Class of 2014

 Dawn Huff Elliott Class of 1990

Outstanding Achievement (Athletics)

Dawn Huff, a 1990 graduate, was an outstanding high school and collegiate athlete. One longtime Mount Ayr coach called her the "best all-around female athlete to graduate from Mount Ayr." She placed in three events in the 1988 state track meet that propelled Moutn Ayr to the state team championship that year. She was a two-time state long jump champion, and was named first team all-state in both basketball and softball. In 1990 she was selected as the Des Moines Register Female Athlete of the Year. She attended the University of Missouri on a track scholarship, and still ranks among the top performers at Mizzou in the 100m Hurdles, shuttle hurdle relay, long jump, triple jump, javelin throw, and heptathalon. 

Jack and Mildred Dixon Elliott

Class of 1945 - Distinguished Graduates

Jack Elliott was co-captain of the 1944 undefeated football team. Later in life he was a longtime volunteer at the school, serving as a school board member, keeping the basketball scorebook, and operating the clock at football games. He was a tireless worker for the community betterment and economic development in Mount Ayr and Ringgold County. He was active in Republican party politics on both the state and local level. Jack was named an Iowa Master Farmer, Iowa Master Pork Producer, and served as a 4-H leader for many years. Throughout his life he promoted our school and community throughout the state and the nation, and in 1996 he was recipient of the Iowa Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mildred Elliott was also active in state and national government service. She served on the state Real Estate Commission and the Iowa Board of Corrections. She was a member of the White House Conference on Children and on the White House Conference on Aging. She was president of the Iowa Republican Women and delegate to the 1980 Republican National Convention. She worked on the Iowa campaign staff of George H.W. Bush in 1988. She was active on all levels of the Eastern Star and Rainbow organizations. In 1994 she received the State of Iowa Distinguished Service Award.

  The Elliott family awards the Jack & Mildred Elliott Memorial Scholarship to a graduating Mount Ayr senior each year.

Vance Geiger 

High School Principal 1950-1969

Vance Geiger was universally respected by both students and staff, and many cited his compassion and concern for people as one of his greatest attributes. He had a tremendous influence on the lives of his students, even to this day. When faced with a tough decision, one of his former students (who is himself a school administrator) says he always asks himself the question “What would Vance do?” One nominator said Geiger was “the key person” in the reorganization of many small schools into the Mount Ayr Community School district. Before coming to Mount Ayr, Mr. Geiger was a successful basketball coach in Hopkins, MO. His 1942 team had a record of 42-4 and finished second in the Missouri state tournament. He served in the US Army Air Corps in World War II. Geiger was elected to the Representative Council of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and was active in numerous community organizations. After retirement he worked with student teachers at his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University. A former student and colleague remarked that when he thinks of the “Mount Rushmore” of our school, the first person he would expect to see is Vance Geiger. Vance and his wife Zeline were generous benefactors to Northwest Missouri State University, and their gifts to that institution help students now and will continue to do so long into the future.  

  The Vance & Zeline Geiger Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a senior graduating from Mount Ayr Community High School.

Larry Hunter 

Class of 1968 – Distinguished Graduate

A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Hunter is currently the executive vice president and general counsel of DirecTV and the senior lawyer for their entire operation. At various times he has served as chairman and CEO of DirecTV, CEO of DirecTV Japan division and CEO of DirecTV Latin American division. Hunter joined Hughes Electronics in 1993 and helped transform that company from a defense contractor into the leader in the satellite TV industry today. Hunter serves on numerous corporate boards and philanthropic organizations, and he is one of the most respected legal minds in the digital entertainment industry. He and his wife Rita (Barker) have been silent contributors to various projects in the Mount Ayr schools over the years, with a special interest in art, music and drama.

Joe McNeill 

History and Government teacher 1948-1976, Head Football coach 1948-1972

With 136 wins McNeill is the winningest football coach in Mount Ayr history. His 1963 team went undefeated and is considered the best football team that has ever played at Mount Ayr. He was named the 1963 Des Moines Register Coach of the Year and was selected to the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He attended the University of Idaho on an athletic scholarship but left after two years to serve in the Army during World War II. After discharge, McNeill went to Drake University and played football for three years, helping the Bulldogs win the 1946 Raisin Bowl over Fresno State. He came to Mount Ayr in 1948, and other than two years in Iowa Falls, he spent his entire career in Mount Ayr. McNeill also coached baseball and basketball at various times and took the 1954 basketball team to the state tournament. He also worked as a basketball official in the area for many years.

Dave Still

Class of 1964 – Outstanding Achievement (Athletics)

Head Football & Girls Track Coach, and PE/Health/Drivers Ed Teacher 1979-1998

Still was quarterback of the undefeated 1963 football team that is considered the best ever in Mount Ayr history. He started his teaching and coaching career in Mound City, MO where he had very successful football, girls basketball and girls track teams. In 1979 he came back to his alma mater and resurrected the football program, winning numerous conference and district championships along with a number of undefeated teams. Still coached the first playoff team in Mount Ayr football history (1984) and took a total of five teams to the playoffs during his career. His 109 football wins are second only to his high school coach, Joe McNeill. He enjoyed tremendous success as a girls track coach, winning many conference championships. In 1988 his team won the state championship, and that year he was named Iowa Track Coach of the Year. Still also coached girls basketball and baseball during his time in Mount Ayr. He was respected by his students and colleagues and truly cared about the people around him. Over the years he mentored many young coaches, and he was committed to building relationships with people before that was the “in thing” in education. Along with Coach McNeill, Still was also selected to the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame. 

