Robert T. Bates – 1983

        Robert practiced law for nine years in Des Moines and spent four years in the U.S. Navy before moving to Los Angeles and establishing an interior decorating firm. Returning to Albia, he was one if the originators of the renovation of the Albia square and supervised the project. He was active in the Christmas lighting project, helped establish the Albia Community Theatre, served on the Albia Public Library Board and supervised the remodeling of the Albia Country Club. He donated his services to many area churches, worked with the Iowa High School Rodeo, and established art awards and a music scholarship. He was a member of the Terrace Hill Commission and Chairman of the Board of the First Iowa State Bank.

J. E. King – 1983

        J.E. was active in industrial promotion for 40 years, first with the Farm Block group which attracted Kness Manufacturing to Albia, then for 20 years as treasurer of the Industrial Development Corp. He was among those establishing the Monroe County 4-H fairgrounds, was a member of the 62nd General Assembly, was among those actively working on the Rathbun Dam promotion and was a member of the Albia Rotary Club, Farm Bureau and Albia Country Club. He was on the Albia Municipal Waterworks Board and headed the committee building the educational unit of the Trinity United Methodist Church. He was chairman of the board of the Peoples National Bank And Trust Co., with which he was associated for half a century.

Harold Kausalik – 1983

        Harold was instrumental in starting the Albia Little League in 1957 and was a team manager for 11 years and served as league president for 15 years. The Little League Park was named for him in 1981. He also helped establish the Babe Ruth and Albia Community High School baseball teams and at one time managed a semi-pro-team in Albia. He served in World War ll and was an active member of the American Legion, which he served as post commander and as historian and for 25 years was finance officer. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Kausalik served as a rural mail carrier until his retirement in July 1979.

O.J. Duea – 1983

        O.J. served the community in many capacities after moving here in 1952. He was chairman of the Albia Fall Festival and the Albia Community Christmas, of the Albia Chamber of Commerce and the Albia Rotary Club. He was president of the corporation that was responsible for the Albia Centennial celebration in 1959. He was a member of the Albia Industrial Bureau and Board of Trustees of the Monroe County Hospital. He served as president of the Albia Area Improvement Association, the group responsible for the Albia business district renovation. He received the Award of Merit from the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce in 1969. He was also for many years on the various councils and board of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Henry Kolling – 1983

        Henry served as first president of the Rathbun Lake Association and was largely responsible for the state purchase of a site to be developed for recreation and a motel lodge complex. He was a 24-year member of the Albia Rotary Club. He served two terms as president of the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, and was co-chairman of its Agriculture Bureau for 20 years. He was a 20-year member of the Monroe County Hospital Board. In more recent years he devoted many weeks a year to the concept, financing and implementing of the Monroe County Historical Museum. He was an employee of the Albia Light and Railway Co. and manager of the Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative. He also worked on a number of community beautification projects.

Ruth Hollingshead – 1983

        Ruth taught in school in Albia, Cedar Falls and Mason City. She served overseas in World War l with the YMCA and was active in the American Red Cross for 65 years. She was chairman of the Monroe County Cancer Society and USO chairman during World War ll. A member of the Albia Public Library Board over half a century, she helped establish a countywide library service. She served on the Albia School Board for 10 years and was Albia postmaster for 23 years. She served 16 years on the Iowa Democratic Central Committee and was the Democratic nominee for Congress in 1938. She was a delegate to the 1932 national Democratic Convention, which nominated Franklin D. Roosevelt. She was also an active member of the First Christian Church.

W. Keith Cash – 1984

        Keith was one of the organizers of the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce and served on its board and as its president. He helped organize and was the first president of the Albia Industrial Development Corp., serving for 18 years and as vice-president. He was co-chairman of the Monroe-Appanoose Counties Redevelopment organization and took an active part in obtaining Congressional approval of appropriations for the Rathbun Lake Construction. He has donated his legal services to many of the community's non-profit organizations. An attorney, Cash served three terms as Monroe County Attorney. During World War ll he was an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Robert W. Larson – 1984

        Robert helped organize the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, serving two terms as president, and the Albia Industrial Development Corp., in which he was an officer for 28 years,. He helped organize the Albia Community Betterment Committee and the Al-Mon-Co Housing Corp. He was active in the promotion of the business district renovation. Larson was a chairman of a countywide committee on the needs of the Aging and later chairman of the Monroe County Hospital Advisory Committee. He served his church on the state and national level in various posts over 32 years and was chairman of the Grand View College board for 10 years. The Iowa Press Association awarded him its Master Editor-Publisher Award in 1972. He is Publisher Emeritus of The Albia Newspaper.

