Hall of Fame
The Affton Education Foundation / Affton School District Hall of Fame was founded in 2005 at the urging of Judith Rethwisch. Its purpose is to recognize and honor distinguished Affton High School alumni and to inspire current Affton students with their accomplishments. Photographs of the inductees are prominently displayed in the Hall of Fame Gallery, located by the south entrance to the Judith E. Rethwisch Auditorium at Affton High School. In addition, the accomplishments of each honoree are chronicled in a series of scrapbooks housed in the Rosa B. Owsley Library / Media Center.
To date, a total of seventy-three (73) outstanding alumni have been inducted into the Affton Hall of Fame. The following list indicates their year of induction and provides a brief summary of their distinguished careers and many accomplishments.
The Affton Hall of Fame Dinner / Auction honors deserving alumni by inducting them into the Affton School District Hall of Fame. This annual dinner and auction is the Affton Education Foundation’s primary fund-raising activity, providing well-deserved teacher grants. Since 2006, the Foundation has been able to award over 20 grants each year, allowing teachers to enrich the curriculum in the Affton School District. Your generosity by attending the dinner, donating auction items, and supporting the auction continues this robust tradition. Reconnect with old classmates and teachers for a good cause! Last year, over 200 people attended this hugely successful event. All money raised by the auction goes directly toward teacher grants.
Year Inducted: 2024
Robert (Bob) Pahl, PhD - 1964
Robert H. “Bob” Pahl, born in St. Louis, MO, in 1946, was a distinguished figure known for his contributions in both professional and personal spheres. Graduating from Affton High School in 1964, he pursued higher education at Missouri University of Science and Technology (MS&T), obtaining his BS in ’68, MS in ’70, and PhD in Chemical Engineering in ’74. Throughout his 30-year career at Phillips Petroleum, Bob showcased expertise in alternative fuels and energy sources. Beyond his professional endeavors, Bob and his wife, Virginia “Ginny” Bugg, were deeply engaged in philanthropic activities, supporting missions globally and initiatives in education. Despite his passing in 2023, Bob's legacy as a devoted family man, mentor, and philanthropist lives on, cherished by his loved ones and admired by all who knew him.
John Heine - 1964
John, born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1946, grew up in Affton, completing his education there before attending Drury College, majoring in political science. After graduating in 1968, he received a grant for graduate studies but opted to enlist in the US Army due to the draft. Following his service in Germany, he pursued a master's degree in political science at the University of Chicago. Transitioning to a career with the federal government, he worked at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission until his retirement in 2011. In retirement, John remains active in his community, volunteering at a charity, serving in his church, and enjoying hobbies such as tennis, gardening, and traveling with his wife.
John M. Dohr, Jr. - 1971
John Dohr, a native of St. Louis and the first in his family to attend college, graduated from the University of Missouri–St. Louis in 1974 with a BSBA and in 1982 with an MBA. He spent forty years in commercial banking in St. Louis, initially joining Mercantile Trust Company and later starting his own consulting business, Dohr Consulting Services, Inc. After a stint at Bank of America, where he managed a $2 billion loan portfolio, he retired in 2016. Throughout his career, John has been actively involved in community service, serving in various capacities for organizations such as the American Lung Association and Laumeier Sculpture Park. He holds several accolades, including being a Diplomate of the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and receiving the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. In 2021, he was honored with the Salute to Business Achievement Award from the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Business Administration Alumni Chapter.
Al Eckert - 1976
As a proud alum of Affton High School and a dedicated member of the community, lifelong resident Al Eckert has committed over 50 years to enhancing the lives of Affton families. Graduating in 1976, Al was deeply involved in school activities, showcasing his leadership skills as drum major, STUCO President, and more. After school, he excelled in business, founding successful ventures such as an American Family Insurance agency, PDQ Notary Service, and Al’s Estate Sales. Throughout his career, Al remained active in community service, serving in leadership roles in the Affton Chamber of Commerce, founding the Affton Jaycees, and contributing to various projects benefiting the Affton School District. Al's dedication to his community and alma mater is exemplified by his ongoing support and involvement, ensuring a legacy of pride and success for future generations of Affton graduates.
Angie Pappas-Muyco, Ed.D. - 1997
Angie Pappas-Muyco, a proud graduate of Affton High School Class of 1997, attributes her success to the foundation laid by the Affton School District. Inducted into the Affton Hall of Fame, she acknowledges the community's influence on her educational journey. Now a mother of two, with one son currently attending AHS, Angie's partner, Tony Muyco, also contributes to the Affton community as a social studies teacher and coach. With over two decades of experience in education, including roles as a high school English teacher and assistant principal at Affton High, Angie's leadership talents have been recognized at Parkway South High, where she has served for 15 years, culminating in her role as principal. Angie holds advanced degrees from Maryville University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis, reflecting her commitment to educational excellence. She remains grateful to the students and families who inspire her dedication to providing exceptional education, embodying a lifelong passion for learning and overcoming challenges.
Kevin Roe - 2001
Kevin Roe, a product of the hard-working middle class and a graduate of Affton High School, understands the importance of giving back to his community. As a Diesel Mechanic for the Special School District, he ensures the safety of children traveling to and from school, consistently achieving high ratings on safety inspections and competing in national competitions. Kevin's commitment to his alma mater led him back to Affton High School, where he mentors students in technical theater and now serves as Auditorium Manager, fostering student-led productions. He and his wife chose to raise their children in Affton, prioritizing the same quality education they received. Beyond his career and community involvement, Kevin is active in various Masonic organizations and enjoys family vacations across the United States, sharing his adventures with others.