  Dave & his wife, Marie (Angus), also a long-time educator at Mount Ayr Community Schools, award the Dave Still Excellence in Physical Education scholarship to a graduating Mount Ayr senior each spring.

Dr. Peggy Whitson 

Class of 1978 – Distinguished Graduate

With a chemistry degree from Iowa Wesleyan and a doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University, Whitson became an astronaut candidate in 1996.  A former high school classmate and teammate remembers Peggy’s work ethic while in school, and how she always gave effort above and beyond what was expected - both in the classroom as well as in athletics.  That extra effort has no doubt helped launch her very successful NASA career.  She was the first female commander of the International Space Station, and she was named the first NASA science officer, designing and conducting numerous experiments in space. She set records among American astronauts and women for most time in space – 377 days – and has completed six spacewalks in her career, totaling 39 hours and 46 minutes. In 2009 she became chief of the NASA astronaut corps, overseeing all astronaut activities including crew selection and training.   She stepped down from that post in 2012 to begin preparing for a possible return to space. In fact, Dr. Whitson was unable to be with us for tonight’s induction ceremony, because she is currently in training for herthird space expedition crew – the first American astronaut to achieve that distinction.  

2014 Inductees

2015 Inductees

 Class of 2016

Orr Fisher

Distinguished Alumnus (Delphos)

Orr Fisher was born on 1885 on a farm southwest of Delphos.  He received his education at country schools in the Delphos area.  He went on to study art through correspondence courses, and later at the Cumming School of Art and at Drake University.  He also studied under the tutelage of another celebrated Iowa artist, Grant Wood.

  Fisher worked for a time with J.N. “Ding” Darling, famed cartoonist for the Des Moines Register.  Throughout his career Fisher produced articles, cartoons, and illustrations for various publications, he operated a picture postcard business, he worked in advertising, and he wrote sermons.  He supplemented his art income with a job on the railroad, as well as driving a six-horse freight team in Wyoming.   Fisher was also an accomplished inventor, obtaining United States, Canadian, and British patents for an automatic train whistle used on steam locomotives. 

  Fisher became known for his work with oil paint, and it is estimated that he produced over 1000 oil paintings in his career.  Much of his work centered on landscapes, including a number of famous paintings depicting scenes from state and national parks.  He was also noted for his whimsical and humorous paintings & sketches, as well as others that portrayed religious & spiritual themes.  In the 1940s, he was commissioned by the Works Progress Administration to paint murals in newly constructed federal post offices buildings in Mount Ayr and Forest City, Iowa.

  In the 1950s, he built a studio in Woodstock, New York, living and working in that artists’ colony for 10 years.  Mr. Fisher then moved to Fresno, California where he passed away in 1974.

David McDaniel

Distinguished Graduate – Class of 1969

David McDaniel is a 1969 graduate of Mount Ayr Community Schools.  He furthered his education at Northwest Missouri State University, earning a Bachelors Degree in Physics and a minor in Mathematics.  He was awarded a National Science Foundation grant for a physics research project at Kansas State University, and went on to earn Masters and Doctoral degrees in Nuclear Physics from the University of Wisconsin.  After serving as a research associate in the physics department at Wisconsin, he accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in Radiology at the University of Texas Medical School.

  In 1983, he started a career with General Electric Medical Systems (now GE Healthcare), where he currently holds the title of Senior Detector Physicist & Principal Engineer in the Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan) Department.  Since that time, McDaniel’s designs and specifications have been at the heart of every PET scanner developed by GE Healthcare.  He is revered as the “Godfather” of every advance in PET detection in the last 30 years, with over 50 patents and 18 PET scan projects to his credit.  An estimated 225 million patient exams have been performed on scanners designed by Dr. McDaniel, and his work has impacted millions of people who have received PET scans to diagnose illness and evaluate treatment.

  Dr. McDaniel is recognized as the world’s foremost expert in nuclear medical technology, and he is considered one of the top three nuclear physicists in the world.  In 2015 he was received the prestigious Edison Award. 

Bruce Ricker

Distinguished Graduate – Class of 1975

Bruce Ricker is a 1975 graduate of Mount Ayr Community Schools.  He played on Raider basketball teams that qualified for the state tournament in 1973 and 1975.  He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Iowa in 1979, and he earned his medical degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine & Health Sciences in 1983.  Dr. Ricker completed his internship in Arizona at Phoenix General Hospital, and following that he operated a solo practice in Phoenix for 12 years.