Ben M. Grayson – 1985

        Ben earned a number of awards from Lions International as president of the Albia Lions Club and District Governor and as president of the Albia Rotary Club. He's been a member of the Iowa Health Coordinating Council and received service awards from Governors Robert D. Ray and Terry Branstad. He was a member of the Republican county committee. An active member of Trinity United Methodist Church, he served on the Ottumwa district superintendent's committee and worked with the Rathbun Lake Ministry. He was a charter member of the church's conference RACE relations committee. He has also been active in the Boy Scouts, Albia Community Betterment Corp. and Albia Concert Association and Masonic orders.

Robert L. Kaldenberg – 1985

        Bob was active in a number of community groups. He was an organizer of the Albia Community Betterment Corp., a member of the Monroe-Appanoose Co. Redevelopment group and was active in the creation of Rathbun Lake. He served as chairman of the Monroe-Appanoose County Rural Development Corp., was a long-time officer in the Albia Industrial Development Corp. and was a past president of the Monroe County Fair Board. He was also chairman of the Monroe County Hospital board, helped organize the area community college and served as chairman of Ten-Co. A former farmer and employee of John Deere, he has worked at the First Iowa State Bank for 31 years, 17 as its president.

Ann Miletich – 1986

        Ann was a charter member of the Albia Business and Professional Women's Club and is a past president and secretary and a director of the Iowa Federation BPW. She was district president of the Iowa Federation of Republican Women, secretary and vice-president Iowa Federation and secretary and vice-president of the National Federation of Republican Women. She's was an active member of the Albia Women's Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Iowa Easter Seal Society, American Cancer Society and Iowa Heart Association. She was a member of the Albia Historic Preservation Board and treasurer of the Albia Quasquicentennial Committee and Restoration Days Committee. She was a legal secretary with the Colton Law Firm.

Robert D. Reed – 1986

        Bob has been an active officer and director of the Rathbun Lake Association since its inception and a tireless worker on the Iowa High School Championship Rodeo and the Monroe County 4-H Fair. He has served as president of the Albia County Club and the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce and has been a member of the Monroe County 4-H Fair Board. Operator of a successful asphalt paving business, he served as president of the Iowa State Asphalt Paving Association. He's been a trustee of the Trinity United Methodist Church and served on its building committee.

Sylvia Rosenthal –1987

        Sylvia has for nearly four decades operated the family store, one of the pioneer merchantile establishments in the community-Loeb's. She has served on the Retail Bureau of the Albia Chamber of Commerce and on the chamber's board of directors. She has also served on its Industrial Bureau. Active on the 1959 Albia Centennial Queen Committee she continued that interest serving on the Quasquicentennial and subsequent Restoration Days Committees. She has been an ardent fundraiser for the Albia Community Christmas. Rosenthal has also worked on the Iowa School Rodeo Committees, served on the executive committee of the Rathbun Area Health Services, Inc. and served on a 10 county committee for multi-cultural, non-sexist activities in public schools. She received the Award of Merit from the Albia Area Chambre of Commerce in 1981.

Allen Wilkin – 1987

        Allen has served the Monroe County Fair Association for more that three decades, including a term as president. He was one of the founders of the association and its present fairgrounds. Members of the county 4-H clubs named him an honorary member in recognition of his service-as a leader and in other capacities. For over 30 years he served on the Agricultural Bureau of the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served two term as the chamber's president. He received the chamber's Award of Merit in 1982 and in 1983 the Governor's Leadership Award. Wilkin has maintained his farm as a tourist attraction, a home for a number of exotic animals and birds.

