Belton High School Hall of Fame
In 1872, three years after Belton, Missouri was founded, the first board of education was formed. From the beginning, the residents of Belton have considered the school system a priority by providing dedicated board members, strongly supporting bond issues for educational and capital improvements and ongoing support in our educational process. Professional and dedicated administrators, teachers and support staff are also a vital part of the equation.
For almost 140 years, Belton has maintained an enviable reputation for quality education. Belton High School alumni have excelled in the fields of science, medicine, law, business, engineering, education, music, the arts, religion and service to our country. Their impact reaches around the world.
The Belton High School Hall of Fame, established in 1998, honors the lifetime achievements of those who have distinguished themselves in their professional careers, for service and contributions to their communities, or in other ways that reflect positively on the educational foundation received at Belton High School.
The success of those inducted into the Belton High School Hall of Fame can be measured in many ways: career, scholastic or other high achievement, civic activities, service to others, or success despite obstacles in a variety of endeavors. Recipients of Hall of Fame recognition, living or deceased, have established a reputation of honor and serve as models of excellence.
Each year, the Hall of Fame inducts up to five new members. Nominations are accepted year round and are available through this link: http://beltonfoundation.org/bhs-hall-of-fame-nomination/ Nominations received by June 30th of each year will be eligible for consideration in that year’s BHS Hall of Fame and are kept on file to be considered for up to five subsequent years.
For questions regarding the Hall of Fame contact Sonja Abdelgawad at (816) 348-1151 or by email at sabdelgawad@bsd124.org
Hall of Fame members are determined by committee. The committee consists of Hall of Fame members, school district staff and members of the community.
