2018 Inductees

Post date: Sep 29, 2018 3:44:33 PM

Brent Geringer

Outstanding Athletic Achievement - Class of 1974

Brent Geringer graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1974.

Under the guidance of his father, he began training for throwing events at an early age and continued to hone his craft throughout middle school. By the time he joined the high school track team he was already an accomplished competitor, and he quickly established a reputation as one of the best throwers in the state.

Brent won state championships in the shot put in 1972, 73, and 74. He was the state discus champion 1973, and the Drake Relays High School Discus Champion in 1974.

He started his collegiate career at Rice University in Houston, where he set the freshman school record in the shot put. He transferred to the University of Northern Iowa and continued his success in the throws, setting indoor and outdoor records in both the shot and discus. He still holds the UNI indoor shot put record, as well as the UNI discus record.

He won the NCAA Division II National Championship in the discus in both 1978 and 1979, and he was the Drake Relays University Division discus champion in 1979.

Brent was honored as a 5-time Division II All-American in the shot & discus. In 1979 he was named a Division I All-American in the discus, the first UNI track athlete to be a Division I All-American. He qualified for the 1980 Olympic Trials in the discus – the first UNI track athlete to qualify for Olympic trials.

He graduated from UNI in 1980 with an education degree, and went on to earn a degree from Cleveland Chiropractic College. In 2005 he was selected to the University of Northern Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame.

To this day, Brent remains the most decorated track and field athlete in Mount Ayr school history.

Anna Mae Kobbe

Distinguished Graduate – Class of 1965

Dr. Anna Mae Kobbe is a 1965 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School

She earned her BS degree from Northwest Missouri State University, her Masters from the University of Missouri, and she received her Doctorate from the University of Tennessee.

Anna Mae started her career with the USDA Land Grant University system in 1969, serving on the University of Missouri faculty as a Home Economist, Child & Family Development Specialist. In 1986 she joined the faculty at the University of Tennessee, where she was the State Family Life Specialist.

From the University of Tennessee, Dr. Kobbe went to the United States Department of Agriculture in Washington DC, becoming Director of the Division of Family & Consumer Sciences & Nutrition. She was the first female named to this position in the history of the USDA.

She retired in 2006 after a 38 year career with the USDA, but since that time she has stayed active in the field as a guest lecturer, visiting professor, and conference speaker.

She is deeply involved in a number of civic organizations; and has held numerous state, local, and national leadership positions with Rotary International and the National Garden Clubs.

Anna Mae was recently named to the University of Maryland School of Music Board of Visitors, and has been active in her church; serving as congregation president, Board Chairman, and director of the outreach ministry to the homeless.

Dr. Kobbe is the recipient of the University of Missouri Citation of Merit Award, as well as the Northwest Missouri State University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Merrill Perry

“The Old Band Man”

Band Director 1961-1984

Merrill Perry was born in rural Prescott in 1932. As a young boy at the Carl Methodist Church he attended a concert by the Blackwood Brothers gospel quartet, which fostered a lifelong love of music and set him on his eventual career path.

He attended country school in Adams County through the 8th grade, and received his high school diploma from Prescott. Merrill furthered his education at Tarkio College, earning a music degree in 1953.

He served 2 years in the Army during the Korean Conflict before returning to Iowa to accept a teaching job in Conway. His duties at Conway included K-12 music, high school English, assistant coach, assistant janitor, substitute bus driver, and principal pro-tem. From Conway he moved to Maxwell Community Schools and taught 7-12 music for 3 years. During this time he also completed his Masters Degree in Music at Drake University.

In 1961 Mr.Perry came to Mount Ayr and began building what would become one of the most successful music programs in the state. His bands earned numerous first place awards in both concert and marching competitions, while dozens of his students received first place honors in solo and ensemble contests. Several of his students were selected for All-State Band and Choir, including his daughter. Always a leader in the field of music education, he was one of the first band directors in Iowa to start a high school jazz band.

He retired from teaching in 1984, ending a 30 year career in education. After leaving the school, he worked as a Farm Bureau insurance agent, and also started a hobby of making lamps out of old musical instruments. He was an active participant in the community, with memberships in the Lions Club, American Legion, Masons, Ringgold Singers, Methodist Men, and the Jolly Boys Club. He was a reserve deputy with the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Posse, and he served 2 terms on the Mount Ayr city council and 1 term as mayor.

“The Old Band Man” passed away in 1999, leaving a legacy that continues to impact the school and community.