Lucille and Herbert Bettis – 1988

        Herb & Lucille were the first rural members of the Albia Hall of Fame and their selection recognized service at the city, county and state levels. The two served as 4-H and Rural Youth workers, taking the youth to Washington, D.C. and hosting an American Field Service foreign exchange student. Both have served on the county extension council. Herbert has been a member of the Monroe County Fair Board, and helped establish the Monroe County Fairgrounds. He was District Governor of the Tall Corn District of Ruritan in Iowa. Lucille helped organize the Home Health Association, served on the Monroe County Board of Health and the Area Agency on Aging. Both have been active in the Trinity United Methodist Church. They were the Ottumwa District Family of the Year in 1961.

Bernard F. Carr – 1988

        Bernard served as Albia mayor from April 1969 to 1989. In addition he represented the City of Albia on the Monroe County Council on Aging, the Area XV Regional Planning Commission, the Tri-County Development Corp., the Albia Community Betterment Corp. and the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce. His "hands on" style of city management resulted in a personal beautification effort, a cleaning up of refuse, and a personal supervision of much of the work done by city crews. Carr served in the U.S. Army in 1942-1944. He is a 30-year retired employee of John Deere and Co.

Don N. Orelup, M.D. –1989

        Don has been active in all phases of health care in Monroe County since establishing a family practice here in 1954. He was chief of staff of the Monroe County Hospital, county medical examiner, and on the board of the Rural Area Health Services. He is a member of the American Board of Family Practice. He has been active in the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, and Grace Episcopal Church and is a long-time member of the Albia Planning and Zoning Commission. Additionally he has been active in the support of a civic music program in the community, the Albia Community Theatre and plays in the Albia Municipal Band. He has also been active in many volunteer health concern groups in the county.

W. Kenneth Geyer – 1989

        Ken served three terms as president of the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce. He's a past president of the Albia Rotary Club and Albia Lions Club. He also served on the Monroe County Fair Board and the board of the Albia Community School District. He was Albia's first emergency medical technician and served on the Area Mental Health Services board and was one of the organizers of the Hospice of Monroe County. He's been a board member of the Albia Community Betterment Corp. and the Chariton Valley REC, and was chairman of the administrative board of Trinity United Methodist Church. He's a member of the Albia Board of Adjustment and Review. He's the former owner of the Geyer Funeral Home.

Michael J. Lawrence – 1990

        Mike has been a Albia resident since 1961 and in those years has played key roles in industrial development. He established L&S Tools, Inc in 1966 and is part owner of Hawkeye Molding Inc.. He has served 11 years on the advisory committee of Indian Hills Community College, was a member of the Board of the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Monroe County Conservation Board. He was cofounder of the Monroe County Sports Complex. He is on an advisory board for Iowa State University and the board of the Albia Industrial Development Corp. He is also the recipient of the Governor's Leadership Award.

Marcella Smith – 1990

        Marcella was the 1989 recipient of the State of Iowa Governor's Volunteer Award. She served 30 years on the Albia Public Library board during which time the Albia Public Library became the first in the Southeastern District to provide library srevice for all county residents. She was a member of the first Albia Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas decoration committee. In 1986 she was named Beta Sigma Phi Sorority's Women of the Year. She's been active in the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce and its predecessor, as a past president of the Christian Women's fellowship, on the board of Church Women United and as a member of the Albia Woman's Club.

Roy C. Rinehart – 1990

        Roy started a retail career, in Albia with J.C. Penney Co. and then continued with Gambles for 36 years, managing stores in Albia and Centerville. He has been active in community development through the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, the Albia Industrial Development Corporation, the Albia Rotary Club, and the Monroe County Historical Society. He headed a financial drive for the Trinity United Methodist Church when it was formed from the former United Brethren and United Methodist Churches. He is a long time member of Trinity and was treasurer of the building fund. He has been active in the Monroe County 4-H fair and the Iowa High School Rodeo Committee.

