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5-17-09 Laurent
Lee Gourley '62 Sponsored by the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association, these people will be inducted in the first class to the Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held during the summer’s all-class reunion. Subsequent classes will be inducted every four years in conjunction with the all-class reunion (2009, 2013, 2017 …). Family and friends were invited to submit/nominate individuals with a written explanation of the outstanding achievements justifying the candidate’s possible induction. To be eligible a nominee must have graduated from VHS or served VHS prior to 1989. The achievements can be in (but not limited to) the field of sports, music, academics, or achievements following graduation. An emphasis will be placed on alumni but former teachers, coaches, and supportive citizens of the Villisca School system will be considered. Listing specific awards & honors in your nomination, along with dates will benefit the selection committee.
BIOGRAPHIES OF 2009 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Lynn King, The Mighty Atom, Class of 1926 Posthumously Awarded As a quarterback, Lynn King led the Villisca High School 1925 football team to an undefeated season. He was named to the All-State team his senior year. While at VHS from 1923-1926, he played football, basketball, track, and baseball. Lynn attended Drake University, playing on their football, basketball and baseball teams and was the captain of the football and basketball teams for three seasons. He was the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs in 1928, 1929, 1930. He never played in a losing Missouri Valley Conference Game nor in one against Iowa State, then an arch-foe of the Bulldogs.. He was named all Missouri Valley three years in a row. In basketball, he made the All-Valley second team three consecutive years. Two special honors he received were receiving the All time Drake football player award and being named by the Des Moines Register to the Iowa Sports Hall of Fame as the first greatest all around athlete in Iowa history. In baseball, Lynn played all three outfield positions and was an outstanding hitter leading to his being signed by the St. Louis Cardinals farm system. He played one season with Springfield, MO, and later with Houston in the Texas League; with Kansas City and Columbus in the American Association; and with Des Moines in the Western League. In his second season with Houston, King tied a league record for stolen bases with 55 and set a league record for outfield putouts with 501. In 1935 he was brought up to the big league where he played with the famous Gas House Gang. After playing with the Cardinals he went to Sacramento in the Pacific League and then returned to the Kansas City Club. He managed the Sious Falls, S.D. Northern League club prior to retiring in 1946. He retired to Atlantic, IA
where he died in 1972.
Gerald (Jerry) Ziehe. Villisca Class of 1950 Posthumously Awarded Considered one of the finest athletes to come out of Villisca, Jerry lettered in football and track 4 years and baseball 2 years. In his junior and senior seasons he was named an all-Conference Hawkeye Seven half-back and selected to the Des Moines Register All-State Team for his class. A sprinter in track, he qualified for the State Track Meet in 1948 and 1949 in the 100 yard dash and placed fourth in that event his junior year. He boxed in the Iowa Golden Gloves while still in high-school, training under Villisca businessman Larry Farmer, a former boxer. Jerry attended Omaha University on a football scholarship lettering in football for 4 years. Upon graduation from Omaha University, Jerry was commissioned in the US Air Force. He completed flight training and was assigned to several operational units. He was a flight instructor. A former German Air Force officer who trained under Jerry stated how much the students respected him. In 1968 Jerry was assigned to USAF-Viet Nam with the 460th Reconnaissance wing. On October 21, 1968 Jerry was killed during flight operations. He is buried at Offutt Air Base. His name is inscribed on the Viet Nam Memorial in Washington, D.C.; Panel 40w, Line 017.
Roger Poston Villisca Class of 1959 Posthumously Awarded An outstanding student in high school Roger was involved in 4-H and FFA. Roger farmed near Villisca all his adult life. He was a member and volunteered his time to many organizations, some of which include: Villisca E.M.T.s, Villisca United Methodist Men, Yard and Garden Club, Optimist Club, Rialto Theatre Board, Farm Bureau, Iowa Army National Guard Company F, 34th Infantry, Reno Smith FFA Alumni, 4-H, Villisca Athletic Boosters, and the Methodist Church. Roger was on the team that helped bring the Good Samaritan Nursing Home to Villisca. He served many years as the East Township Clerk. He sat on review boards for area Boy Scouts as they pursed their Eagle Scout ranks. He was named "Citizen of the Year" in 1991. The 2007 Bluejay Year Book was dedicated to him. He was active in the formation of the Villisca Alumni and Friends (VAFA) organization and served on steering committees for several All School Reunions. Roger was well known for
his volunteer spirit, cheerful attitude, and caring heart and was always
willing to help where needed. It was known sometimes he would leave
his tractor sitting in the field and go on a field trip if he was needed.