  Dr. Ricker returned to Mount Ayr in 1997 to accept a position at the Mount Ayr Medical Clinic.  In addition to his practice at the clinic, he serves as Ringgold County Hospital Chief of Staff as well as the medical director. Dr. Ricker is the Ringgold County Medical Examiner, and is the medical director for Hospice as well as both of the local nursing homes.  He also serves as a clinical instructor for 3rd and 4th year medical students at several schools of Osteopathic medicine. 

  In 2003 he was selected as the Iowa Osteopathic Medicine Physician of the Year, and he received the 2003 Spirit of Hospice Award from the Iowa Hospice Association.  Dr. Ricker is currently serving a second term as president of the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association, and is the past President of the Iowa Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. 

Michell (Holmes) Ricker

Distinguished Graduate – Class of 1975

Michell (Holmes) Ricker is a 1975 graduate of Mount Ayr Community Schools.  Michell earned both her Bachelor of Science degree and Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Iowa.  She served as a social worker for Ringgold County Public Health, but she found her true calling in volunteer work, striving to improve the quality of life in Ringgold County.

  Michell has written grants to provide funding to numerous organizations in Ringgold County.  She is a member of the South Central Iowa Community Foundation Board and also serves on their Executive Board.  She is on the Board of Directors for the Princess Theater and the Teen Center, and has established endowment funds for both of those organizations.  Michell serves on the Board of Directors for Blessman Ministries as well as the Iowa Chapter of International Cooperating Ministries, and she is a member of the Iowa Board of Health.

  In 1983, Michell received the Governors Lifesaving Award for rescuing two young men from their burning car.  She was also named as the recipient of the Governors Volunteer Award in 2014.

  Dr. Bruce and Michell established the Margaret Ricker Memorial Fund, which supports the Raider Reader and Maroon Reader programs at the Mount Ayr and Diagonal elementary schools.  Between the two of them, they have gone on 12 mission trips, serving the medical and spiritual needs of people in all parts of the world.  They have partnered with International Cooperating Ministries to build 12 churches, orphanages, and Hope Centers in nine different countries .  In addition to these causes, the Rickers have been silent benefactors to many projects and organizations in the community, including Mount Ayr Community Schools, the First Christian Church, and the Neighborhood Center.

 Ron Scott

Science Teacher, Guidance Counselor, Wrestling Coach

Ron Scott is a 1961 graduate of Tulsa Webster High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He attended Northwest Missouri State University, earning his Education degree in 1966.  He was also a wrestling letter winner for the nationally ranked Bearcats.  Mr. Scott came to Mount Ayr in 1966, and taught PE for 4 years before moving to the Biology classroom for the next 16 years.  In 1986 he became the guidance counselor and would serve in that position for 16 years.  During their time in Mount Ayr, Mr. Scott and his wife Dana had one son, adopted two more boys, and opened their home to a number of at-risk students for extended periods of time.

  At various times during his tenure at Mount Ayr, Scott coached football, baseball, and of course, wrestling.  Coach Scott served as the head wrestling coach for 30 years, compiling a record of 198-137-4.  He coached one undefeated team, and two other teams that had just one loss.  Under the direction of Coach Scott, 57 Raiders qualified for the state wrestling tournament, including 3 wrestlers who finished as state runner-up, and 1 state champion.  He was one of the pioneers of the Iowa Wrestling Coaches Association, and he started the first wrestling coaches and officials clinic in the state of Iowa.  Coach Scott was elected to the IHSAA Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1994, and in 2008 he received the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Service Award.

  After 36 years of service, Coach Scott retired from the Mount Ayr School system in 2002 to start a new career at the Iowa Institute of Character Development, working with coaches and athletes in the Pursuing Victory With Honor program.

  Saying the he wanted to “finish strong for the Lord”, Scotty began his third career in 2009 when he became the Midwest Director of International Cooperating Ministries.  In this position he found his true calling, helping build churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.  He was serving in this capacity at the time of his death in 2012.

  Former students, athletes, and colleagues praise his leadership, loyalty, dedication, and his commitment to building strong character.  Many cite him as the most influential person in their life.

2016 Inductees

Class of 2017

Maurice Carr

Distinguished Graduate (Maloy Class of 1930)

Athlete, Coach, Administrator

Maurice Carr was born in Beaconsfield in 1911.  His family moved to Maloy in 1926, settling into a house across the street from the school.  Maurice took advantage of the location, spending many hours in the Maloy gym perfecting his jump shot.

  He played on Maloy basketball teams that won the county tournament in 1929 and 1930.  The 1930 team started the year 27-0 and qualified for the state basketball tournament, where they were eliminated by Newton.

  Carr was a 3 year basketball starter at Iowa State Teachers College (now UNI).  He was twice named to the all-conference team, and as a senior he led the team in scoring and was named MVP.  During his senior season, one newspaper writer called him “the best guard in the Midwest”.

  In the fall of 1935, he returned to Maloy as a teacher and basketball coach.  He led his first team to the state tournament, where they were defeated in the opening round by Ottumwa.  Maloy made it back to state the following year, falling to Marshalltown in their first game.