Year Inducted: 2023
Melissa Spellman Eckhard - Class of 1992
Melissa Eckhard grew up in Affton, Missouri and attended schools there. After studying Early Childhood Education at Meramec Community College, she decided to enroll in Hickey Business School where she graduated in 1995. She worked for a local compressor company before finally landing a job in education at the Affton Lindbergh Early Childhood Center in 1997. From there, she worked her way up to being a secretary for the Affton School District's Professional Development and Technology departments. Melissa is an avid volunteer and has helped out with the Affton Education Foundation and the Class of 2019 Parent Booster Organization. She also recently undertook a large yearbook project, rehoming over 300 yearbooks to former students. Melissa has received two Service and Outstanding Achievement Recognition Awards from the Affton School District. She is married with two daughters and enjoys spending time with her family, boating, and giving back to her community.
Sheri Hogland-Brand - Class of 1985
Sheri, a teacher in the Affton School District for 34 years, feels honored to be considered for a title that would make her proudest. Her parents chose Affton for its affordability and family-friendly neighborhood in 1966, and she has been blessed with wonderful opportunities, administrators, mentor teachers, co-workers, students' parents, and students themselves that have positively impacted her life. She appreciates her nomination and is grateful for all that the Affton Education Foundation has done for her and her students, including the grant she received this year to improve the Outdoor Classroom at Gotsch Intermediate School.
Mark O’Bryan - Class of 1981
Mark discovered his passion for architecture in high school and pursued it by enrolling in a professional degree program at the University of Kansas. After graduation, he worked under licensed architects and passed the challenging licensing exam before earning a Master's degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Washington University. Mark worked for several architecture firms before starting his own business, Art & Architecture Inc., which focuses on affordable housing projects. He has won several design competitions and is currently working on projects for military veterans and the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Mark is married to another architect and has two children.
Sue Hasselbring - Class of 1981
Sue is a highly accomplished individual who graduated from Affton High School in 1981. She went on to earn a B.A. in Chemistry from Concordia University Chicago in 1986, an M.S. in Sociolinguistics at Georgetown University in 1993, and her D.Litt. et Phil. in Linguistics at the University of South Africa in Pretoria in 2007. She conducted sociolinguistic research in over 15 previously unwritten languages, and published two volumes of sociolinguistic research on the languages of Botswana. Sue served with both Lutheran Bible Translators and Wycliffe Bible Translators, living in various countries of Africa and Asia from 1990 to 2020. She continues to serve cross-culturally as the Ministry Catalyst with International Student Ministry, Inc.
Denis Knock - Class of 1965
Denis is a Registered Professional Engineer with a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Missouri and a master's degree from Akron University. He has worked for several organizations and has designed and supervised hundreds of municipal projects, including streets, sidewalks, bridges, parks, and buildings. He has managed different departments and has been in charge of various activities such as capital improvements, planning, and zoning. Denis is also an Army ROTC Graduate and enjoys volunteering for service organizations. He and his sister were championship baton twirlers and taught baton lessons at schools. Denis is married to Brenda, a school teacher, and they have three children and six grandchildren. They live in a house he designed and built in Sunset Hills, Missouri.
Year Inducted: 2022
John Kent Wilbers - Class of 2009
John Wilbers, a 2009 Affton High School graduate, is now a successful cinematographer and camera operator in Los Angeles, owning his own production company, Blue Edison LLC. He credits his success to the teachers at AHS who gave him great life advice, practice, and instruction in his fields of interest. Despite working multiple jobs and attending extracurricular programs at AHS, he was able to save enough money for two free years at Meramec Community College to pursue his passion. He now works with big clients like Fender Guitars, NASA, and Netflix, and often Skypes into Mr. Walker's classes to give advice to AHS students.
Georgia Relich Posey - Class of 1979
Georgia cherished her time at Affton schools, engaging in sports, arts, and philanthropy. She earned degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia and pursued a marketing career focused on healthcare. Her notable campaigns include an Affordable Care Act initiative a branding and marketing initiative that launched the first full-service hospital built in St. Louis since 1973 – SSM Health St. Clare Hospital; and, ongoing strategy for a specialty pharmacy distributor committed to delivering therapies to patients with ultra-orphan (extremely rare) health conditions.
Timothy Rodden - Class of 1977
Tim Rodden, part of a family with a long history in the Affton District, attended local schools and participated in sports and extracurricular activities. Influenced by his teachers and coaches, he developed teamwork, discipline, and fair play. Inspired at age 10 by a friend's brother who was a bank president, Tim pursued a career in finance, forgoing baseball scholarships to earn a B.S.B.A. in finance and banking from Mizzou in 1981.
Vincent Rapini - Class of 1972
Paul Faust - Class of 1960
Ron Key - Class of 1959
Ronald, originally from South St. Louis, attended Affton schools and graduated from the University of Missouri with a major in Advertising. He worked in marketing, sales, and commercial real estate, eventually becoming a partner in a successful brokerage firm. Active in industry organizations, he held leadership roles and received prestigious awards. Ronald retired in 2010 after selling the company to CBRE. He is currently serving on his Fraternity Board and has also been on the Affton Education Foundation Board for the past 6 years.
Year Inducted: 2021
Dr. Kenneth E. Floro, Jr., M.D., FACS - Class of 1967
Dr. Kenneth Eugene Floro, Jr., a proud member of the Affton High School Class of 1967, has had a distinguished career. He excelled in academics and sports during his high school years, earning varsity letters in football and track. After graduating from Saint Louis University with honors in Chemistry, he pursued a successful medical career, specializing in surgery. Dr. Floro contributed to medical research, developed surgical devices, and achieved recognition in laparoscopic surgery. Alongside his medical pursuits, he has been a passionate fencer, winning numerous championships and training with renowned coaches. Throughout his 48-year marriage to Lois, they have raised three sons and are proud grandparents of five granddaughters.