He transported Good Samaritan residents so they could worship in the
various Villisca churches on Sunday mornings. He quietly went about
making a difference in the lives of young people just by sharing his
life with them. He helped with Homecoming parades, After Prom parties,
working the concession stands at sports events, parking cars at football
games, serving on ambulance calls at ball games, operating lights and
doing other behind the scene things at the Rialto Theater.
Laurent Lee Gourley Villisca Class of 1962 Posthumously Awarded Lee Gourley was the only student in his class in country school, Douglas #8, in Morton's Mill, so he joined Villisca's 8th graders for second semester. He already knew he wanted to attend the Air Force Academy. As a young person he could be found lying in the yard at night talking to his friends and looking at the stars. Lee would point out Sputnik or some space craft and say all he wanted to do was fly. He was a natural leader; he played basketball and track, lettered in baseball and football. He held offices in FFA, Chorus, Student Council, Hi-Y. He was Class President, National Honor Society, and Valedictorian of his VHS Class of 1962. He received his appointment to the United States Air Force Academy, the first in the history of Villisca. He graduated with highest honors from USAFA in 1966 with a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. While at USAFA, Lee would hang the Villisca Review on the bulletin board for all to enjoy! Lee earned his Master's Degree in Astronautics from Purdue University in only six months. A story which illustrates who Lee was is shared by one of his friends: "During his second year at the Academy, he came home for Christmas break. The old gang was together and we were contemplating playing a joke on Policeman Jake Butler. It seems that all the Christmas lights were plugged into one outlet so some thought it would be fun to pull the plug. Being true to the Honor Code at the Academy, Lee said, 'I want you to know that if we get caught and we get questioned, I'm not going to lie.' We did not pull the prank, and he's still my best friend, even now. He made a footprint right on my forehead." Lee went to Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona and earned the distinction of "Outstanding Graduate." Upon completion of that training, he was selected to fly the F-100s and trained at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix. By November, 1968, Lee was an F-100F (fighter) pilot based in South Vietnam for a one year tour of duty. He volunteered for a 90-day assignment as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) with the elite "Misty" unit. That was his mission when his plane went down over the Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos, August 9, 1969. Lee was declared Missing in Action in 1969. In October, 2002 his remains were returned to Villisca for burial with full military honors. His awards and medals include one of the highest honors, the Silver Star, awarded for Gallantry in Action (July, '69). The efforts of patriotic Americans to determine the fate of those who were left in Vietnam at the end of the war, meant that Lee's life influenced thousands of people who never met him. Lee is remembered for his intellect and wit, sense of humor, loyalty, respect, integrity, his sense of duty and honor, and the simple belief in doing what was right. The legacy he left to Villisca was possible because Lee took advantage of the environment of the time and used it in the most positive way.
Phil Wertman Villisca Class of 1967 Called one of the best High School Athletes to come out of Southwest Iowa, Phil lettered in football, basketball, track and baseball all four years he was a student at Villisca High School. He also participated in golf his freshman year. Phil was a leader on and off the sports fields. He commanded the respect of those around him by his spirit of commitment, his timely application of knowledge with common sense, his courage to face new challenges and his mutual respect toward others. All-conference four times, he was a member Tall Corn Conference Team Champions in football, basketball, track, and baseball in 1966-1967. In his freshman year, the football coach put Phil in as the "kicker", giving Phil the nickname "The Toe". In football, Phil received all-conference recognition three years and was Class B All Southwest Iowa quarterback his senior year. He also received All Southwest Iowa status in basketball as well as All-Conference honors. He was a team member and leading scorer on the 1965 (Indoor), 1966, and 1967 VHS State Championship Track teams. In all he won six individual state titles as a sprinter and pole vaulter. He set the Class B State Record in 1966 and that record stands in 2009. In 1967 he placed 2nd in the National High School Meet setting an Iowa Interscholastic record of 14' 10" in the pole vault. He held that record in all classifications from 1966 to 1972. In 1966 he placed 6th in the pole vault in the National High School meets and 2nd in the 1967 season The Omaha World Herald named him Southwest Iowa Athlete of the Year in 1967. In addition to his accomplishments in sports Phil played the tuba in the VHS band, served as president of the Letterman's Club, was a member of the Teen Haven council and was a member of a Montgomery County 4-H group, all this while helping out on his family's dairy farm. Upon graduation he entered the University of Iowa earning a letter in football and track his freshman year. He earned four consecutive letters in track and field and after numerous places in the Big Ten Conference, he was conference champion in 1971, setting a University of Iowa Pole Vault record as well as a Big Ten Record. Phil's career path has been as a high school coach, serving at Des Moines Hoover High School as a Teacher/Coach from1973 to 