  Answering his country’s call, Coach Carr enlisted in the Army in 1942.  After his discharge, he taught and coached at Redding before returning to Maloy.  In 1955 he was hired to coach basketball in Mount Ayr, but health issues forced him to relinquish his coaching duties.  During 18 seasons at Redding and Maloy he compiled a record of 329 wins and 98 losses, and he never experienced a losing season.  He was honored for his coaching prowess with his selection to the Iowa Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1981.

  Carr became a school administrator at Mount Ayr, supervising several of the outlying elementary schools.  He was highly respected by both students and staff, and he was one of the key figures in the reorganization of the Mount Ayr Community School District.  He was hailed by many as a “peacemaker” during that sometimes tumultuous process.

  Mr. Carr closed his career as Assistant Superintendent and Director of Transportation at Mount Ayr, retiring in 1975.  He passed away in 1985 at his winter home in Arizona.

Lori Sickels Friedman

Distinguished Graduate – Class of 1982

Lori Sickels is a 1982 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School.  She graduated from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, and went on to earn her PhD from the University of California-Berkley in Molecular and Cell Biology.  She completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Washington and Cambridge University in England.

  While at Berkley, she was part of a research team that isolated the genetic defect for breast cancer, and her post-doctoral work at Cambridge expanded her study of breast cancer genetics.

  Dr. Friedman began her career in breast cancer treatment research in 1988 at Exelixis, where she served as Oncology Program Leader, Senior Research Scientist, and later advancing to become Director of Signal Transduction Research.

  In 2004 she took her talents to Genetech, one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies.  She has held a number of positions at Genetech, and is currently the Senior Director of Translational Oncology.  

  Dr. Friedman has published 77 peer-reviewed manuscripts in the area of breast cancer genetics and treatment; and she is also an accomplished inventor with 20 issued patents related to cancer research.

  She is regarded as one of the top experts in her field, and she is broadly sought as a mentor by aspiring scientists.  She serves on the Scientific Advisory Board at the Cambridge Cancer Center, and she leads the Genetech Women in in Science & Engineering team.

  Dr. Friedman is the recipient of numerous professional awards and academic fellowships, including the 2014 Healthcare Businesswomen’s Rising Star Award in 2014.

Ron Landphair

Distinguished Graduate - Class of 1968

Industrial Arts Teacher; Cross Country, Track, & Wrestling Coach

Ron Landphair is a 1968 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School.  After receiving his education degree, he began his teaching & coaching career at Clear Lake.  From there he moved to Central Decatur, where he coached many state wrestling qualifiers and one state champion. 

  He returned to Mount Ayr in 1980 as an Industrial Arts instructor and assistant wrestling coach, working with Hall of Fame member Ron Scott.  Upon hearing the news of Coach Landphair’s hire, one Mount Ayr wrestler recalls thinking that now Mount Ayr had the two best wrestling coaches in the state.

  Mr. Landphair taught many different Industrial Arts courses over the years, but he was especially renowned for his building trades and drafting classes.  Students in his classes built houses, designed commercial buildings and school additions, and restored local landmarks.  Under his tutelage, Mount Ayr students won many awards for their craftsmanship and drafting skills.  Ron played an active role in shaping the future of Industrial Arts through his long-time involvement in the Iowa Industrial Arts Technology Education Association.

  At the urging of his daughter, Coach Landphair agreed to revive the dormant cross country program at Mount Ayr.  His cross country teams would go on to win 9 conference championships, and qualified for the state meet 10 times.

  Coach Landphair also coached boys track, assisting Brad Rumple for 13 years before serving as head coach from 2000-2006.  During his time with the track program, the Raiders won 10 conference team titles.  As head coach, he had numerous state place winners, including 2 individual state champions.

  Since retiring from the school in 2006, Ron has been an active community volunteer.  His signature project in retirement was restoring and refurbishing the Princess Theater.  He also built and donated the walnut podium that is used for school events.  He continues to offer assistance to the Industrial Arts program at the school, and he also helps with track and cross country meets.

  Ron is respected and admired by former students, athletes, and colleagues for the many life lessons he taught; as well as his integrity and his tremendous dedication to our school and community.

1988 Girls Track Team

State Team Champions

The 1988 Raiderette track team was the first state team champion in Mount Ayr school history.  They were a true undefeated team, wining every regular season meet they entered, as well as the district and state meets.

  Extremely competitive, and with a knack for delivering their best when it was needed; they set 3 school records and placed in 6 individual events at the state meet.

  In the shot put, Kim McGinnis topped her best throw of the year by nearly 2 feet to win the gold medal.  Laurel Moe was 2nd in the 800, 4th in the 3000, and 5th in the 1500.  Dawn Huff finished 2nd in the Long Jump and 3rd in the 100m hurdles.  Three relay teams also qualified for the state meet, but did not place.

  Lawton-Bronson trailed Mount Ayr by just one point heading into the 4x100 relay, and with the fastest qualifying time it looked like they would edge the Raiderettes for the team title.  However, a mishap on the first exchange kept Lawton-Bronson from scoring any points in the event; and after a 45 minute delay to check the score, Mount Ayr was declared the state champion.