Year Inducted: 2020
Christopher W. Blasberg - Class of 1998
Current CFO/VP of Finance at Emerson’s Actuation Technologies in Houston, TX; excelled in leadership roles during 17-year tenure at Emerson, which included three years working in Zug, Switzerland at Emerson’s European headquarters; active in soccer, basketball and baseball in high school where he was awarded the AHS Doctor of Athletics; recipient of several All-Conference, All-District, All-Metro and All-State honors, as well as the Bill Purvis award, the Jan Broderick Memorial Community Service Scholarship and the Fathers’ Club Scholarship; received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Maryville University and his Masters in Accounting from Saint Louis University; participated in Washington University’s Executive MBA program.
Nickolas R. Fahs - Class of 1981
Current Fire Chief of the Affton Fire Protection District; Firefighter Paramedic for 34 years, serving with the City of Berkeley and the Mehlville Fire Protection District before returning home to Affton; graduated from AHS in 1981; married his Senior Prom date, Mary (Dexter) Fahs ‘81; graduated from Paramedic school in 1984, finishing first in his class; remains active in the Affton community and maintains friendships with numerous AHS alums; credits his Affton roots and education with his success and happiness in life.
Patricia (Gawrys) Fribis - Class of 1967
Current Mayor of Sunset Hills; graduated from AHS in 1967 where she served on the Afhiscan staff, maintained perfect attendance and participated in many organizations and clubs; received her Bachelors of Science in Education in 1971 from University of Missouri - Columbia; Vice President of Sigma Kappa Sorority; taught 2nd grade at Affton’s Reavis School for 7 years; graduated in 1976 with a Masters of Fine Arts from Webster University; worked from 1998 to 2010 for the Parents as Teachers program in the Lindbergh School District; Owner/President of House Springs Sewer Company from 1998-2016; active in community for many years, serving on many committees and as Alderman of Sunset Hills; second woman ever elected as Mayor of Sunset Hills, and the only Affton graduate ever to be elected mayor; serves on the Variety Club Board and as Vice President of Sunset Hills Historic Society; recipient of the Lindbergh Leader Award in 1996.
Kurt A. Jaeger - Class of 1979
Current President of Affton Education Foundation; graduated from AHS in 1979 where he was a member of National Honor Society and on the cross country, track and swim teams; active in Boy Scout Troop 822 at Reavis School, and achieved rank of Life Scout; set the 2-mile AHS school record which still tops the record board to this day; graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1983 with a BSBA in Finance; named the Wall Street Journal’s Outstanding Student in Undergraduate Finance; worked for 30 years in the retail stock brokerage and financial planning business; retired in 2016 from Morgan Stanley as a Managing Director; named on five different occasions as one of the Top 500 Advisors in America by Barron Magazine; married high school sweetheart Carolyn (Gladden) Jaeger ‘79; served on the AEF Board since 2011, the last six as President.
Year Inducted: 2018
Derek Blasberg - Class of 2000
Writer, editor and New York Times best-selling author; Vanity Fair’s “Our Man on the Street” and senior staff member at the Gagosian Gallery; Host of “CNN Style,” a program devoted to fashion, art, architecture and design on CNN International; Contributor to a variety of publications, including numerous international editions of Vanity Fair, Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, and magazines such as Elle, W, WSJ. Magazine, The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and the London Sunday Times; Editor of “Influence,” a fashion and art tome conceived by Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen; Co-author to several of the New York City editions of the Louis Vuitton Travel Guides; Author of New York Times best seller, “Classy: Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady,” and its expanded, updated and revamped version, “Very Classy: Even More Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady;” Publisher of “Harper’s Bazaar: Models;” Collaborator with fashion industry image-makers such as Karl Lagerfeld, David Bailey and Marilyn Minter; Consultant on creative projects for luxury fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fendi and Carolina Herrera; Host of several of Vanity Fair’s video series, including “Derek Does Stuff With A Friend,” which welcomed guest such as Katy Perry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Karlie Kloss and Victoria Beckham; St. Louis Fashion Fund honoree and Fashion Week Daily’s Fashion Media Awards “TV Personality of the Year;” Volunteer for Citymeals-on-Wheels, and supporter of the Friends of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Thomas L. Farmer - Class of 1969
Dentist practicing in Clayton and North St. Louis; Organized the lawsuit to restore Missouri Medicaid adult dental coverage in 2002 and testified in court in regards to the case. The case was decided in favor to restore dental coverage, which remained in effect until August 2005 when the state changed the law ending adult dental coverage. Independent historian; Co-author, with BYU Professor Fred Woods, of the book When the Saints Came Marching In: A History of the Latter-day Saints in St. Louis, which was published in 2009; Helped with planning for the new Arch Museum and attended a scholars’ conference discussing the new museum June 2012; Served as a go-between with the Church History Library, the National Park Service, and City Arch River (CAR) related to the procurement of artifacts and images; Coordinated with the National Park Service, City Arch River, Aperture Film Company, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the production of the new entry film for the Arch Museum; Participant in the Arch Museum film shot at Martin’s Cove Wyoming, portraying the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail handcart pioneers; First author for the article, “Sanctuary on the Mississippi: St. Louis as a Way Station for Mormon Emigration,” in Spring/Summer 2018 edition of The Confluence, a quarterly journal of Lindenwood University.
