Hall of Leaders - 2007

Supports numerous extracurricular activities at various Columbia Public Schools financially and by “rolling up his sleeves” to help as needed.

Contributes generously to athletic programs so that students have benefits otherwise not available to them, such as the turf for the Rock Bridge High School football/soccer field, new Rock Bridge football and baseball uniforms, “away game” busses for several different sports at Rock Bridge and Hickman, and Hickman Baseball State Championships rings.

Worked with the head baseball coach to start and fund the annual Rock Bridge/Hickman hosted Columbia Baseball Tournament, which is considered one of the best invitational tournaments in the state.

Was one of the first to begin the Hickman High School girls’ basketball fundraising efforts.

Was a long-time ardent supporter of Rock Bridge High School and the Columbia Public School District.

With his wife, Lydia, served as president of the Rock Bridge High School Booster Club, setting the standard for booster clubs in the district.

Announced to the principal at the beginning of the term as Booster Club president that he planned to be sitting in the stands of the new Rock Bridge football stadium by the following fall, an unbelievable feat…

And, with Lydia, provided the organization and persuasive powers along to obtain the funding, donated materials, and volunteers for the Bruins to play their first home football game in their own stadium the following fall as promised.

Served for nine years on the Columbia Public Schools Board including two years as Vice President of the Board and two years as President.

Provided testimony before the Missouri Legislative Committees in support of legislation favorable to Columbia Public Schools, represented the Columbia Public School System as a Board delegate to the Missouri School Board Association and was a member of the Missouri School Board Regional Leadership Committee.

Recognized by the Missouri School Board Association as a Master Board Member for completing over 40 hours of board member training.

Volunteered to serve the Laubach Corps as a math tutor, the PTA at Fairview Elementary, West Junior High, and Hickman High School and as a Big Brother in the Big Brother/Big Sister program.

Was Director of Bands at West Junior High providing inspiration to students and colleagues for over 25 years.

Recognized as a sincere, professional, energetic and talented teacher, developing a program that became known statewide as one of the best junior high bands in Missouri.

Awarded the Outstanding Junior High Educator (Ray Lewis Award), named Teacher of the Year, and received many musicals awards in band competitions.

Published a book, Remembering Minnesota: A Collection of Photos, Poems, and Writings.

Served Columbia Public Schools for 58 years, 20 years as a secretary at Douglass School and 38 years as the Director of Home School Services

Influenced thousands of students and their families by developing and providing the leadership for the Home-School Communicator Program, which was recognized by the Missouri Human Rights Commission and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Was a member of many school and community committees to help children including the Superintendent’s Cabinet, Dropout Prevention Task Force, Emergency/Crisis Management Committee and the Community Scholarship Fund for Graduating High School Seniors

Received awards for achievement including the NAACP Educator of the Year, Phi Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter Friend of Education, and the League of Women Voters Mother’s Day Peace Award

Began teaching and serving as head football coach and boys golf coach at Rock Bridge High School in 1977 and served as Director of Athletics and Physical Education for three years.

Was recognized as a leader on faculty committees, as an ardent supporter of all school activities, and was held in high regard by coaches, athletic directors, and principals statewide.

Received numerous awards including Missouri High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame, Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Director of the Year and Columbia Public Schools Teacher of the Year for Extracurricular Activities.

Named to the Rock Bridge High School Hall of Fame (Inaugural Class) and the Fulton High School Wall of Fame.

Taught in Columbia Public Schools for 29 years and served as head baseball coach at Hickman High School for 25 years.

Recognized for the positive impact he had on students including helping students overcome tragic events in their lives and recruiting students not in extracurricular activities to assist with the baseball program.

Worked tirelessly to make the Hickman baseball field the best he possibly could in honor of two students who suffered tragic deaths.

Inducted into Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Currently Clinical Associate Professor in Physical Therapy at MU, a therapist at the Women’s Health Clinic at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, a member of the Applied Cancer Research Faculty; has served as an Executive Board Member of the Missouri Red Cross.

Nationally known for her expertise in women’s health including oncology and lymphedema management.

Received several outstanding professional, faculty, teaching and advising awards.

Has a lengthy list of research publications and has made scholarly presentations around the country.

Director of Economic Development for the State of Missouri, a key leadership position.

Began Option Care in Columbia and started several other businesses.

Served Columbia on numerous boards including Boone Hospital Center, United Way, Regional Economic Development, Inc., Columbia Independent School, Missouri Innovation Center, and Life Science Business Coalition.

Named the Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Columbia Chamber of Commerce.

Recognized as a leader in American musical heritage preservation.

Recorded 10 albums with her husband, Dave Para; performed across the country and internationally and held song and instrumental workshops.

With her husband, she created two annual folk festivals – Boonville’s Big Muddy and Boone’s Lick’s Country Folk Festival – drawing artists from across the country to perform.

Earned numerous awards in recognition of her work along with accolades from leaders in the folk music world including Grandpa Jones and Roy Acuff.