  The team was coached by Hall of Fame members Dave Still and Mark Larsen.

1988 Girls State Track team

Lori Sickels Friedman

Maurice Carr

Ron Landphair

Class of 2018

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.

2018 Inductees

Jerry Waugh

Outstanding Achievement (Athletics) - Class of 1963

Jerry Waugh graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1963.

  Responsibilities on the family farm limited his opportunities to participate in athletics.  But with free time during the winter, he focused on basketball and soon developed into one of the top players in the state.  Throughout high school he set numerous school, conference, and state records in both scoring and rebounding. 

  During his senior year, the Raiders finished with a record of 19-3.  He averaged 29.6 points and 20.6 rebounds per game that year, leading the state in both categories.  In his final high school contest (sub-state game vs Atlantic) he had 36 rebounds.

  He was named to the All-State Basketball team, and was selected by Sports Illustrated as an All-American candidate.

  He accepted a scholarship to Iowa State University and played on their freshman team before transferring to the University of Northern Iowa.

  He became a starter during his junior year at UNI, and averaged over 20 points per game during his final 2 seasons. His average of 23.4 points per game as a senior is still the school record, and his career scoring average of 20.8 is second on the all-time list at UNI.

  He was named to the All-American team, and was one of 36 college players selected for the Olympic tryouts.  He passed up an opportunity to join the new NBA team in Minnesota in order to begin his teaching & coaching career in Eldora.  He later moved to Atlantic, where his Trojan teams made 2 trips to the state tournament and were the state runner-up in 1977.

  In 1978 he moved into school administration.  He was state principal of the year in 1996, and won the Millikan Family Foundation Award for Outstanding High School Administrator in 1998.  He finished his career as the Superintendent of schools at Grundy Center, and served as interim superintendent for several districts in retirement.

  In 2002 he was inducted into the Iowa Boys Basketball Hall of Fame.  His daughter Trisha is a member of the Iowa Girls Basketball Hall of Fame, and they are believed to be the only father-daughter Basketball Hall of Fame members in the state of Iowa.

Duane Miller

Outstanding Achievement (Athletics) - Class of 1966

Duane Miller is a 1966 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School.  He grew up on the family farm near Kellerton, and entered the Mount Ayr school system in 3rd grade. 

  He was a versatile and multi-talented athlete in high school, earning 15 varsity letters – 5 in baseball, 4 in track & field, 3 in basketball, and 3 in football.

  During his senior football season he rushed for over 1,000 yards and scored 132 points, (second highest season point total in Iowa history at that time); and he was selected to the all-state football team.

  He was the Drake Relays High School Long Jump Champion, setting a Drake record with a jump of 22 feet, 7 and 1/4 inches.  53 years later, that jump remains the best ever recorded in school history.

  He was heavily recruited and ultimately accepted an offer from Drake University.  He came to Drake as a defensive back, and was a starter at that position during his sophomore and junior years,  He set school records for most interceptions and interception return yards, and he also established a reputation as one of the most outstanding kick and punt returners in the country.

  He switched to the offense as a senior, and became a starting receiver for the Bulldogs.  He set school records for receiving yards and touchdown catches, as well as numerous kick and punt return records.

  He left Drake with over 10 school records, and at this time he still holds the record in 4 categories: most receiving yards in a season, most punt return yards in a season, most career punt return yards, and the longest punt return. He is one of 32 Bulldogs named to the All-Time Drake Football Team.

Carey Crowson

Outstanding Achievement (Music) - Class of 1972

  Carey Crowson graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1972. He grew up in a musical family, and soon began making a name for himself in the music industry.

He started performing professionally in the Des Moines area in the late 70s, and was a member of several highly successful bands.

  Throughout his career, he opened for some of the biggest acts in rock music, including Blood, Sweat, and Tears; The Monkees, The Young Rascals, Peter Noone (Hermans Hermits), Fabian, and Del Shannon.

In addition to his skills as a concert performer, he has written, arranged, and performed commercial jingles for both local and national ad campaigns such as McDonalds, Disney, Farm Bureau, Fareway, Josephs Jewelers, The Iowa State Fair, The Woodsmith Store, as well as numerous banks, insurance companies, and agricultural suppliers.

In 2001 he was inducted into the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Cavaliers.  In 2015 he was inducted a second time as an Individual Contributor in honor of his lifetime achievements in the music industry and his dedication to making music special for all Iowans as well as those beyond our borders.

1963 Football Team

Many veteran observers consider the 1963 squad to be the best football team in Mount Ayr school history. The team finished the season with a record of 9-0, and were the Tall Corn Conference Champions. They outscored their opponents 277-30, and the defense recorded 6 shutouts during the year.

They scored on the first play from scrimmage in 4 straight games, and they did not allow a point to be scored against them until the 7th game of the season.

The homecoming game that year was played before “the largest crowd to ever see a football game in Mount Ayr” according to the local newspaper writer.  That crowd went home very happy as they saw the Raiders defeat Bedford by a score of 19-0.

