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New Alumni Hall of Fame Awards
Honoring MMA’s Best Academy will present Alumni Hall of Fame Awards at Homecoming 2020. ALUMNI HALL OF FAME
MMA alumni celebrate support of the Academy during the 2019 Alumni Recognition & Donor Awards Banquet.
Leaders of industry. Military heroes. Great creative minds. For more than 130 years, Missouri Military Academy has been producing alumni who make their mark on the world. Save the date for Homecoming, Sept. 18-20, 2020, to recognize your MMA Brothers for their outstanding achievements.
During Homecoming 2019, the MMA Alumni Association announced the addition of the Alumni Hall of Fame award series. The credo of Missouri Military Academy is the guiding principle for the selection of inductees into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Each inductee must exemplify a strong commitment to duty, honor and achievement. These new awards include the following categories: • Business, Entrepreneurship & Leadership • Arts & Sciences • Community & Government Service
• Distinguished Military Service • Athletics
Awards for the upcoming year are accepted until Jan. 1 via online submissions at MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.
Typically, nominations may only be made for alumni who have completed one full year at MMA and they must be approved by a majority vote of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, but a criteria waiver can be requested by the Alumni Association Board of Directors under special circumstances and approved by the Academy’s president. All nominations must submit to a confidential criminal background check and provide all necessary supporting documentation such as Military DD214, professional journal articles or internal company recognition. Each category has specific criteria as detailed below. Business, Entrepreneurship & Leadership
Awarded to an alumnus who is viewed by peers in his field as a subject matter expert with a proven track record in his chosen career of business, entrepreneurship or leadership. The honoree is recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps. Arts & Sciences Awarded to an alumnus who is viewed by peers in his field as a subject matter expert with a proven track record in his chosen career of arts or sciences. The honoree is recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps. Athletics Awarded to an alumnus for his excellence in post-high school athletics, athletic performance, competition and sportsmanship, and one who is viewed by peers in his field as having a proven track record in his chosen field of athletic endeavor. The honoree is recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps.
Community & Government Service
Awarded to an alumnus with a proven track record in his chosen career of community or government service such as nonprofit, community volunteer work, civilian government and service work. The honoree is recognized for his significant accomplishments, is a visionary, and is also recognized as a coach, mentor and developer for those who follow in his footsteps. Distinguished Military Service Awarded to an alumnus who has achieved the rank of flag / general officer or awarded a Purple Heart or a Bronze Star medal or higher by one of the U.S. armed services (or alum’s home nation’s equivalent) and who has received an honorable discharge. Athletic Hall of Fame
In addition to the Alumni Hall of Fame awards, annual Athletic Hall of Fame awards will be presented at Homecoming. Athletic Hall of Fame awards will honor individuals or teams with one of these achievements:
Gregg Center ’91 congratulates Chris Schafer ’89 for receiving the inaugural Chris Schafer Fellowship Cup award at the 2019 Alumni Recognition & Donor Awards Banquet.
• Competed on a state championship team.
• Placed in a state championship tournament event multiple times. • Qualified for an individual or team state tournament. • Received “All-State” honors by either a vote of Missouri sportswriters or by qualifying for the state tournament multiple times. • Been selected as “All-Conference, District, Sectional, or Regional” in multiple years prior to MMA graduation.
MMA athletic coaches with similar success will also be considered for Athletic Hall of Fame awards. Nominations are accepted online at MissouriMilitaryAcademy.org.
Join us on campus for Homecoming 2020 — September 18-20 — to honor the inaugural class of MMA Alumni Hall of Fame honorees.
Paul Gillette ’70
Alumni Updates
Frank Sierra ’58
J. Ross Fernstrum ’47 lives in Surprise, Arizona. Reach him at jferns5342@aol. com.
Roy Curran ’50 lives in Dallas. He can be reached at roycurran@gmail.com.
René Malés ’50 lives in Hillsboro Beach, Florida. Reach him at strtgcdecn@aol. com.
Robert Rudman ’56 lives in St. Louis. Reach him at therudmans5654@gmail. com.
Frank Sierra ’58 lives in Woodstock, New York. He recently completed a world inspection tour for the Order of St. John, traveling eight countries that included Korea, Singapore and Turkey. Reach him at commandercondor@yahoo. com.
Raymond “Ray” W. Zimmerman ’61 is retired and lives in Omaha, Nebraska. He would love to hear from other classmates and can be reached at zray663@aol.com.
Wayne Matthews ’66 lives in Urbana, Illinois. Reach him at wmatt2502@ comcast.net.
William Grahm ’67 lives in Hawk Point, Missouri. He completed three tours in Vietnam and was a sniper during his last two. Later, he worked for the FBI.
Jack “Mitch” Wrenn ’69 lives in Marceline, Missouri. He can be reached at mitchwrenn@sbcglobal.net.
Paul Gillette ’70 lives in Mexico, Missouri. He and his wife, LaWanah, have opened a bed-and-breakfast in Mexico. They welcomed their second grandson in July. Reach him at gillettepaul53@gmail.com.
