Induction Class 2015

Post date: Sep 6, 2016 2:23:48 AM

Raymond Baker

Class of 1924 (Beaconsfield) Distinguished Graduate

Raymond Baker was a 1924 graduate of Beaconsfield High School. After graduation, he went to Iowa State University to study Agronomy. In the course of his studies, he met Henry Wallace, who had been experimenting with breeding high-yield corn. Wallace gave Baker some seed and urged him to conduct his own experiments. In 1928, a Wallace-Baker hybrid seed produced an astounding yield of 90 bushels per acre, which easily won the Banner Trophy in an annual contest at ISU. Later that year, Wallace asked Baker to become the second employee of his newly established Hi-Bred Corn Company, which would later be known as Pioneer Hi-Bred.

When Wallace became Secretary of Agriculture in 1933, Raymond Baker assumed sole responsibility for Pioneer’s research program. He was Director of Research & Corn Breeding from 1928- 1971, and under his direction the annual research budget grew from $2,000 in 1932 to over $53 million in 1988. Baker became the corporate vice-president of Pioneer, and also served on the Pioneer Board of Directors. After his retirement in 1988, he continued to work as a corn breeder. During his career he was personally responsible for increasing corn yields from 30 bushels per acre to over 140 bushels per acre. Baker and Henry Wallace are considered to be the two most important individuals in the development of hybrid seed corn.

He was awarded the Alumni Medal from Iowa State University, served as chairman of the Iowa State Achievement Fund, and also served on the Iowa State University Board of Governors. In 1946 Mr. Baker established a research assistantship at Iowa State for students that were studying corn breeding. The Raymond F. Baker Center for Plant Breeding was named in his honor to promote the science of plant breeding within ISU’s Plant Sciences Institute.

Early in his career at Pioneer, Baker was given 10 shares of stock in lieu of salary. Adding to his stock holdings over the years and living a modest lifestyle; he was able to amass a considerable amount of money. Upon his death in 1999, he and his wife gave Iowa State University a stock gift worth $80-$90 million - the largest individual gift ever made to Iowa State.

Larry Giles

Teacher/Coach/Guidance Counselor/ Elementary Principal 1966-1999

Larry Giles is a 1958 graduate of Tingley High School. He started his education career in Aplington, Iowa, where he spent four years as a teacher and coach. In 1966, he accepted the position of junior high math teacher in Mount Ayr. In 1969, he added elementary guidance counselor to his list of duties. Upon the death of Superintendent O.C Walker in 1970, Mr. Giles was named elementary principal, a position he would hold for 29 years. He also served as the district’s special education coordinator for much of that time. Larry coached several sports during his career, including junior high football, junior high and high school basketball, and high school baseball. He was also a respected football and basketball official, and in 2005 he was inducted into the Iowa Girls Basketball Officials Hall of Fame

Many of the teachers that worked for Mr. Giles recall the stickers that he would put on their lesson plans during his Sunday morning rounds through their classrooms, as well as the infamous 3x5 cards that he carried in his pocket to jot down notes and reminders. He was devoted to his students and staff, he was passionate about education, and he worked tirelessly to create an environment of excellence.

Larry was a key player in the effort to reorganize the county schools into the Mount Ayr Community School District. After the reorganization was approved, he became the administrator for all of the elementary attendance centers in the new district – a total of 13 buildings.

Larry has been active in the community both during his working career as well as retirement. He served as president of the Mount Ayr Golf & Country Club Board of Directors for many years, he has served in leadership positions in several civic organizations, and he has been a member of both the Southwestern Community College Board of Directors and the Mount Ayr Community School Board of Directors. Larry also served on the SWCC Foundation Board, and the Mount Ayr Community Schools Foundation Board.

Mark Larsen

Math Teacher, Girls Basketball, Track, & Softball Coach/Athletic Director

Mark Larsen came to Mount Ayr in 1970 as a high school math teacher, as well as girls basketball and girls track coach. He coached both 6 on 6 and 5 on 5 basketball, winning 286 games and 6 conference championships. Two of his Raiderette teams lost in the regional finals before the 1998 team broke through that barrier and reached the state tournament.

His Raiderette track teams claimed 15 conference titles and 4 district championships, while winning a total of 68 meets. Mark would later serve as an assistant to Dave Still, and helped lead the Raiderettes to the 1988 state team championship.

As successful as he was in those sports, Coach Larsen is best known for his achievements on the softball diamond. Mark started the Mount Ayr softball program in 1972, and would win over 700 softball games in his illustrious career. Under his direction, Raiderette softball teams won 14 conference championships and 25 district titles. His 1982 and 1994 teams qualified for the state softball tournament. Mark was inducted into the Iowa Softball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998, and he was a finalist for the National Softball Coach of the Year in 1999.

Larsen also served as the Mount Ayr Athletic Director for 20 years, providing leadership to the department through a highly successful era in both boys and girls athletics. Mark was deeply involved in designing the current athletic complex, and coordinated the move to the new facilities. He was one of the founding fathers of the Pride of Iowa Activities Conference, and helped lead conference expansion from 6 schools at its inception, to the current 12 schools league. In 2002, Larsen was inducted into the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame.

Coach Larsen has stayed involved with the Mount Ayr Schools in retirement by volunteering as a public address announcer and scorekeeper for athletic events.

Chet Roed

Industrial Arts Teacher, Boys Track Coach, Assistant Football Coach

Chet Roed started his career in Bagley, Iowa, where he spent 6 years teaching Industrial Arts and coaching football, boys & girls basketball, track, and baseball. He came to Mount Ayr in the fall of 1958 as an Industrial Arts teacher, assistant football coach and head track coach. He recalls that his willingness to coach track was a key factor in getting the job at Mount Ayr.

During 17 years as an assistant to Hall of Fame football coach Joe McNeill, Mr. Roed was in charge of the freshman and sophomore program. He enjoyed developing the young players, preparing them to play on varsity teams that would win four conference championships and complete two undefeated seasons.

Mr. Roed’s favorite sport was track and field, and he led the program through one of the most successful eras in Raider track history. His 1964 team finished as the runner-up at both the indoor and outdoor state meets, he coached three Raider athletes to state championships in seven different events, and he coached a Drake Relays champion. Coach Roed’s teams dominated the conference track meet during the 1960s, winning titles in 1962, 63, 64, 65, 66, and 1968. He was especially proud of the development of the Raider program, watching it grow from a squad of 15 to over 50 athletes during his tenure.

His record as an Industrial Arts teacher was equally impressive. Mr. Roed was an innovator in the classroom, and was highly respected by his peers for the quality of his teaching. He served as the AEA 14 representative to the Iowa Industrial Technology Education Association, helping chart the course for the future of vocational education.

He still commands universal admiration, gratitude, and respect from former students and colleagues; and countless local homeowners and tradesmen credit Mr. Roed for teaching them practical skills that they use on a daily basis. His players and students report that Mr. Roed taught them many life-lessons, especially about teamwork. He saw the value in every person, and he stressed that to his teams and his classes. He is recalled as “a rock”, and a man of great integrity who kept his word. He was quiet, but as several former students said “You always knew where you stood with Mr. Roed – good or bad”.