The seniors on that team finished high school with a career record of 32-3. During their sophomore, junior, and senior seasons they outscored their opponents 764-63, and the defense racked up 19 shutouts.

Head coach Joe McNeill was named the Des Moines Register Coach of the Year for his efforts that season, and was later selected to the Iowa High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame.  The quarterback of that team was Dave Still, who would later become a highly successful coach at his alma mater and was also selected to the Football Coaches Hall of Fame.   Both Still and McNeill, as well as assistant coach Chet Roed are members of the Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame.

1963 Football Team

Duane Miller

Jerry Waugh

Class of 2020 - not inducted due to COVID pandemic

Class of 2020 inducted in fall of 2021

Kim McGinnis Foster   (Outstanding Achievement – Athletics)

Mount Ayr Community High School graduate 1988.

She was a talented multi-sport athlete, playing a key role on each her teams from the moment she entered high school.  She was the state shot put champion in 1988, with her winning throw establishing the school record.  Her gold medal in that event propelled the Raiderettes to the state team title.

  In basketball, she set season scoring records during her freshman, sophomore, and junior years; as well as the career scoring record.  Her 2,849 career points remain the highest scoring total in school history.

  Her talent shined the brightest on the softball diamond.  Long-time girls coach Mark Larsen called her “the best all-around softball player in school history”.  When she left the softball program, she held school records in 12 different categories.  She was named first team All-State in softball in 1988.

  She continued her softball career at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where she was a two time letter winner and was named to the academic all-conference team.

  In 2017, she was inducted into the Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame as a member of the 1988 state champion girls track team.

Eugene Ricker (Outstanding Athletic Achievement/Distinguished Graduate)  

Mount Ayr Community High School graduate 1964.

He was the salutatorian of his class, and was active in many activities, including band, choir boys glee club, student council, FFA, National Honor Society, and athletics.

  During his 4 years as a running back on the high school football team, the Raiders had a record of 32-3 with 2 undefeated seasons.  He was co-captain of the undefeated 1963 team, which is often referred to as “the best team in school history”.

  His success as a Raider track athlete is unparalleled, and for over 55 years he has held the title of the “fastest man in Mount Ayr”.  In 1964 he won state championships in the 50, 100, and 440 yard dash, and was runner-up in the 220.  Led by his electric performance, the Raiders placed second in the team race at both the indoor and outdoor state meets that spring.

  He went to the University of Missouri-Rolla on a football and track scholarship, lettering 3 times in football and twice in track.  He was also elected to the student council, and served as President of the Lettermans Club.  He transferred to Northwest Missouri State to finish his education, graduating with degrees in Mathematics and Business.

  Following graduation he went to work for Firestone Tire in Akron, Ohio.  He spent 39 years with the company, retiring in 2007 as the Des Moines Plant Industrial Engineering Manager.  He was honored with the President’s Award for his work in saving the Des Moines plant from being shut down.  He also spent 30 years on the Firestone Credit Union Board, he was a Junior Achievement advisor, and also served on the Ankeny Country Club Board of Directors. 

In 2019 he was inducted into the Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame as a member of the 1963 football team.

Thomas Teale, Jr     (Outstanding Athletic Achievement/Distinguished Graduate)  

1943 graduate of Mount Ayr Community High School.

  He participated in many activities during high school, with football being his favorite.  In three years as a varsity running back, his teams finished with an overall record of 21-2-2.  Following an undefeated senior season, he received all-conference and all-state recognition.

  With the nation engrossed in World War II, he was inducted into the US Army in November of 1943.  After completing basic training and Infantry school, his unit was transferred to the 7th Army and went to the European Theater.  They landed in France and were quickly engaged in combat.  When they reached the Rhine River, his unit was transferred to the 3rd Army where he served under General George Patton.  His unit was in Austria at the time of the German surrender, and they returned to Germany for occupation duty following the war.  He was discharged in May of 1946.

  Upon his return home, he enrolled in Simpson College.  He was a 2-year football letter winner at Simpson, and graduated in 1950 with degrees in physical education, history, and sociology.

  Following graduation he joined the Des Moines Police Department as a patrolman.  He was promoted to Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain before being named Assistant Chief of Police in 1970, a position he held until his retirement in 1991.  As Assistant Chief, part of his duties included planning security arrangements for visiting dignitaries, and the protocols that he established in Des Moines were later adopted by the US Secret Service for use across the country.

  In 1952 he enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard, where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.  He rose through the ranks and was eventually became Commander of the Camp Dodge Training Center.  He retired from the National Guard in 1982 as a Brigadier General.

  He received the Double S Award from Simpson College in recognition of his athletic success and his professional accomplishments.

Harley Wilhelm     (Outstanding Athletic Achievement & Distinguished Graduate)  

1919 - Ellston High School

  He excelled in athletics, earning a spot on the varsity as a freshman.  By his senior year he was recognized as one of the top basketball players in the state; and he was named to the all-state team.

