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Academic Hall of Fame 2021

By Klinginsmith, Tiffani on September 03, 2021

Academic Hall of Fame 2021 Presentation PDF

 

The Academic Hall of Fame honors graduates who have had extraordinary careers based on their four years of high school education here in Unionville.  Our new members were nominated by Dr. Heath Halley and Mr. Larry Van Dyne.  From there, a standing committee carefully reviewed the nomination and selected these outstanding individuals as the 2021 UHS/PCHS Academic Hall of Fame honorees.

In 2010, PCHS hosted its inaugural class of the UHS/PCHS Academic Hall of Fame. Our inaugural members were Ms. Jane Godfrey, Mr. Ray Klinginsmith, Dr. Joel Pratt, and Mr. Stephen Rockwood. 

In 2011, Mr. Alan Rockwood and Mr. Bill Ray Jackson were our nominees.

In 2012, Dr. Terry Whitworth was our winner. 

In 2014, we recognized Mr. Dale Lawrence and Dr. Larry Wickless. 

In 2015, we celebrated Ms. Ellen Gordon, Dr. Fon Owings, Mr. Roger Stottlemyre, and Mr. Charles Tharp.

In 2016, Dr. Hugh Imboden was our winner. 

In 2017, we honored Dr. Clair Hibbs and Colonel J. Bret Johnson.

In 2018, Mr. James Ballard was our winner. 

During the pandemic, things slowed down and the Academic Hall of Fame was put on hold out of an abundance of caution. 

So, in 2021, we selected 3 outstanding UHS/PCHS Academic Hall of Fame winners. On September of 2021, PCHS held an assembly in the PCMS auditorium honoring our 3 winners, Dr. James Brummit, D.V.M., Mr. Tom Keedy, and Dr. Donald Van Dyne. 

 

On Friday, September 3, 2021, our first honoree celebrated was Dr. James Brummitt D.V.M.  Dr. Brummitt graduated from Putnam County High School in 1972. After high school, he attended Northeast Missouri State University where he managed lab animal rooms and caught shrews in Minnesota. He graduated from Northeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1976. Dr. Brummitt attended the University of Missouri as a graduate student from 1976-1977 helping research and establish vitamin B1 requirement in ruminants and identifying rumen microbes to help digest feedstuffs. He graduated Dr. of Veterinary Medicine from Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 1981and was licensed to practice in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri.

 

Jim is a member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association and the Iowa Veterinary Medical Association.  He is a member of the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association Committee to eradicate bovine brucellosis making Missouri a brucellosis-free state. 

 

He married his High School sweetheart, Cindy Lutze in May of 1974.  They have 3 children - Joshua, PC Class of 2000, Carissa, PC Class of 2003 and Benjamin, PC Class of 2005.

 

Jim and Cindy have 9 beautiful grandchildren that they enjoy spending their time with.  

 

Dr. Brummit has served on a variety of boards and clubs, as well as volunteered to coach several of his childrens' sports teams over the years. Here are some of the organizations he has been involved in:

*Served as President of the Putnam County Extension Council

*Served on the McCalment Board

*Served as 4-H Leader

*Served on board of Unionville Summer Youth League

*Coached T-Ball, softball, and baseball, 5th and 6th-grade football and basketball

*Served as President of Putnam County Athletic Booster Club, instrumental in building the fitness center

*Served on the Putnam Co. R-1 School Board for 18 years, serving as Secretary and President for several years [slide 18]

 

One of Jim's favorite service projects has been serving on the board for Nationwide Youth Roundup, a Christian camp in the mountains of Colorado for kids from across the nation. He served as secretary of the board and security officer for the camp for various years.  Jim has also served as a chaperone for 37 years for kids from Unionville and surrounding areas. He is a deacon for the First Christian Church of Unionville and treasurer of the board for several years.

 

Mrs. Klinginsmith presented Dr. James Brummit D.V.M. with his commemorative plaque that will be hung in our high school commons.

Dr. Brummit delivered an inspiring speech to our high school students, stressing the importance of service and not settling for average. Thank you, Dr. Brummit, for all your years of service and your continued service to our community. We appreciate the legacy and life you are leading!

 

 

Our second inductee was Mr. Tom Keedy.

 

Tom graduated from Putnam County High School in 1968. After graduation, Tom attended the University of Missouri and earned a Bachelor of Science in Ag Economics in 1972. Next Tom attended the University of Missouri School of Law and graduated in 1974. 

 

Tom has run his own private practice since 1995 as well as been an

• Associate Circuit Judge, Putnam Co from 1981-1994

• Prosecuting Attorney, Putnam Co from 1974-1981

• City Attorney, Unionville, MO 1976-1981 and 1997-2005

 

Tom is married to his lovely wife Gwynn. Gwynn is a retired art teacher who spent several years of her career teaching in the Putnam County R-I School District. Tom is the proud father of his daughter McKenzie and grandfather to Quinn.  

 

Tom is very community-driven and has donated countless hours of his time over the years to multiple organizations: 

• Unionville Historic Preservation Commission, currently serving as Chairman

• Founder and First President of Unionville Historic Square, Inc.

• Unionville Rotary Club, Member since 1974 and served as President 3 times

• Putnam County Foundation, founder and first President, 1988-1991

• Northern Missouri Regional Advisory Council for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 1991-1993

• Putnam County Arts as a Basic Planning Committee, 1993-2000

• Missouri Division of Family Services Planning Committee 1992

• Missouri Leadership Development Conference Committee, Planning Committee 1993-1995

• Putnam County EXCEL Leadership Development Program 1991-1994

• Putnam County Community Education Advisory Board 1993-Present

Tom enjoys farming (and taking selfies with his cows and dog, Frank), his flowers, and photography. 

Tom was unable to attend today’s ceremony but wanted to let everyone know that he was grateful to be inducted into the Academic Hall of Fame.

Thank you, Mr. Keedy, for all the ways you live and lead with service.

 

Dr. Donald Van Dyne was our final honoree for the 2021 Academic Hall of Fame.

 

Dr. Van Dyne graduated from Unionville High School in 1961. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri. 

In 1968, Donald volunteered to serve in the United States Army where he became a platoon leader with the 25th infantry division in Vietnam. He commanded a platoon until it was ambushed and he received extensive injuries. Donald received a purple heart and several other medals. 

He received an Agricultural Economics degree from Rutgers University in 1972 and a Doctorate in Agricultural economics from the University of Maryland in 1976. 

From 1975 to 1982 Donald worked in Washington D.C. on energy issues and as a senior policy analyst at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Later on in his career, he had the opportunity to meet President Bill Clinton. 

In 1985 he returned to the University of Missouri to a position on the research facility of the agriculture school and became a prolific and nationally known scholar in several fields including energy used in agriculture, alternative crops, and biodiesel. Dr. Van Dyne was the authority on biofuels and alternative energy in agriculture.  He was the author of nearly 100 published scientific papers.

Don is now retired and lives in a house he built with his own hands in Columbia, but he still owns a part of the Putnam County farm where he grew up. 

Mrs. Klinginsmith present Dr. Donald Van Dyne with his commemorative plaque that will be hung in our high school commons.

Dr. Van Dyne’s daughter Stacie presented a speech on his behalf.

One of the key points of Dr. VanDyne's speech was "finding common ground isn't easy work, but it's the only way forward. Keep learning."

Thank you, Dr. VanDyne, for imparting your wisdom to our students. 

We enjoyed listening to our Academic Hall of Fame winners and their sage advice for our students. 

Keep learning, keep serving, keep making a difference!

Congratulations!