Jim Lippert - Class of 1968
Former President of Citizens Bank of Newtown; Founder of LOK Mortgage Company; Founder, with his wife Teresa, of JTL Properties, LLC, a real estate investment firm, CRES Management, LLC, a property management firm, and CRES Realty, LLC, a real estate brokerage firm; Recipient of numerous industry awards including “Best Owner of the Year” nine times between 2005 and 2014, “Best Company Management Team” for 2016, and the “Kansas City Cornerstone Award” from the Economic Development Corporation; Partner/investor in BalancePoint Corporation, an IT project solutions and staffing services company, Infusion Express which provides convenient IV therapy services, Certus Resource Group, LLC, which provides strategies for energy usage, and TriCentury Bank, a regional bank in Kansas; Creator of Lippert Family Farm, LLC, which owns and operates a 204-acre farm and horse ranch in Lee’s Summit, Jackson County, MO; Honorary Chair for fall and spring charitable events supporting The World Outreach Foundation, whose mission is to provide healthcare services to poor and vulnerable people both internationally and in the local Kansas City community.
Deborah L. Phelps, Ph.D - Class of 1967
Worked for a St. Louis construction company and the New York Stock Exchange before pursuing an undergraduate education at Washington University in St. Louis; Obtained a certificate in Health and Human Services and a degree in sociology with honors; Completed two masters and a doctoral degree in medical sociology/social psychiatry from Yale University with a National Institutes of Health predoctoral fellowship; Earned a master’s degree in psychiatric epidemiology and biostatistics from Washington University’s School of Medicine; Nominated for the Woman in Achievement Award; Has worked as an academic since 1993, and as a full professor at Fontbonne University since 2006; Nominated multiple times for the excellence in teaching award at Fontbonne; Published seven articles in a variety of academic journals; Completed training as an Usui Reiki Master, Integrated Breath worker and Karuna Reiki practitioner; Self-published a memoir on caregiving and advocacy entitled, Frank’s Arms: Stories and Lessons from a Caregiver and Patient Advocate; In conjunction with the memoir, interviewed for an article on St. Louis Magazine’s website, and appeared on “St. Louis on the Air” with Don Marsh.
Representative Michael Vogt - Class of 1982
Attended Roosevelt University in Chicago, then graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1986; Worked as a union pipecoverer, and owned and operated family tavern, The Olde Topper; Earned Juris Doctor degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1996; Served as campaign manager for fellow Affton Hall of Fame inductee May Scheve Reardon when she won the Affton Missouri House seat in 1990 - the biggest political upset of that election cycle; Took over Rep. Scheve’s seat in 2002, and served in the Missouri House of Representatives for four terms before being retired by term limits; Served on the House Judiciary Committee, and became Ranking Member of the Committee on Fiscal Review in his final term; Acted as Democratic Party Committeeman in Gravois Township for twelve years; Currently an Attorney in private practice, and serves part-time as the South County Project Manager for the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership; Serves as both the City and Prosecuting Attorney for the Town of Grantwood Village; Has conducted numerous trials before both judges and juries, and has argued cases in the Missouri Court of Appeals; Has attended more than 100 Missouri Tiger football games, two Super Bowls and five different Cardinal World Series games.
Year Inducted: 2017
Antionette Morgan-Cousins - Class of 1990
Executive Director of AMIkids St. Louis, a non-profit alternative school dedicated to helping youth develop into responsible and productive citizens; Executive Director of Riverview West Florissant Development Corporation; Involved with many community programs such as Love the Neighborhood Back to School Event, The Baden Taste Festival, Live on the Rock Music Festival and the Build-A-Bag Food Event which feeds over 4,000 area residents; Recipient of a B.S. in Social Work from Central Missouri State University, M.S. in Human Resources Management & Development from National Louis University, and M.B.A. in Nonprofit Management from Fontbonne University.
Dale L. Rollings - Class of 1958
Attorney; former Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Green County, MO and former head of the Criminal Division of the Missouri Attorney General’s office; Established law firm with practice limited to Mergers and Acquisitions, Tax and Estate and Succession Planning; Executive Director and Chairman of the Board of OGR, the world’s largest selective-membership funeral organization; founder and General Counsel for 35 years of the St. Charles City-County Library District, and founder of the St. Charles Library Building Corporation; one of a six-person “turn-around-team” which took over and re-organized failing Lindenwood College; Member of the Board of Directors and General Counsel of the now revitalized and successful Lindenwood University; avid amateur winemaker and owner/operator of Yellow Farmhouse Vineyard and Winery, LLC; author of a trade-specific book on the economics of funeral pre-need contracts, Exit Laughing, a manual for business owners on retiring from business, and a novel, The Trunk, set in South St. Louis during World War II.
Bill Slenker - Class of 1965
Fourth generation builder/developer who has devoted his career to developing residential and mixed-use communities; graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1969; played Division I tennis and squash, and was a member of the 4-man squash team that finished 5th in the NCAA Tournament; served as a second lieutenant in the US Army’s field artillery branch and directed training for nuclear weapons readiness; Physical Education instructor at the US Air Force Academy; founder of real estate development firm Slenker Communities; trademarked subsidiary “Central Parke 55+ Resort Communities,” which focuses on the retirement housing needs of baby boomers; recipient of the “ICON of the Year Award” from the 50+ Housing Council of the National Association of Homebuilders; “Land Titan” of Big Builder Magazine and “Environmental Developer of the Year” in Maryland; created a cutting-edge alliance with the University of Maryland to house the Osher Life Long Learning Institutes (OLLI) within many Central Parke 55+ Communities; member of the Board of Wesley Housing Development Corporation, a non-profit that develops and manages affordable housing for low- income families and the disabled.