Ralph N. & Mabel Ewers – 1991

        Ralph N. Ewers was born in Albia on August 18, 1901 to George and Ava Cramer Ewers. He married Mabel Whitlock on November 1, 1922. She died March 30, 1993. They were married for over 70 years. Ralph was born into a pioneer Albia retailing family, grandfather, George N. Ewers and his partner, J.P. Early, opened the first Ewers store in 1868. Ralph’s father, George H. joined the family business in 1894 and following his graduation from Albia High School in 1919, Ralph joined the business as a retail merchant, selling mainly shoes and clothing. He was a merchant in Albia for 46 years, from 1920 to 1966. Eventually, the Ewers family would have stores in Albia, Iowa City and Marshalltown. At that time there were two Ewers stores, one at the south side and one on the east side of the square. In 1938, Ralph’s brother Claude bought the store on the south side and Ralph bought the east side store. At the end of WWII, Kenneth Willets married Ralph’s daughter, Margaret, joined the store in 1946 and helped relocate it to the north side. Eventually the store passed to his grandson, Jim Willetts, who ran the store, along with his wife, Marti, until it closed in the early 1990’s. Ralph was a member, deacon, and elder in the First Christian Church in Albia. He was a former member and past president of the Oakview Cemetery Board for 44 years, a former member of the Albia Chamber of Commerce and the Albia Country Club. In 1991 he was inducted into the Albia Hall of Fame. Ralph died Saturday, July 1, 2000, in Albia, at the age of 98. He is buried at Oakview Cemetery in Albia.

Marvin Kness – 1991

Dr. Dean Stocker - 1992

        Dean has always been an active member of the community. He has been President of the Chamber of Commerce, served on the School Board, active in Trinity United Methodist Church, and in Rotary. He is a Korean War Veteran and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Monroe County since his graduation from Iowa State University in 1960. As a member of the Monroe County Historical Society, he volunteers his time regularly at the Museum.

Lowell (Sonny) Williams - 1992

        Sonny has a lifetime of dedicated service to Monroe County. Since 1982, Sonny has served as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Monroe County Recreation Association. He was owner and manager of Williams Clothing for Men on the West side of the square for many years. Sonny has been a key figure in the financial structuring and building of the Sports Complex. Without the support and dedication of people of this caliber, the Sports Complex would still be an "impossible dream".

Janet Reinke Jenkins - 1993

        Janet has been a moving force in the Albia Community. She was the first director of Albia Low Rent Housing Agency, a social worker, and is currently self-employed, as a free-lance writer and journalist. Taught creative writing class at IHCC. Other community activities: Monroe County Solid Waste Advisor, County Conservation Board member, County REAP, Albia Community School Board, and Friends of the Library. She has been very involved in Restoration Days. She is a member of the Albia Chamber of Commerce, Iowa City branch of National Federation of Pen Women, and Albia Camera Club winning several awards. She was named Monroe County's Iowa Volunteer of the Year by a Farm Bureau/Governor's Office program in 1989, named by Albia sorority as their first Woman of the Year in 1975.

Edwin St.Clair Gantz - 1993

        Edwin has served the community through various organizations, working with RSVP volunteers program, Monroe County Republicans and has affiliation with the First Christian Church of Albia. He was a 1927 graduate of Albia Community High School, graduated from Albia Junior College in 1928. He majored in Chemistry and earned BA, MS, and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Iowa. He was inducted into The Wall of Fame at the Albia High School in 1992 for his involvement in the development of the atom bomb during WW ll. He later served as a research scientist with MASA and other U.S. and Canadian space programs. He returned to Albia in 1982 and became involved as Coordinator for the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, President of Monroe County Historical Society, Commissioner of Elder Affairs (Iowa), member of the Albia Rotary Club, Monroe Council of Aging, Seneca Area Aging Board, Monroe County Arts Council, Albia Chamber of Commerce. He also helped organize the Helping Hands Center, and was a delegate to older Iowa Legislature for 5 years.

