The School District of Washington’s WINGS (Washington’s Investment in Great Schools) Educational Foundation is proud to announce the 14th class into the Hall of Honor. The Hall of Honor was initiated in 2009 to recognize alumni, former educators, and community contributors who have shown exceptional personal, community or professional achievement.
The 2023 honorees are Jim Perry, Educator Award; James (Doug) Hagedorn, Alumni Award; and Terry Buddemeyer, Community Contributor Award.
This year’s event will be held on Saturday, September 30, at the Washington Elks Hall. Tickets are $50 per person, with tables of eight available.
Reservations may be made by mailing a check payable to WINGS Educational Foundation, Hall of Honor, P.O. Box 203, Washington, MO 63090, or through Venmo @Wings-Foundation. The deadline for reservations is September 16.
This year’s recipient for the WINGS Educator Award is Jim Perry.
Jim Perry was born in 1939, to Doyle and Nellona Perry in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The youngest of three children, Jim grew up in Muskogee where he began school in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Muskogee Central High School in 1957.
Jim attended Ouachita Baptist University on an athletic scholarship. A baseball and basketball player, Jim was recognized as the outstanding male athlete his senior year. Jim graduated in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in education. Later he received a master’s of teaching degree from Northeastern Oklahoma State University and an education specialist degree in secondary education administration from Truman State University.
After undergraduate college, Jim briefly played professional baseball. He then taught and coached at Bacone Junior College in Oklahoma. In 1962, Jim was hired by the Washington School District. During his 30-year tenure, Jim served as teacher, coach, athletic director, assistant high school principal, acting high school principal, and finally middle school principal for 14 years until retirement from education in 1993. According to Jim’s calculation, he helped educate over 8,000 students. The gymnasium at Washington Middle School is named in his honor.
In 1993, Jim became co-owner of The Chest, a promotional product manufacturing company. He retired again in 2005, when the business was sold, and started J & J Surplus, an industrial equipment sales company.
Jim was elected to the East Central College Board of Trustees in 1998. He served for 18 years, 10 as Board President. A past director of the Missouri Community College Association Board, Jim served as president of the Trustee Division. He received the MCCA Trustee Leadership Award in 2009 and again in 2016.
Jim’s community involvement includes past directorships of Washington Savings Bank, Roosevelt Bank, and Washington Chamber of Commerce. He is a past president of the Washington Lions Club and a recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award. Jim also was chairman of the 1986 Washington Town and Country Fair. Jim is a member of the Elks Club, ECC Patrons of the Arts, First Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, life member of the ECC Foundation, the Washington Historical Society, and the Mizzou Alumni Association.
Jim currently lives near Washington. He has been married to Julie Shotwell since 1969 (54+ years). Together they have two daughters and four grandchildren.
This year’s recipient for the WINGS Alumni Award is James (Doug) Hagedorn.
Doug is a 7th generation Washingtonian and the third member of his family to be inducted into the Hall of Honor. Doug’s parents, Jo Ann and Jack, were recognized in 2011 with the Community Contributor Award.
Doug was born in 1955 and attended Fifth Street Elementary School. He graduated from Washington High School in 1973. Upon graduation, Doug received an appointment to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Doug was selected for pilot training and flew KC-135 aerial refueling tankers for four years while stationed in California.
Between flights, Doug earned a Master’s Degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California. He then went back to the Air Force Academy for three years and served as an ethics instructor, pilot instructor, and rugby coach. In 1985, Doug left the Air Force, moved back to Washington, and began a 35 year career as an airline pilot for Delta Airlines.
When not literally flying around the world to over 100 countries, Doug gave back to the Washington community. Doug served on the Washington Athletic Association for 21 years; he was a School Board member from 1993 to 1996; he was a founding member of WINGS; he has coached in some capacity almost every youth sport available in our community; he is a member of the YMCA Board of Advisors and a member of the Rotary, and he has substitute taught at Saint Francis Borgia and Washington High Schools. In 2022, Doug was elected mayor of the City of Washington, a position he holds today.
Doug has been married to Eileen, a retired nurse, for over 43 years. Together they have three grown children and six grandchildren. In his free time, Doug can be found working out at the YMCA, serving on the ski patrol at Hidden Valley Resort in Eureka, boating, and spoiling his grandchildren.
This year’s recipient for the WINGS Community Contributor Award is Terry Buddemeyer.
Terry has been an active member of the community and has been involved with the Washington Area Ambulance District for 48 years. He graduated from Washington High School in 1971. After graduation, he attended East Central College and attained an Associate of Arts Degree in 1973. In December of 1974, he graduated from the first Emergency Medical Training (EMT) course offered at East Central followed by earning the rank of Paramedic in the first class offered at East Central for EMT’s in August 1977.
When Terry began his association with the ambulance district at the age of 19, it was all volunteer. His hard work and dedication over the years was met with success as he was asked to be the coordinator for the district, eventually being named Chief. Through Terry’s diligent work, he has taken part in numerous activities which have directly impacted our community. His expertise has been utilized in state wide meetings, class instruction, as a member of trauma symposiums held in conjunction with Mercy Hospital, and with the Washington Town and Country Fair.
He has been involved directly with the safety of the School District of Washington in numerous ways, including participating in Safety Summits at various schools, parenting fairs, Scouting events, Red Ribbon Week, and a special committee assembled to address flash flooding. Countless times, Terry has collaborated with the school district, the City of Washington, the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, and other area Ambulance District Chiefs during his many years of public service.
Terry is an active member of the Rotary Club, and has helped with many of their events including the Senior Trail Rides, Pancake Breakfast, Radio Auction, and Golf Tournament. He is a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Church and has served as an usher, on the Cemetery Board and as an advisory for safety and first aid for the church and church activities.
Beyond Terry’s safety expertise, he has shared his musical talents with the community, as a drummer for various bands, including the WHS band, and as part of the band for the Combined Christian Choir.
With the guidance of Terry and the Ambulance District Board of Directors, through the years the WAAD has grown with two stations, six ambulances, two emergency vehicles, and over forty full and part time employees. Terry officially retired from public service in January of 2021, but he continues to be a mentor to those who are involved with the EMT Paramedic field.
Terry and his wife Debbie have two sons, Mark (Cynthia) and Matt (Erica), and a granddaughter named Ava.