Timothy J. Smith Sr. - Class of 1997
Founder of Patriot Commercial Cleaning, a company with the mission of hiring veterans and their family members; served with the US Army’s 1st Armored Division 4-27th Field Artillery; participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom and attained the rank of Sergeant; received Bachelors degree in Social Work from UMSL, and graduated from the George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis; first Missouri Mission Continues Fellow and personally recognized by President George W. Bush for work in veteran community; founder and chairman of Stand United for Veterans at Washington University in St. Louis; Pat Tillman Military Scholar (2009); recipient of The Mission Continues Compass Award (2012); Veteran Business Owner of the Year in Missouri (2014); keynote speaker for the Department of Veterans Affairs on helping to prevent veteran suicide and helping veterans struggling with PTSD; featured in Inc 500, American Airlines, Forbes, and TIME Magazines as a veteran business owner and for work done with veterans with The Mission Continues; received Flag of Freedom Veteran Award from Governor Jay Nixon and honored as a Missouri American Hero by Governor Greitens.
Thomas P. Streib - Class of 1995
Fourth generation resident of Shrewsbury, MO and owner of Streib Company; started work in the electrical contractor industry with K&Z Electric; passed the Master Electrical Exam in 2004 and founded Streib Electric Company; renamed Streib Company, the business focuses on providing great customer service; served as Electrical/Low Volt Contractor for Extreme Home Makeover in 2008; recipient of the Better Business Bureau Torch Award, which recognizes businesses for ethical business practices; 2012 Shrewsbury Citizen of the Year for providing labor to the Fire Department Beacon Program; Streib Company voted one of the Top Work Places in St. Louis in 2016 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Year Inducted: 2016
John Foster Dyess - Class of 1957
Painter, illustrator, photographer and art instructor; created portraits of fifty-one recipients of the Civil Rights Walk of Fame located in Atlanta, GA; Board Member and Chair of Publicity and Communications for the St. Louis Artists’ Guild; co-curator of the Gallery within Webster Groves Christian Church; creates illustrations for English and History textbooks, and does significant work for Field and Stream and Outdoor Life.
Ronald N. Kohl - Class of 1964
Certified Public Accountant; Partner in the Accounting Firm of Rubin, Brown Gornstein & Company; Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Boys Town of Missouri; Comptroller of the 1991 US Olympic Festival; Member of the Advisory Board for the School of Accountancy at the University of Missouri - Columbia; President of the Board of Trustees of The College School of Webster Groves.
Dr. Dale M. Pitt, PhD - Class of 1968
Boeing Technical Fellow; has performed research and development in the field of Aeroelasticity and Adaptive Smart Structures for over thirty years; Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, an honor bestowed on less than one percent of members; holds fifteen patents in the field of Adaptive Structures, with two more pending; his theory, known as the “Pitt-Peters Inflow Model,” is in use by every major helicopter company in the world.
Bert Schmitt (aka Bert Stratford) - Class of 1960
Award winning Television, Film and Broadway Producer; worked with Silver Lake Productions during the mid-80’s on shows for HBO, Showtime, The British Broadcasting System, Disney Channel and MCA-TV. In partnership with Romeo Muller, produced seventeen of the all-time popular network holiday specials; his critically acclaimed Christmas movie classic entitled The Christmas Secret, starring Richard Thomas and Beau Bridges, was the highest rated movie in 2000 on television; married to actress Lee Meredith.
Year Inducted: 2015
Dan R. Goodrich - Class of 1969
Brigadier General (ret), United States Air Force; graduate of National War College; President, DR Goodrich Solutions consulting firm in Defense/Leadership; served as Director of Mobility Forces in Bosnia; commanded Pilot Training Wing, the largest training wing in the US Air Force; Deputy Director, US Air Force Intelligence at the Pentagon (2000-2002); one of the senior officers who developed and executed plans incorporating the Predator drone into the Air Force arsenal, now one of the premier weapon systems in the US arsenal; Habitat for Humanity participant for ten years.
John Hatton - Class of 1964
Full-time professional musician since 1966; string bass experience encompasses many styles including Bluegrass, Jazz, Classical, Dixieland, Big Band, Disco, Rock and Rap; live performances and recordings with many famous musicians including Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Bob Hope, Dolly Parton, Horace Heidt, Maynard Ferguson, Big Daddy, Lee Ann Rimes and dozens more; involved in many films including “Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “Elf;” arranger and conductor.
Todd R. Kohlbecker - Class of 1985
Currently Vice President of Corporate Real Estate for Brown Shoe; oversees Brown’s real estate portfolio consisting of 1300 retail locations; Trustee - Webster University Board of Trustees; 2014 Outstanding Alumnus for the School of Communications, Webster University; former Alderman in Glendale, MO; served on the Architectural Review Board in Kirkwood, MO; along with his wife, Amy, created the Kohlbecker Family Scholarship through Webster University’s Annual Daniel Webster Society Scholarship program.
Darrell M. Pitt, D.O. - Class of 1964
Doctor of Osteopathy; Surgery Departments - Des Peres Hospital, DePaul Hospital, Christian Hospitals and Barnes-Jewish St. Peters; member of the American Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery and the Euro American Multispecialty Laproscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery Society; Lifetime Teaching Award from the Medical Education Committee and Graduates of Des Peres Hospital; short term medical missions to Central America, Cuba and Africa; currently working on a Residency Training Program in Ethiopia; along with his wife, Rhonda, active in SNAP - Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests; Vice President of St. Louis chapter of Safari Club; involved in Share the Harvest, encouraging sportsmen to donate their kill to the poor and needy.
Sherry Vaughn - Class of 1971
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University; Clinical veterinarian from New Mexico State University; recognized as an expert on international animal welfare regulations, research facility program management and research ethics; currently working for Zoetis (formerly Pfizer Animal Health) as the lead for Global Animal Welfare Compliance; plenary speaker at the European Federation of Animal Science in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2014; consulting veterinarian for several national and international industries.