1910 Grace Wilson Van Brunt
1912 Susan Wilson Greene
1915 Lucy Wilson Dunlap
1925 J. Weldon Jackson
1926 M. E. Ensminger, Ph.D.
1927 Frank Blair, Jr.
1928 Douglas Ensminger, Ph.D.
1933 Albert L. Dodson
1936 John R. McKee, D.O.
1937 John S. Harrison
1938 Shirley Childs Nichols
1938 Thomas H. Keeney
1940 Fred L. Campbell
1940 Mary Lightfoot
1941 Gwynne Coomes
1941 Leo J. Mosby
1942 Charles F. Pitts
1942 George E. Spear
1942 Joe P. Trotter
1944 William J. Mosby
1945 Eric E. Hankins
1945 Faye Mosby Wallace
1946 William L. Holloway
1946 Joe Bill Looney
1946 Robert E. Miller
1947 George W. Elkins
1947 James E. Saultz, Sr.
1948 Richard Hankins
1948 Norma Jean Nelson
1949 Jack C. Dryden
1951 Jake Jones
1952 Donald L. Gilmore
1953 Jim Meador
1953 Frederick C. Wear
1954 Gordon K. Smith
1955 Wayne Shelton
1956 Richard Loftis
1956 Gary Schmedding
1957 Bill Parrish
1958 Fred Buchanan
1960 Elmer Larkey
1961 Walter Dembitsky, M.D.
1962 Linda Jo Wilbur
1964 Susan Ketteman Franano
1965 Tad Bartimus
1965 Stephen J. Craig
1965 Jerald W. Jackson
1965 Bill Keeney
1965 William Westhoff
1966 Walter Bargen
1966 Bryce Shriver, Ph.D.
1966 Greg Wallace
1967 Jim Bartimus
1967 Patte’ Klaus Schreihofer
1967 William Kent Powell, D.D.S.
1967 Caroline Shisler Hale
1967 Arlene (Turner) Millard
1968 Anthony Flacco
1968 Don Powell
1970 RET Lt. Col. David Mosby
1971 Stephen Wallace, M.D., J.D.
1972 Janell Cecil
1973 Douglas L. Bradley, M.D.
1974 Joye (Penney) Conklin
1974 Ron Martz
1976 James Frickleton
1976 James Person
1977 Greg Hamilton
1977 Renee (Rudroff) Kerckhoff
1977 Ed Maurer
1978 Steven Guse
1978 Anthony Rizzi, Ph.D.
1979 Karen Fletcher
1979 Len Jennings, Ph.D.
1981 Todd Goffoy
1983 RET Lt. Col. Phillip Trued, Jr.
1983 Gail Worth
1984 Joe Falcon
1987 Dr. Tricia Trutzel-Betts
1988 Jared Keeler, M.D.
1991 RET Maj. Brian W. McBrayer
1991 Wayne Westerman, Ph.D.
1992 Eric Calvert, Ph.D.
1992 Kevin Murphy
1994 Jeff Hyatt
1996 Troy Shaw
1998 Justin Neff
1999 Matt Watson
Jessie L. Campbell (Teacher -Coach)
Dr. Sandy Clutter (Administrator – Educator)
Frances Lee Curdy (Teacher)
Dr. Jon Ferguson (Teacher)
Al Hamra (Teacher – Coach)
Dodie Maurer (Friend of BHS)
Deloris Person (Teacher)
Ken VanSickle (Friend of BHS)
John D. West (Friend of BHS)
Howard Westerman (Teacher)
Louis Wilckens (Teacher)
Charles F. Yeokum (Superintendent)
2022 BHS Hall of Fame Inductees
The Belton Educational Foundation honored three new inductees into the Belton High School Hall of Fame at the All Class Reunion and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Oct.1, 2022 at Belton Middle School.
Michael Spear – Class of 1970
Michael graduated in 1970 following a very active high school experience. He participated in sports, music and student government. He was president of Beta Club and Vice President of Student Council his senior year. He received several scholarships for his academic record
After graduation, Michael attended the University of Missouri and UMKC where he earned a BA in Economics. He completed post graduate work at the University of Iowa and St. Thomas University in Minneapolis where he earned his MBA.
Michael spent his entire career in the agricultural and construction machinery industry. His early career was in sales and marketing after which he held a number of executive positions. Most of his career was spent in the U.S., but his business involved travel to over 20 countries on four continents. Michael was President and CEO of Sweepster, Inc., a manufacturer of construction attachments and airport runway maintenance equipment sold around the world.
Since his retirement, Michael has been a consultant and member of a group of retired executives who mentor entrepreneurs. Michael has always been an advocate for Belton High School Alumni and the All Class Reunion. Michael and his wife Jan reside in Minnesota.
Mary Frasher Cummings – Class of 1974
Mary was an active member of several activities and organizations at Belton High School, holding leadership positions at the local and state levels in many of these groups. Mary graduated with honors from BHS in 1974.
Upon graduation Mary focused on being a wife and mother. Beginning in 1984 she attended Longview Community College and Avila University. While raising a family, she was on the Dean’s List and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1987. She went on to receive a Master’s Degree from Baker University.
Mary began her career in early childhood education before returning to her Alma Mater. Teaching at Belton School District is what she considers to be the best part of her career.
Her tenure at Belton lasted from 1995 until 2020, during which she taught a variety of classes and age groups. Though she loved what she taught, the one resolute was how she treasured learning from her students. Mary believes that preparing students goes beyond the classroom and she was given that opportunity through leadership classes and service-learning activities. Mary took pride in her students who were leaders at local, state, and national levels in multiple organizations.
After retirement Mary did not leave Belton schools; she became a member of the Belton School District #124 Board of Education. Mary continues to be a voice and advocate for students, staff, and families. While she feels her commitment to Belton is ordinary, many would argue that it is truly extraordinary.
Dr. Daniel Dickerson – Class of 1982
Dr. Daniel Dickerson fuses medicine and science as Medical Director for an international clinical research organization where he has served as the principal investigator on hundreds of Phase 1, first-in-human research trials. He works with scientists from around the globe advancing preclinical research to human trials intended to treat diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, heart disease, muscular dystrophy, cancers (e.g., breast, lung, leukemia, prostate) and infectious diseases (e.g., COVID-19, HIV, RSV, Ebola, hepatitis).
While a student at Belton High School, Daniel was president of the Class of 1982, a member of National Honor Society, Student Council, and Letterman’s Club (football, basketball, and baseball). Recognized as Best All Around Senior, he performed in The Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), And Then There Were None (Philip Lombard), and Belton Singers.