Lawrence “Lollie” Bernard - 1994

        Lawrence Bernard, an Albia native, served as mayor of Albia for four years, completing his term in November 1993. He was a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service and was a member of the postal service million mile club for driving over a million miles without an accident. Lawrence was one of the prime movers of Little League & Babe Ruth Baseball in the 1950’s. He served as a member of the Little League board from 1954-1972 and was one of the founders of Monroe County Little League. He helped plan & build the first ball park and held every office the league provided. He served as president and board member of the Rathbun Area Babe Ruth League from 1964-1974 and was president and district director. Lawrence was also a Boy Scout master in the 1950’s. In 1972 he was elected to the Albia Community School Board and served until 1978. He was president of the board for two years. He served on the Low Rent Housing Board from 1972-1986 and was a member of the REC Board of Directors. Lawrence is a member of St. Mary’s Church, the Knights of Columbus, V.F.W., the Albia Country Club and Retired Federal Employees. In 1993 he was presented the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassador’s Special Recognition Award.

Dayton Kendall – 1994

        Dayton Kendall was born in Wayne County and moved to Albia in 1958 when he started working at Gambles. He spent two years in the Army and then returned to Gambles where he joined the outside sales program. He and his wife, Linda, purchased the store in 1982. In November of 1993, the Kendalls sold the store and Dayton assumed the position of vice-president with Midwest Computer Cable of Des Moines, a firm he helped his son, larry establish. Kendall was one of the key people to re-vitalize the Albia Industrial Development Corp in the mid 1980’s and is still active in the group. He served as Chamber of Commerce president in 1988 and remains an ambassador of the chamber. He is a member of Rotary, Farm Bureau, Monroe County Cattlemen’s Association and has served on the Monroe County Republicans Central Committee. Kendall served on “the Breakfast Club” helping customers and farmers of People’s National Bank deal with the FDIC. He has also served as retail chairman and was on the Retail Resource Committee which worked to develop new retail opportunities in Albia. In 1976 Kendall was appointed to the Monroe County Conservation Board. He served as president from 1978-1981 and was an active member until December 1984. During his tenure, he assisted in the development of Miami Lake Park, Hardfish Access on the Des Moines River and the acquisition of Gladson-Carmack Park. In the early part of 1983 he assisted with other community leaders in developing the Monroe County Sports Complex. He also helped establish the Iowa Coon Hunters Association.

Nellie Coltrain – 1995

        Nellie is a Moravia native, graduating in the Moravia class of 1962. She began her business career with Allied Mutual Insurance Company in Des Moines, then moved to Centerville where she was society editor for the Centerville Iowegian. Following her marriage to Richard Coltrain, the couple moved to Albia to take over what was to become Coltrain Implement in December of 1964. She worked with the family business until 1969 when she became secretary for Lincoln Middle School, a position she held until August of 1978 when she began work at First Iowa State Bank as a teller. Coltrain moved from teller to her current position as assistant vice president at the bank. Her list of community activities and achievements is long. She has served on the 28E Law Enforcement Board, representing the city of Albia, is a member of the Albia Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board, past secretary-treasurer of the chamber and is currently an Ambassador. She was president of Ragtime Industries board of directors, a member of Woman's Club, Monroe County Arts Council and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She was also a member of the Albia Community School Board for 11 years, serving as its president and has reached beyond the Monroe County borders, serving as a screening consultant for superintendent searches for Moravia and Cardinal Community Schools. She served on the Monroe County Conference Board and is a member of the American Institute of Banking Advisory Board. A 4-H leader for 10 years, she has been honored by Albia Woman's Club as Woman of the Year and received the chambers, Merit Service Award along with her husband, Richard.