  He received an athletic scholarship to Drake University, where he played halfback on the football team, forward on the basketball team, and was a top pitcher for the baseball team.

  He graduated from Drake in 1923 and become a chemistry teacher and Head Football coach at Intermountain Union College in Helena, Montana.

  In 1929 he returned to Iowa and took a position as a chemistry instructor at Iowa State.  He earned his doctorate in 1931 and eventually became a full professor in the chemistry department.  During this time he also pitched for the Ames semi-pro baseball team.

  In 1942 he was asked to lead the metallurgical research team at the Ames Laboratory, which was part of the US Government’s highly secretive Manhattan Project.  This team was tasked with finding a process to extract pure uranium, which would be used to fuel a powerful new weapon that we know today as the atomic bomb.

  The team was successful in their mission, and by the end of 1942 the “Ames Process” was being used to produce one ton of highly pure uranium each day.  This uranium would find its way into the atomic bombs that brought about the Japanese surrender, and ultimately ended World War II.

  After the war, he co-founded the Institute of Atomic Research and the Ames Laboratory of the Atomic Energy Commission, serving as the associate director.  His work at the Ames Laboratory covered a wide-range of subjects, from the design of high-speed computers to environmental waste management.  After leaving that position in 1966, he returned to the Iowa State faculty as a professor of Chemistry and Metallurgy until his retirement in 1970.

  He holds over 100 patents related to chemistry, metallurgy, and atomic energy.  He was a member of the United States delegation to the International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, and he received the Eisenman Award from the American Society of Metals.  In 1990 he received the Gold Medal Award from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

  Although highly revered for his academic work, he has been recognized more for his athletic achievements.  He was named as one of the top 100 athletes in the history of Drake University, and in 1968 he was one of 32 Drake alumni selected for the very first Double D Award.  He is also a member of the Iowa High School Athletic Association Boys Basketball Hall of Fame.

Gene Ricker

Kim McGinnis-Foster

Thomas Teale, Jr.

Class of 2022

Dan McGugin - Class of 1895 Tingley

Mr. Dan McGugin, an 1895 graduate from Tingley. After graduation he attended Drake to play football an earn his degree and then headed to Michigan to earn a law degree. There he continued to play football and played in the first ever Rose Bowl in 1902 where Michigan beat Stanford 49-0. In 1903 he was hired as the Vanderbilt football coach and became a fixture in American Football. More than that, he became an outstanding lawyer, Member of the Tennessee state senate, president of the American Football Coaches Association, and posthumously, a member of the National Football Hall of Fame. He was remembered to be the first coach to successfully work the onside kick.  Except for a stretch in the military service during WW1, McGugin served Vanderbilt through 30 years. He brought home 13 championships. His teams won 200 games while losing 57 and playing 18 ties. Upon his retirement in 1934 he was the oldest coach in America in point of service with one institution.

Ed Defenbaugh - Class of 1970

Mr. Ed Defenbaugh. Ed was a 1970 graduate of Mount Ayr Community Schools. He was the star running back on his high school football team and he set the state class A meet record in 440 dash at :49.7 to win the event by over 12 yards. Upon graduation, Ed went on to college to study education. He came back to Mount Ayr for a time to teach science and was on the EMT crew. He was a superintendent in Tarkio, Fairfax and Cameron Missouri before his retirement. For the past five years Ed has devoted countless hours to volunteering for the Red Cross.

 Brent Wilson - Class of 1981

Mr. Wilson was a very talented musician and names Hall of Fame member Merrill Perry as an inspiration to his music career. While in high school he was engrossed in the high school band, jazz band and went on to college to play in the band. After two years of college, he decided he hit the road. He has played with the Burbank Station Band, Buffalo Alice Band, was lead guitarist for Shoji Tabuchi’s show in Branson, lead guitarist for Andy Griggs, lead guitarist for Sara Evans from 2006-2017 and from 2017 to the present he is the lead guitarist for Trace Adtkins. He has played for the Country Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Good Morning America, The Today Show, The Jay Leno Show, The View, Fox and Friends, GAC Opry Live, CMA fest, CMT Crossroads with Maroon 5 and REO Speedwagon, and has over 50 appearances at the Grand Old Opry.

Brent Wilson

Dan McGugin

Ed Defenbaugh

Class of 2024

Barry Monaghan  - Outstanding Athletic Achievement and Distinguished Graduate - Class of 1965