Daniel went on to earn degrees in Biological Sciences and Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He later completed medical studies and family medicine residency at the University of Kansas. An American Academy of Family Physicians Fellow, Daniel practiced small-town family medicine for 15 years, served as Chief of Family Medicine at Lawrence Memorial Hospital and chaired Governmental Advocacy efforts for the Kansas Academy of Family Physicians. In addition, he is a noted clinical instructor for the University of Kansas School of Medicine, having received numerous teaching awards including the Preceptor of the Year (2012) and the Rainbow Award-Hero in Medicine (2006). Daniel lives with his wife, Jill, in Eudora, KS.
2021 BHS Hall of Fame Inductees
The Belton Educational Foundation honored three new inductees into the Belton High School Hall of Fame at the All Class Reunion and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, September 25 at Belton Middle School.
Stephen Alan Wallace, M.D., J.D., Class of 1971
Joye (Penney) Conklin, Class of 1974
Troy Shaw, Class of 1986
2019 BHS Hall of Fame Inductees
The Belton Educational Foundation honored three new inductees into the Belton High School Hall of Fame at the All Class Reunion and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 at Belton Middle School.
Wayne Shelton, Class of 1955
Wayne Shelton entered Belton High School as a junior, his third new school in two years. In high school, he worked at Hy Klas Market, attained his solo flight permit, acted in plays, was a charter member of Kennemmer Chapter DeMolay, and on the annual staff. Wayne helped form and was First Cadet Commander of the Civil Air Patrol Squadron. Wayne joined the Lions Club in high school and served as Secretary and President.
Wayne graduated on May 27, 1955, and started working at Communication Accessories Co. (CAC) on June 1st. Wayne and Jeannette Whippo were married on June 3rd. When Collins Radio (formerly CAC) moved to California in 1962, Wayne and his family moved to Anaheim, CA. While working, he took college courses and achieved certification in Production and Inventory Control. Wayne spent his last years at the company in stock and inventory management.
Wayne worked on many projects, as Collins and Rockwell were major contractors in communications. His favorite project was Apollo because he said it built for further space travel. A Collins radio was used as astronauts communicated with Earth during the Apollo 11 moon landing. Wayne retired on June 3, 2014, and was recognized with a unique award, for his 59 years of service and for making a lasting impact. Wayne’s advice: Do things when you can. You can borrow and bank money; but not time.
Arlene (Turner) Millard, Class of 1967
Arlene attended Belton Schools from Kindergarten through twelfth grades. She was active in Beta Club, Yearbook, Thespian Club, and was President of the Pep Club and Latin Club.
Arlene went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Education from Southwest Missouri State University. In college, Arlene was Captain of the Pace Aires drill team and President and Outstanding Senior of the Student National Education Association. Arlene earned a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Upon hire at the U.S. Federal General Services Administration, Arlene was selected for the Management Intern Program. She began working with the Department of Agriculture in 1978 as a management analyst for Agriculture Stabilization & Conservation Services. During her management climb, she served as Chief of Technical Staff and later Chief of the Telecommunications Division at the Kansas City Management Office. Arlene became the Deputy Director of the National Information Technology Center (NITC) in 1997 and retired from the Department of Agriculture in 2006.
During Arlene’s 35 year career, she earned numerous awards for outstanding performance including the Agriculture Stabilization & Conservation Services Administrator Award, the highest award bestowed by the agency.
Don Powell, Class of 1968
Don grew up in Belton. For six years, beginning at the age of 12, he served as Church Organist for the Belton Methodist Church. An active participant during his years at BHS, he served as President of the Beta Club and choir, Vice President of Student Council, and Boy’s Glee Club. Don was also the piano accompanist for the choir, a member of the band, Thespians, and newspaper staff. Don graduated first in his class.
Don went on to attend The University of Chicago, graduating with several honors in 1972, he moved on to be admitted to the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at Washington University in St. Louis. For his internship, Don served at the Spring Grove Hospital Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Don earned his Ph.D. and joined the staff of St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Washington D.C. (a federally operated psychiatric hospital) as Staff Psychologist for two years.
