Katrina relief effort in New Orleans.

He has received numerous awards, including Rose-Hulman’s Outstanding Senior Award; the Air Force Achievement awards; the Afghanistan Campaign Medal; and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Trueblood and his family live in Bloomington, where he practices medicine at Internal Medicine Associates in Bloomington.

The three honorees will spend April 13 meeting with students and staff of South High School and will be formally inducted during ceremonies April 14 at the Terre Haute Country Club.

Reservations may be made by calling the school at (812) 462-4252 by Wednesday.