Ray Davis – 1995

        Ray is a Monroe County native, growing up on the farm near his current home five miles north of Albia. His father, Howard, still lives on the home place. A 1961 graduate of Albia Community High School, Davis received his bachelor's degree in Ag business from Iowa State in 1965 and worked two years in Waterloo and a year and a half in Manchester in banks before joining First Iowa State Bank in 1968. Davis also spent six years in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves. Starting as a loan officer, Davis was named vice president in 1970 and became executive vice president in June of 1974. In April of 1995 he was named president of the bank. Davis was active in 4-H and FFA as a youth and served on the board of directors of the fair board for many years. He was also active in Albia Area Chamber of Commerce work, serving on its board several times. He was on the Monroe County Conservation Board in the early development stages of Miami Park. He was a Jaycee and helped organize the Rathbun Lake Resort Inc., a group he still is active with. In 1985 Davis started what he considers his most important work in the community, serving as a director and officer of the Albia Industrial Development Corp. Serving as its treasurer, Davis, along with other members of the AIDC, worked to turn around the industrial fortune of Monroe County following the closing of Chamberlain Mfg. And the disastrous farm economy of the mid-1980's. He worked closely with the recruitment efforts of A.Y.M. Inc. and DeLong Sportswear and has also helped with development around Cargill, Davis has also worked extensively with the expansion of existing industry. He now serves as a director of the Robert T. Bates Foundation, a $1.8 million trust established following the death of Mr. Bates.

George "Red" Frye – 1996

        Red is probably best known as the center and middle linebacker of the legendary 1939 Iron Man Football Team at the University of Iowa. Lesser known but probably more important, Frye had a distinguished career in the field of occupational therapy and hospital Administration for the United States Veterans Administration. After serving in Wold War ll, he went back to Iowa and finished his degree in Physical education then entered a new course in occupational therapy at the University of Iowa Medical School. He was the first to graduate from the course in 1948 and began his career at the Psychiatric hospital in Knoxville, IA. In 1956 he was appointed to head the world's largest occupational therapy program for the VA in Washington D.C. He addressed the World Congress of Psychiatry in Montreal Canada, but that is only one of the honors that he received as Administer for the VA hospitals in the U.S. In 1965 he began another VA career the time as hospital administrator. An avid hunter and fisherman, his retirement wasn't entirely focused on his leisurely pursuits. He became an active part of Albia's community, helping to establish the Monroe County Historical Museum. He is a member of Albia Rotary Club, serving on the Albia Community Betterment Corp., Monroe County Professional Management Corp. and the Rathbun Lake Association. He also served on the Monroe County Council on Aging service officer for the National Association on of Retired Federal Employees. He also served on the board of the Southern Iowa Food Bank, was a charter member of the Restoration Days Committee, helps with RSVP and has delivered Meals on Wheels. He and his wife are also active members of the First Christian Church.

Richard Coltrain - 1996

        After college, in December of 1964 Richard teamed with his father to sell Ford and New Holland farm equipment. He and his wife, Nellie, were named Merit Service Award winners in 1991 by the Chamber and in 1995 Coltrain Implement was named Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. He was a member of the Albia Jaycees when it was active and has for many years been one of two main Chamber leaders in its AG committee work. He and Bob Reed, co-chaired the Iowa High School Rodeo Championship in Albia, helping to make it one of the top youth sports events in the state. He has also worked for many years with the chamber and the Monroe County Fair Board in organizing grandstand entertainment for the fair. Coltrain was one of several Albians who helped reorganize the Albia Industrial Development Corp. following the agriculture disaster in the mid-1980's. His work helped reenergize the group, which has seen unprecedented success in the past 10 years. He is currently serving as secretary to the AIDC board and has also served as financial chairman to raise money for the community preparedness program. Coltrain creates an important link between rural and urban people in Monroe County, not only through his work with the fair, but also with as a board member on the Chariton Valley Electric Coop board of directors. He is an alumni member of the Future Farmers of America, has supported the Iowa 4-H Foundation and the 4-H 400 program, is a member of the Monroe County Cattlemen's Association and the Iowa Farm Equipment Association.