Don served troubled, mentally disabled, and mentally ill children and youth who were living in foster care homes and group homes in Brooklyn, New York for 29 years. His mission included working to reunite birth families when possible, through running family reunification and parental effectiveness programs.
2018 BHS Hall of Fame Inductees
The Belton Educational Foundation honored these three inductees into the Belton High School Hall of Fame at the All Class Reunion and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018 at the Belton Middle School and Freshman Center:
Dr. William Kent Powell, DDS, Class of 1967
Dr. Powell attended Belton schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. During his time at BHS he was involved in the Latin Club, Choir, and Boy’s Glee Club. He is also an Eagle Scout. After graduation, he attended UMKC where he graduated from the UMKC School of Dentistry. He then served as Captain in the Air Force, where he practiced dentistry while stationed at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma.
After leaving the Air Force, Dr. Powell moved to Excelsior Springs where he has successfully practiced dentistry since 1976. During that time, Dr. Powell has been very active in his community, serving on many local organization boards in Excelsior Springs including the Chamber of Commerce, Optimist Club, Shrine Club, and Education Foundation to name a few. He is currently President of the Excelsior Springs Health Care Foundation and an active member of First United Methodist Church.
Dr. Powell is very well respected in the dental community, serving as a member of the Lafayette County Dental Study Club for the past 42 years and as President of the Greater Kansas City Dental Society (2008-2009). He is also a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Powell and his wife, Sharon (BHS Class of ’69), have two sons, Tevor and Jeremy, and two grandchildren. Dr. Powell also cares for his 98 year old mother, Ernestine, also a Belton grad. He and his wife enjoy Community Theater and remain attached to their Belton roots, performing with the Belton Historical Society and Main Street Theater in Belton.
Anthony Flacco, Class of 1968
Anthony Flacco is an accomplished screenwriter, author, and public speaker. He graduated from BHS in 1968, where he was active in drama and music. After graduation, he went on to create a stellar career in the entertainment industry. A trained stage actor who put in nearly 2,000 performances in Actor’s Equity theaters all over the country, he moved into the screenwriting field when he earned his Master of Fine Arts in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute Conservatory in 1990. Flacco was then selected for the Walt Disney Studios Screenwriting Fellowship and spent a year writing for the Touchstone Pictures division.
Drawing from his acting and screenwriting experience, Flacco published his first nonfiction book, A Checklist for Murder, in 1994, which he then adapted into a screenplay for a two hour television script and picked up by NBC for a movie of the week. He continued to work as a freelance script writer and story editor, which included works for the Discovery Channel and Court TV.
At the time of this writing, Flacco has continued to publish and receive critical acclaim for ten nonfiction books and historical novels so far, including Tiny Dancer, which was named by Readers Digest as their Editor’s Choice and “one of the 100 most noteworthy books” by the Kansas City Star in 2005. The book is an international bestseller with over 300,000 copies sold in translation. In 2007, his debut novel earned a New York Times rave review and an International Thriller Writers nomination. In 2013, his book Impossible Odds was a New York Times Bestseller.
Major Brian W. McBrayer, USMC (Ret.), Class of 1991
Major Brian McBrayer attended Belton schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. During his time at BHS, he was a member of the Letterman’s Club, the Art Club and the National Honor Society. He was also very active in sports, lettering in football, wrestling and track. During his senior year, he was honored by the Kansas City Star as a scholar athlete and runner up for the 1991 Youth of the Year in Belton.
After graduation, Brian attended Northwest Missouri State University where he participated on the track team and was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity. He graduated in 1996 with a B.S. in geography and a minor in geology.
After graduation, Brian enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he trained as an Aviation Electrician. He was selected to attend Officer Candidate School and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1999. As an infantry officer, he served in leadership positions from Platoon Commander to Battalion Executive Officer. During his 20 years of service to the nation, he participated in 5 overseas deployments and 3 combat tours in Iraq. Brian is a decorated Marine, receiving many medals including the Meritorious Service Medal, 4 Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, and 2 Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.
Brian retired from the Marine Corps in June 2016 and has taught 8th grade science for the past two years. He currently lives in Fallbrook, CA with his wife and 2 children.