Year Inducted: 2014
Tishaura O. Jones - Class of 1990
First female Treasurer of St. Louis; chief investment and cash management officer of the city; Missouri State Representative from 2008-2012; first African-American and first female Assistant Minority Floor Leader; adjunct faculty member of Anheuser-Busch School of Business at Harris-Stowe State University; serves on the boards of Wyman, The Independence Center and People’s Community Action Corporation.
Nancy Gorman Luetzow - Class of 1971
Thirty-five year career as a freelance translator specializing in Russian- to-English science and technical translation; worked on projects such as the Mir Space Station and Chernobyl Accident Report; professional lyric soprano soloist and ensemble vocalist, participating in many choirs and choruses including Bach Society of St. Louis and Java Jived; elected to Kirkwood City Council in 2012; co-chair of “50 Trees” street-tree planting program in Kirkwood.
Kyle R. Palacios - Class of 1977
Co-founder of GroupCast, LLC, a voice broadcasting company that serves clients with original products such as SchoolReach, TeamBlast and StaffCall; former member of St. Louis area duet group the BOYZ, and playing live music still a passion; notable Masonic accomplishments including: 32nd Degree Master Mason, High Priest of Keystone Chapter Royal Arch Masons, and District Deputy Grand High Priest, St. Louis Region, State of Missouri.
Year Inducted: 2013
Michael R. Havener - Class of 1990
Principal - Kirkwood High School; Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations - Kirkwood School District; created and monitored a $75 million budget and supervised $32 million in facility improvements throughout the district; managed construction of the new $6 million gymnasium at Kirkwood High School.
Greg Pelster - Class of 1959
Affton High School teacher/coach; Top “400” high school runner; still holds “400” record at 48.6 at Affton; Captain - Missouri track team; represented USA, running in Finland, Sweden, England and Ireland; Chairman/President of United Spraying Service.
Kenneth Rickli - Class of 1958
Founded Bayou City Auction Pool, a damaged auto auction business; using this highly successful business model, opened two other “pools” in Texas; Lifetime Achievement Award in the industry’s national trade organization, American Salvage Pool Association.
James Speiser, M.D. - Class of 1973
Traveled to Israel to study health care delivery systems; Fellow in the American College of Rheumatology; Consultant in Rheumatology for the St. Louis Rheumatology Association; Chief of the Rheumatology section at St. Anthony’s Medical Center.
Roger Vonder Bruegge - Class of 1960
Chairman of the City of Kirkwood’s Urban Forestry Commission; former member of Kirkwood City Council; appointed by Governor John Ashcroft to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Hazardous Waste Commission; Moderator of the General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian denomination; worked on the formation of the Argentine Presbyterian Church Presbytery; Chair of the Scholarship Committee for the Affton Education Foundation.
Year Inducted: 2012
Ruthann Crinkelmeyer Donahue - Class of 1960
PhD in Biochemistry - University of Massachusetts; obtained long-term funding from the National Institutes of Health and others to study the role of PAKI enzyme in cancer, wound healing and cell growth; published in 75 first-tier biochemistry journals; served on the Medical Biological Chemistry Study Section at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C.
Robert W. Enzenhauer - Class of 1971
Brigadier General - Army National Guard; Professor and Chief of the Department of Ophthalmology - Children’s Hospital of Colorado; many papers in print, including: “The effect of deveolpmentally-at-risk status on the reliability of the iScreen photorefractive device in young children”; Colonel Medical Corps Senior Flight Surgeon - Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
Kirk Hoessle - Class of 1973
President/CEO - Alaska Wildland Adventures; built AWA from a one-trip company into Alaska’s leader in lodge-based adventure travel; owns and operates three wilderness lodges in Alaska; founding member of Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association, the voice for eco-tourism in Alaska.
Charles Vogt - Class of 1981
CEO of Gengrand (formerly General Bandwidth); Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year; works with telecom companies in need of leadership, vision and teamwork; recognized as an entrepreneur who modifies and adjusts business plans to turn good companies into great ones; Global Telecom Business Magazine’s “100 Most Powerful People.”
Year Inducted: 2011
Bob Burns - Class of 1966
Past President - Affton Board of Education; Field Representative in Congressman Gebhardt’s and Senator McCaskill’s St. Louis offices; Co-chair of Lemay-on-the-Move, a group which enabled Lemay to have a casino.
Neil Jacob - Class of 1975
Executive Vice President - U.S. Region of Oxford Properties Group; Senior Vice President - Global Asset Management; One of three founding principals of investment management and consulting service Chatham Capital Partners; Captain - Brown University football team.
Lanny Lamont - Class of 1956
Founder and President - Davlan Engineering; President - Carr Lane Manufacturing, Quality Screw Machine Products and Carr Lane Castings. Assisted in founding Laumeier Sculpture Park along with artist Ernest Trova; produced statues of Jack Buck and Ozzie Smith for the new Busch Stadium; Centurion Society at Bradley University.
Linda Brophy Presgrave - Class of 1969
Professional Musician/Pianist in New York; Linda Presgrave Quartet; Jazz piano recordings for Metropolitan Records; Professional musician, horn and piano, for the Fox Theater Orchestra, the St. Louis Ballet Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony.
Robert Shockey - Class of 1979
Chief of Police - Arnold Police Department; Instructor at Jefferson County Police Academy; First Vice President - Missouri Police Chiefs Association; Affton School Board.
Year Inducted: 2010
John Brophy - Class of 1965
Drummer/percussionist; Chairman - Music Department of John Burroughs High School; MUNY Orchestra for 32 years and Repertory Theater Orchestra for 28 years; President of Missouri Jazz Educators.