1977; Red Oak High School as a Teacher/Coach (head) from 1977 to 1979; and then at Fruita Monument High School Grand Junction, Colorado as Teacher/Coach from 1979 until he retired in 2005. In his coaching career he coached five Regional Championships; 10 State (Individual) Champions; and one two time Collegiate All American. He is a nationally certified track official. He carried the qualities he first displayed at Villisca High School into his coaching career, serving not only as a coach but a role model for his students. Phil lives with his family in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Paula Means Lund - Villisca Class of 1968 Part of a sister act that captured the hearts of Villisca basketball fans, Paula Means Lund was captain of the Villisca High School Basketball team which took the Tall Corn Conference title in 1968 and then went on to play in the Girls State Basketball Tournament. She was an All State guard. She still holds the 3 on 3 records for Villisca in rebounds, steals and blocked shots. Paula was also an outstanding softball player with the VHS team winning the Tall Corn Conference title in 1968. Paula lettered in Basketball 4 years, Softball 4 years, Track 1 year and Golf 1 year. She worked and played professional basketball for Look Magazine in Des Moines in the AAU League from 1968 to 1969. Moving to California in May 1969, she worked for State Farm Insurance until she retired. While in California, she was offered a position on the Iowa Cornets, a professional ladies basketball team. She did not accept the offer which she says was a good because the league only lasted one season. After moving to California, Paula continued playing lots of softball for recreation. She played on a amateur soccer team for 2 years and some golf. Since retirement Paula has serve her community through Habitat for Humanity and Elder Care. She enjoys housesitting, pet sitting, walking and traveling. Paula currently resides in
Northridge, California.
Colleen Means Dempsey Villisca Class of 1969 The younger member of a sister act, Colleen Means Dempsey was a forward for the Villisca High School basketball team. In her junior year she helped lead Villisca to the Tall Corn Conference championship and then on to play in the Girls State Basketball Tournament. She holds the Villisca 3 on 3 scoring record of sixty five points in a single game. Colleen lettered in basketball and in softball for four years and in track for two years. She held the Conference track record in the Long Jump from 1969 until the early 1990s. While in High School she also participated in Y-Teens, Drama Club, Lettermans Club, Student Council and was a National Merit Scholar Winner. Colleen attended Northwest Missouri State University, graduating in 1973 with honors with a BS Degree in Education. While at Northwest Missouri she was instrumental in helping to organize the Women's Sports Programs. Those were pre-Title IX years meaning that it was before sports scholarships were available for women in college. While at Northwest Missouri State University Colleen played on the Women's Basketball and Softball teams, and ran track all four years. In her junior year her basketball team won the State Tournament and they qualified for the first ever National Basketball Tournament. Years later that basketball team was ushered into the M-Club Athletic Hall of Fame at Northwest Missouri State University. She was named to the Women's All School Basketball Team. She qualified in her Junior and Senior years for the National Track Meets in the Long Jump and as a 440 and 880 Relay Team Member. After College she continued to champion girl's and women's sports, playing on and coaching travel teams in both softball and basketball until she was 48 years old. She relates that she also got to see two of her nieces play college softball on scholarships, which was a great thrill for her. Colleen has worked for Pacific Gas and Electric for 26 years in Customer Field Services and hopes to retire in a couple of years. She lives 15 miles from Yosemite National Park and expects to "Hike the Sierras" in her retirement. Colleen currently resides
in Oakhurst, California
Patrick "Pat" Jackson Villisca Class of 1986 Overcoming a near fatal accident at the age of 13, Pat went on to distinguish himself graduating from VHS as an honor student and a member of the National Honor Society. He was the Class President in 1986. An outstanding student, Pat participated in chorus, science club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, marching band, stage band, jazz band, orchestra and many plays. Pat excelled in sports, lettering in baseball, basketball, football and golf . He showed leadership skills as Team Captain in football, basketball and golf. In his senior year, the Bluejay basketball team was conference champions for the first time since 1967. Pat won the Tall Corn Conference championship in golf three times and finished 5th at the State tournament his senior year. His honors in sports while
at VHS included: His honors in music included: His excellence continued
in his college years at Central College. His honors in golf while at
Central College included: Pat took his love of sports into his professional life, receiving his membership to the PGA of America as a club professional in 1995. He has been the host professional to six LPGA Tour events. Currently Pat is the Director of Instruction at Vanderbilt Legends Club in Franklin, Tennessee. Pat will soon be releasing his first golf instructional video nationwide with the support of In His Grip ministry and LifeWay Christian stores, ministries where he shares his passion for teaching and reaching out to boys and men to grow their relationship with Christ through the avenue of golf. Pat still actively plays the drums around the Nashville music scene. His professional honors and
awards include: |