Barry Monaghan is a 1965 graduate of Mount Ayr Community Schools. He was a standout athlete in football, basketball, track, and baseball, and continued on as a three-year starter and letter winner in football at Northwest Missouri State University. He earned a double major in English and Physical Education and started his teaching and coaching career at Adair- Casey before being drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1971 and given the meritorious Service Award. He returned to Adair-Caseyfrom 1972-1975 before moving on to Jesup Community Schools serving as the Vice Principal before landing at Guthrie Center as the High School Principal and Athletic Director. During his time in education, he served on the Executive Board of the Iowa High School Speech Association, including serving as President. In 1984, Barry was lured out of education for the banking industry. He worked his way up in the ranks of Guthrie County State Bank, eventually serving as President and CEO. He still serves as Chairman of the Board and President of Guthrie County Bancshares, Inc. During his leadership at the bank the organization grew from $25 million to $250 million today and expanded to a second location in Panora, purchased Lake Panorama Realty, Guthrie County Abstract, and added GCSB Investments to the portfolio. Barry is well known for giving back to his community, serving on the Guthrie Center Development Board as President for 19 years and the Guthrie County Development Board (Midwest Partners) for 10 years. He started volunteering as the announcer for high school baseball in Guthrie Center in 1986 and expanded to announce for football, wrestling, and track. Today he remains as the track announcer for ACGC Schools, Panorama Schools,  and several others including Mount Ayr for special events. He is most proud of creating an entity called Ten Squared Plus Men for Guthrie County in 2016. Since its inception, the more than 200 members have donated over $400,000 directly to Guthrie County nonprofits and community organizations.

Faye Stull - Outstanding Service Achievement - Class of 1966

Faye Stull retired at the end of 2023 school year after driving a school bus for the Mount Ayr Community Schools  for 50 years. From 1973 to 2023 Faye was everyone's favorite bus driver. Faye Dillenburg Stull is a 1966 graduate of Mount Ayr Community School. Faye married Bill Stull (1965 graduate of Mount Ayr) in June of 1967. In 1973, Faye quite literally received a knock at her door asking her to be a bus driver for the school and the rest is history. Faye Stull drove a bus for Mount Ayr Community School district for 50 years. For half a century, families relied on Faye to get their children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors, etc. to school safely. Being a bus driver was more than just a job to her; these kids were like family, and she truly treasured and cared for each one that grew up on her bus. Faye had her "last ride" on the last day of school in May of 2023, and the video of that last ride made it to several news outlets. At the end of her career, Faye was transporting the grandchildren of her original bus "kids." Faye was estimated to have driven over two million miles and transported at least 2,000 students on her daily routes over her 50 year tenure. Along with being a bus driver, Faye substituted in the kitchen, ran the concessions for several years and washed the football jerseys. Along with being a 50 year school bus driver, Faye has also been a 50+ year member of the Embers for the Mount Ayr Volunteer Fire Department and has supported many Mount Ayr Community school activities. Even after her son Daniel graduated in 2003, she and husband Bill continued to support the community by attending school events for the families she had watched grow on her bus. Football, volleyball, track, basketball, baseball, softball, drama, band...she supported it all. 

Tami Trullinger Fahnlander - Outstanding Service Achievement and Distinguished Graduate - Class of 1996 

Tami Trullinger Fahnlander graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School in 1996. She is the daughter of Kent and Debbie Trullinger of Tingley. She was active in academic and athletic endeavors while in high school. Tami had a strong interest in obstetrics from an early age. She was invited to and witnessed the birth of Noah Larsen, son of John and Deb Larsen - faculty at MACHS - in April of 1996. She gained wonderful experience in the medical field locally by job shadowing physicians and then through working as a certified nursing assistant at Clearview Nursing Home and Ringgold County Hospital. Tami attended Simpson College in Indianola, double majoring in biology and chemistry. She obtained her degree as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Des Moines University in 2004. Tami completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Ilinois College of Medicine at Peoria. She returned to the Des Moines area to practice medicine in 2008. Dr. Fahnlander is now employed as an obstetrician/gynecologist at UnityPoint Clinic in Clive and Waukee. She enjoys providing women's health care for women of all ages and stages of life. Tami also serves as a medical director for Midwife Services of UnityPoint Health - Des Moines and is a member of the medical advisory board for Count the Kicks, a campaign for stillbirth prevention and awareness. Tami takes great pride in caring for her patients and is so grateful for those who travel all the way from Ringgold County and surrounding areas to see her! She may live in the city, but she utilizes her small town humble roots in her everyday communication, care and compassion with her patients. Tami has been married to her husband, Matt, since 2000. They have five children - Noelle, Brady, Timothy, Bridget and the late Max Fahnlander. 

Curt Braby - Outstanding Athletic Achievement - Distinguished Graduate - Class of 1977

Curt Braby, son of the late Chuck Braby and Jane Buck, graduated in 1977. He became the first State Wrestling Champion for Mount Ayr that year with an undefeated season. Curt placed 5th at the state meet the year before. He also competed in football and track, going to the Drake Relays and was a state qualifier in discus. Curt went on to wrestle at the University of Northern Iowa for two years where he met his beautiful wife, Denise Adams. They moved to Morning Sun in Louisa County to start his law enforcement career. His Uncle Laverne Worthington was instrumental in getting him interested in this field. He was a deputy for a few years before becoming sheriff for Louisa County. He retired in 2010 after thirty years serving in law enforcement. He had many accomplishments during his career with one being able to get a new jail built and guiding his community through the floods of 2008. He served as President of the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association in 2009. Curt and Denise have two children, Kale and Kassidi (Tim) along with three grandchildren, Maverick, Carver, and McCoy.