Continued
Lazaro Villafranca ’90
Joseph Layman ’97
Charles “Jerry” Lavery ’75 lives in Davenport, Florida. Reach him at geraldlavery@yahoo.com.
Kenneth Turner Jr. ’75 lives in Dover, Arkansas. He can be reached at k2757turner@gmail.com.
Trent Frohock ’83 lives in Altoona, Iowa. Reach him at twfmail@fastmail. com.
Kyle Kaae ’83 lives in Etna, California. He and his wife are celebrating their status as empty nesters, as both their children graduated college this past year and found jobs. He is also enjoying retirement. He can be reached at kylekaae@gmail.com.
Anthony “Tony” Giuliani ’88 lives in Jefferson City, Missouri. He can be reached at tgiuliani@centurylink.net.
John Ilges ’88 lives in La Vernia, Texas. Reach him at jsilges@gmail.com.
Tod Thompson ’88 lives in Joplin, Missouri. Reach him at todroe69@gmail. com.
Chris Schafer '89 lives in Denver, Colorado. He can be reached at chris. schafer71@gmail.com
Lazaro Villafranca Guerke ’90 lives in Canton, Georgia. Reach him at lazvilla@ gmail.com.
Brett Hale ’91 was a combat medic and lives in Waxahachie, Texas. Reach him at bretthale91@yahoo.com.
Stephen “Chandler” Moore ’91 lives in Chandler, Arizona. He can be reached at cmoore@azarbys.com.
George Harb ’93 lives in Ramona, California. Reach him at zorrillo1@ sbcglobal.net.
Doug Lower ’93 lives in Cypress, Texas. Reach him at doug.lower@gmail.com.
William “Bill” Dean ’95 lives in St. Louis. He can be reached at deanus76@ yahoo.com.
Joseph Layman ’97 lives in Parker, Colorado. He recently returned from Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, after 14 months there. He is currently stationed in Baumholder, Germany. Reach him at drillcop@gmail.com.
Brenton Stuehmer ’97 lives in Mexico, Missouri. He can be reached at brenton. stuehmer@hotmail.com.
Bret Zimmerman ’00 lives in Minneapolis. Reach him at bret. zimmerman@gmail.com.
Israel Avelar ’07 Adam Schmitz ’15
Andrew Bushnell ’03 lives in Sunnyvale, California. Reach him at andrewbushnell@gmail.com.
Israel Avelar ’07 lives in Mexico City, Mexico. Reach him at avelarisrael@ gmail.com.
Andrew Smith ’11 lives in Arnold, Missouri. He can be reached at Andrewsmith1622@gmail.com.
Patricio Herrera ’13 lives in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. Reach him at patohrra7@gmail.com.
Rodrigo Padilla ’15 lives in St. Louis. He recently graduated from college with a degree in strategic communications and marketing, and he plans to work as a marketing coordinator for Synaptic Inc. Reach him at rodrigo.padilla.sv@gmail. com.
Adam Schmitz ’15 lives in Chesterfield, Missouri. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army and took his first assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Israel. He can be reached at adam.b.schmitz@gmail.com.
Connor Cunningham ’16 lives in St. Louis.
Penelope Cearley lives in Perry, Missouri. She worked at MMA as a housemother from 1977 to 1981 and 1997 to 2005. Reach her at penelopecearley@gmail.com.
Karen Jones lives in Kansas City, Missouri. When she worked at MMA in the Education Department and Learning Resource Center, her last name was Spangler. She can be reached at kjones2030@gmail.com.
Are you receiving emails from MMA? Stay connected by updating your contact information online at bit.ly/MMA-Alumni-Update.
Silver Taps
It is with sorrow that we learn of the passing of our fellow MMA brothers. Through telling their stories, we remember and honor them. We are eternally grateful for the brotherhood.
James Slutz ’55 passed away on Feb. 24, 2019.
Robert “Bob” Stewart ’55 passed away on Jan. 15, 2020.
Richard Baran ’56 passed away on Nov. 30, 2019.
Jackson Hunter ’62 passed away on Oct. 21, 2019.
Ronald “Scotty” Moss ’64 passed away on Oct. 13, 2019.
Robert Morris ’66 passed away on May 28, 2019.
William Wilson ’66 passed away on Aug. 22, 2001.
Daniel Muckler ’69 passed away on July 1, 2019.
Terry Pullman ’70 passed away on Dec. 3, 2019.
Thomas Childs ’79 passed away on April 30, 2018. He was born on Sept. 25, 1960, in Columbia, Missouri. After graduating from MMA, he enlisted in the Air Force, and he later worked at the U.S. Postal Service.
Juan “Jorge” Braun ’86 passed away on Jan. 31, 2020.
Brian Elder ’94 passed away on Feb. 8, 2009.
Hayden Fairbanks ’14 passed away on March 7, 2019.
Joseph “J.C.” Feger passed away on Dec. 6, 2019. He was a member of MMA’s summer programs team since 2015 and activities and recreation specialist since 2019.