Charles Mordan - 1997

        For more than three decades "Chief" Mordan filled posts as social studies teacher, coach, audiovisual director, and unofficial counselor in Albia community High School. You name it: he 's probably done it. "Chief"? "Not sure where the kids got that name. Probably because I gave so many orders," he explains. Mordan spent four years in the U.S. Air Force. After training him in Teletype school and in cryptography, the Air Force sent Mordan to Guam as a communications expert. With Top Secret and Atomic Energy clearance, his duties included flying as courier to all islands in the South Pacific. He was discharged from the Air Force with the rank of Staff Sergeant. At the University of Northern Iowa, Mordan majored in social studies and physical education. While never a varsity athlete, he was president of the off-campus student group, which played intramural sports. "Those kids thought we were going to be easy, since we were older guys. They didn't stop to think that we'd all been in the military, and were probably in better physical shape than they were," he remembers. "We really cleaned up." Mordan was hired by the Albia School system in 1960. Besides teaching courses over the years like economics, government, sociology and modern problems (a catchall course offered in the 1960's), he coached middle school and freshman basketball, assistant high school football, and track. In 1964, then-head football coach Bill Reichow encouraged Mordan to start a high school wrestling program, with which he is still involved, even after retirement. He has provided audiovisual services to community organization, in addition to his school duties. He works with the sound system at Restoration Days, and is the "voice of the Blue Demons" at the ball games. As a member of the Jaycees, he was on the team that put up Christmas lights on the top of the courthouse. Other community organizations include American Legion, and Lions Club. He is also a member of the Albia Community Education Association and a life member of the National Education Association since the 70's. In the early 60's, he was chairman of a teacher committee that persuaded the school board to give equal pay to men and women for the first time. He served on the Southern Prairie AEA advisory committee on library and media issues and materials. With Margaret his wife, Charlie has been active in volunteer 4-H activities, and is one of the 4-H "Four Hundred", which facilitates State Fair activities. Since retiring they have traveled extensively. "I'd rather wear out than rust out," concludes Charles.

Mildred Wynes - 1997

        Mildred taught for 35 years. She earned a 4-year degree in elementary education in 1934, and received a Special Education Certificate in 1935. Instead of going directly to teaching she helped out her brother in his shoe store it was located in the west side of what is now Hardware Hank. She later opened Hollywood Dress Shop in the west side of Ewers building. She had to close in 1942 when World War ll came along and she was no longer able to get merchandize. In 1944 she taught 2nd grade at Washington School. In 1958, she started Albia's first Special Education class, teaching in the old Lincoln School. After 25 years of teaching in Albia she transferred in 1968 to Evans Junior High in Ottumwa, where she taught Special Education for another 10 years. After retirement Mildred joined the Chamber of Commerce in 1981, and has been active in its projects. She has taken responsibility for inviting Shrine units for parades, and with help from others have provided hospitality to visiting Shriners after the parades.

Jack Pope - 1998

        Jack spent 44 years of active and reserve duty in the Marine Corp. He retired as a Sergeant Major after working his way up through the ranks. In l979 He came back to the Albia Area where he has been an active member of the Little League Baseball. He has coached his own team off and on over the years. Currently he is President of Little League and has been since 1985; he also served as Vice-President for a number of years. He also maintains the field, mows, fills potholes and takes care of the general appearance of the field. He is also charge of the concession stand every season. While in service he spent time in such places as Virginia, California, North Carolina, Nevada, Illinois, Washington, Oklahoma, 3rd Division Okinawa, 1st Division Korea, and was at sea 3 years.

Harold & Gloria Mick - 1998

        Harold & Gloria were married in 1950. Harold enlisted in the Marine Corp. and was stationed in North Carolina during the Korean Was. Harold was a Corporal and ran a business with Gloria off base. In 1955 they moved to Albia and started Mick's Drive-In on East Benton. In 1958 Gloria's Wash All (a laundry mat) was started. In 1960 Mick's started their furniture and Appliance business. They sold the other two businesses by 1963. Harold has been part of many civic and educational organizations which include the Lion's Club, Jaycees, Rotary Club, Albia Chamber of Commerce, Monroe County Hospital Board, Albia Community School Board and Southern Prairie Area Education Agency XV Board; which he has been a member for over 24 years. Gloria has been active in Albia's Women's Club, Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Monroe County Hospital Auxiliary, and Albia Chamber of Commerce, the Hospice Auxiliary, and Albia Restoration Day Committee. Harold and Gloria are members of the Trinity United Methodist Church.