Carol Sue Wuebbens Horstman - Class of 1959
Sculptor/painter; Honor and Juror Awards for her wide variety of exhibited art; Owns/manages landscaped sculpture park with artist/husband Don; Member - St. Louis Branch of Pen Women.
Ronald Melicher - Class of 1959
Professor of Finance, President’s Teaching Scholar - University of Colorado at Boulder; Co-author of basic text books Introduction to Finance: Markets, Investments and Financial Management and Entrepreneurial Finance;“Teaching Excellence” awards.
Tamara Ahrens Schmitz - Class of 1989
PhD in Electrical Engineering - Stanford University Teaching Fellow, Department of Electrical Engineering; Implemented cost effective system to train and track progress of global engineers online; research interest: Low Phase Noise LC Oscillators.
Christopher Scholin - Class of 1979
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute; Center for Ocean Solutions Management Committee; Patents: Composition and methods for detecting Raphidophytes, Aquatic auto-sampler device.
John Temple - Class of 1965
Director of Strategic Acquisitions - Accuquest Hearing Center, New Hampshire; Co-owner/Vice Chairman of Indolf, Inc., St. Louis, MO; Co-owner/President of Storage Specialists Inc., St. Louis; Assistant District Commission - Gravois Trail District.
Katherine Tsiopos Wills - Class of 1976
Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus Assistant Professor; IUPUC Lecturer in English; Prestigious External Award Recognition (PEAR) IUPUC, Indianapolis.
Year Inducted: 2009
Mary Lou Hoerr Bingham - Class of 1963
First female City Planner for the city of Norfolk, VA; dedicated to diversifying neighborhoods, as well as planning for aging generations in Norfolk.
Nancy Lee Sandberg Bond - Class of 1964
Director - Rafiki Foundation, Accra, Ghana. Rafiki is an outreach of Bible Study Fellowship; BSF Class Administrator.
David Butterly - Class of 1979
Associate Professor of Medicine - Duke University; Co-Director VA Dialysis Unit; Associate of Medicine - Duke University; American Society of Nephrology and Transplant Physicians.
Marie Williamson Colwell - Class of 1963
Affton High School teacher and coach; Who’s Who Among America’s High School Teachers; Teacher - Missouri School for the Blind.
Paul Faulstich - Class of 1966
Kirkwood Police Sergeant; Kirkwood Police Department Meritorious Service Award; Crusade Against Crime Medal of Valor for 2008 for bravery during the Kirkwood City Council shooting; charter member - Kirkwood Neighborhood Watch Program.
Jim Mayer - Class of 1964
Director of Peer Mentoring and Training - Wounded Warrior Project, Washington, D.C. Department of Veterans Affairs - Special Assistant; George Washington Honor Medal from Freedom Foundation for work as a volunteer with Desert Storm wounded at Walter Reed Medical Center; Board of Directors - Human Service Charities of America.
Scott Mosby - Class of 1971
Mosby Building Arts, Ltd. Nationally recognized as a Top 20 Remodeling Firm by Professional Remodeler magazine; talk show host on KMOX Radio in St. Louis.
Sherman Parker - Class of 1990
Missouri House of Representatives - 12th District of St. Charles County; Vice President of Political Development - NLB Enterprises; Special Assistant - Talent for U.S. Senate campaign; Chairman for Missouri Spectrum, Missouri Republican Party Auxiliary.
Terry Thompson - Class of 1960
Owner - Terry Thompson Productions, which includes JinglExpress, Entertainment Division and Advertising Division; Adjunct Instructor of Marketing and Advertising at Lindenwood University; Founder/producer of the Glendale Jazz Festival.
Year Inducted: 2008
Robert Altenkirch - Class of 1966
President & Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering-New Jersey Institute of Technology; Session Chairman, Flame Spread Over Thin Fuels, 25th International Symposium on Combustion; Governor’s Steering Committee on Financial Restructuring and Debt Reduction, State of New Jersey; Distinguished Engineering Alumnus, Purdue University.
Almeda Horton Berkey - Class of 1965
Conductor, soprano and teacher; co-founder of Nebraska’s Professional Chorale Sole Deo Gloria Cantorum; American jurist for International Folksong Choir Festival in Barcelona, Spain; five conducting appearances at Carnegie Hall.
Robert “Bobby” Caldwell - Class of 1959
Recording artist; Missouri Country Music Hall of Fame; guitar player/accompanist on first St. Louis Hop TV show; played back-up to the Ink Spots, Steve Allen, Carol Lawrence, Carol Channing and Al Hirt on the Charlotte Peters variety show in St. Louis.
John Fribis - Class of 1937
Combat Infantry Award, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and POW - World War II; Fribis Brothers Lawn Company; President of Antique Auto Association and Horseless Carriage Club; President of Affton Historical Society.
Arthur Gust - Class of 1955
Associate Professor of Business at Lon Morris College; Sam Walton Fellow; Production Manager - Western Lithotech Mitsubishi Chemical Company.
Harvey Hartman - Class of 1965
Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Hartman Group, Bellevue, WA, a full-service strategic consultancy and market insights provider specializing in understanding consumer lifestyle behavior; New division, Tinderbox,dedicated to understanding culture, innovation and trends; co-author of several research initiatives.
Mel Kohl - Class of 1962
Syntec Chemical Solutions; Vortex Chemical Solutions; Kohl Solutions, LLC; Alumni Merit Award for the College of Science and Math of Southeast Missouri State University; established the Mel Kohl, Jr. Science Scholarship at Southeast Missouri State University College of Science and Math; Kohl Vineyards - Gerald, MO.
Year Inducted: 2007
Gary J. Ehrhardt - Class of 1966
PhD in Nuclear Chemistry, Washington University in St. Louis; Co-inventor of Y-90 TheraSphere, treatment for liver cancer approved in the U.S. and Europe; Assisted in the development of SM-153 Quadrant, treatment for bone cancer approved in U.S. and Europe; Member - National Steering Committee for Advanced Neutron Source, U.S. Department of Energy.
Kent C. Mueller - Class of 1958
Founder, President and CEO of Mastersoft, Inc. which was acquired by Adobe Systems, Inc. Relocated Memory Systems of Intel to Phoenix; Board of Trustees of Westminster College; funding for Kent and Judith Mueller Student Center at Westminster College.
Warren Seering - Class of 1966
Professor of Engineering Systems at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Founder of NSF Engineering Research Center at MIT; Ralph Teetor Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers.
Walter Sedovic - Class of 1973
Principal and CEO of Walter Sedovic Architects, PLCC, his firm in New York, which deals with integration of sustainable design with historic preservation; lecturer and published widely on historic preservation; implemented plans for ongoing preservation of National Historic Sites in NYC including Grant’s Tomb, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace, Federal Hall and the Frick Museum.
Loretta Walter Seltzer - Class of 1954
Missouri State Teachers’ Association Social Studies Teacher of the Year; Rogers Middle School and Affton High School teacher; Doctoral studies including Hindu University; World’s Who’s Who of American Women.
Nancy Beckeman Thompson - Class of 1965
Angelitos De Oro - support organization for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Orange County; Co-founder of Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders - University of Missouri.
Year Inducted: 2006
Betty Griesbaum Birney - Class of 1965
Award winning author of many children’s books; Emmy Award for Madeline. Writer’s Guild of America Award - Best Children’s Script; Live action television: Welcome to Pooh Corner (90 episodes) - story editor and writer.
John Dressel - Class of 1935
Chariman and Chief Executive Officer - Gravois Bank; President - Associate Bankers of St. Louis; Chairman - South County YMCA.
Datra Scobey Herzog - Class of 1979
Owner of The Gardens at Malmaison, LLC, Restaurant at St. Albans and The Studio Inn at St. Albans, LLC Bed and Breakfast and Special Event Center; Community Advisory Board of Siteman Cancer Center.
Franklin Hornburg - Class of 1985
St. Louis City Fire Department - Marine Unit - Engine House 27; Firefighters Medal for heroic action; Distinguished Service Citation for Outstanding Bravery.
Kenneth John Lacho - Class of 1952
Professor - University of New Orleans; Legion of Merit from the Louisiana Department of Economic Development for outstanding service to the State of Louisiana in small business and economic development; U.S. Small Business Administration Vision 2000 Medal of Excellence Award.
John R. Musgrave - Class of 1959
Chair of Executive Committee - Thompson Coburn LLP; Best Lawyers in America; National Executive Committee of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel; Board of Trustees - St. Louis Art Museum.
John S. Sandberg - Class of 1966
Founding member of Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard, PC; Leadership St. Louis participant; Chair of Downtown St. Louis Community Improvement District. Best Lawyers in America.
Sunny Accola Schaefer - Class of 1964
Executive Director - Operation Food Search, St. Louis; American Association of Fund Raising Executives.
Year Inducted: 2005
John Goodman - Class of 1970
From his theater debut in “Lil Abner” in 1968 at Affton High School, to Shakespeare on Broadway, to Emmy nominations for television, to Hollywood stardom, John has never forgotten his AHS years that catapulted him into his acting career.
Robert Hansman - Class of 1965
Associate Professor - Washington University School of Architecture; Board of Directors - Lucas Heights Neighborhood Initiative; art glass designer with works throughout the St. Louis area; graphic designer; Best Local Artist (Riverfront Times Readers’ Poll).
David Lawrence Herzog - Class of 1978
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer - American International Group, Inc. (AIG); University of Missouri - Columbia School of Accounting Advisory Board; Board of Trustees of American College and the Logos School.
Dan Iannicola, Jr. - Class of 1987
U.S. Department of Treasury - Office of Financial Education; U.S. Department of Education - Office of Post-Secondary Education; May Department Stores - Counsel/Regulatory Liaison.
Euripides “Rip” Kastaris - Class of 1978
Internationally recognized artist of works that are significant to contemporary Hellenic culture; profiled in the PBS documentary series The Greek Americans; first Hellenic-American to be chosen by the U.S. Olympic Committee to commemorate U.S. Athletes.
James F. Mann - Class of 1973
President and Executive Director - Forest Park Forever; General Manager of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra; Public Relations Officer - Missouri Arts Council; Board Member of the Contemporary Art Museum, Circus Flora and the Grand Center Arts District.
Robert Messey - Class of 1964
With a degree in Accounting and Finance, Bob has served as a partner with Ernst and Young, and worked for Sverdrup Corporation and Jacobs Engineering Group. He was also the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Arch Coal and the President of the Repertory Theater of St. Louis.
May Scheve Reardon - Class of 1982
State Representative - 98th District; Senior Policy Advisor - Office of U.S. Representative Richard Gephardt; Chair - Missouri Democratic Party; Board President - Nurses for Newborns.
Mary Ann Alvarez Schiller - Class of 1951
Administrative Assistant and Secretary to the Board of Education for the Affton School District for 60 years; Citizen of the Year - Affton Chamber of Commerce; Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Pioneer in Education; In 2010, the Affton School District central office was renamed the Mary Ann Schiller Administration Center in her honor.
William S. Thompson, Jr. - Class of 1963
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer - Pacific Investment Management Company (PIMCO); Created the William and Nancy Thompson Endowed Professor of Bioengineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri; Created the Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders at the University of Missouri.