Greg Morehead – 1999

        Greg was born in Albia in 1946 and graduated from Albia Community High School in 1964, received his degree from Muscatine Community College and entered the field of auctioneering. He graduated from the Reisch School of Auctioneering, then received his real estate broker’s license and became a certified master appraiser. Greg has been a business owner on the square for over 25 years, operating real estate, an appraisal company and an auction company from his building on the southwest corner of the square. He has in the past served as president and chairman of the Board of Iowa Auctioneers and was named 1998 Man of the Year at the IAA state convention. He was also named a member of the National Association of Master Appraisers. Greg has been involved in community for a long as he has been in business on the square. He is past president of the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, receiving its 1996 Merit Service Award. He is past board member of the Albia Industrial Development Corp, past president and board member of the Albia Country Club, past president of the Jaycees, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a past member of the Albia Rotary Club. An man never short on words, Greg is the “unofficial” voice of Monroe County, serving as public announcer for sorts of events including the rodeo, 4-H Fair, Restoration Days, parades, banquets, and American Cancer Society events. He is a tireless volunteer for Catholic churches in Georgetown, Lovilia, and Albia. He has also used his auction company to conduct benefit fund-raisers for Restoration Days, the Monroe County Sports Complex, high school band, churches, country club, Monroe County Cattlemen, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever. He has also volunteered as the “Talking Christmas Tree”, during the Victorian Stroll, has been Santa Claus and worked on many other community and school projects. He and his wife of 30 years, Jackie, have three children, Joy Baker, Corinne and Bill and two grandchildren, Kelli Jo and Brett Baker. When it is all said and done, perhaps Greg Morehead’s greatest gift of his community is the humor he brings to even the darkest situations. Several years ago, when his lost his eye to cancer, his way of dealing with the disease was to create an annual golf tournament, the “One Eye Open Tournament” where all the players must golf with a patch on one eye. The hilarious idea caught on and became not only a much anticipated sporting event in Albia, but also a major fund-raiser for the county American Cancer Society efforts.

Dave Johnson – 1999

        David Johnson has lived in Albia his entire life and was only four years out of High School when he began his career in public service. Johnson was one of the youngest members ever elected to the Albia City council in 1970, just a few months after graduating from William Penn College with a degree in economics and business. He served on the council for three years, served on the Albia Planning and Zoning Board 1973-74, joined the Waterworks Board in 1974 and served as chairman starting in 1980. He joined the Albia Area Improvement Association in 1982. He has been a member of the Chamber since 1970 and the Albia Industrial Development Corp since 1981, the Indian Hills Development Corp since 1988, the Professional Developers of Iowa since 1991, the Monroe County Historical Society since 1994 and was named in 1994 as trustee of the Robert T. Bates Foundation. He also served on the Albia Trees Forever Committee, the Albia Historic Preservation Board form 1985-1992 and the Area 15 Economic Development Committee. He has had over 25 years of retail experience ranging from after school and summer jobs to retail store management. He and his wife of 29, Sandi, have owned and operated Johnson and Johnson for the past 21 years. He has also had over 20 years experience working with construction related projects in planning, estimating and overseeing various types of projects ranging from industrial buildings to historic preservation projects to water and sewer infrastructure projects. Working closing with Cargill as it began to develop land in the northeast part of the county and helping AIDC take an extremely aggressive approach to industrial development, Johnson helped fuel and unprecedented period of industrial growth and job development. Since 1985, AIDC has attracted 14 new plants to the county and has helped with 23 major expansion of existing manufacturers. The initial investment of several million dollars made by Cargill has grown to $900 million, has created 700 direct jobs and another 700 jobs in construction, maintenance and trucking. Much of Johnson’s work through the AIDC has been in helping the city of Albia and its boards develop. He took leadership roles in the reconstruction of Highway 5 through Albia, worked closely with new sewer and water construction, has been instrumental in revitalizing the Albia City Park, has led efforts in developing a bike trail system and working on a community wellness center and library renovation.

Norm Braun – 2000

        Norma has been a key figure in many community projects for 25 years, which include Monroe County Sports Complex, Ragtime Industries, from the new housing in the Parkview area to the new employment opportunities created in industrial manufacturing. He earned a degree in vocational agriculture and an advance degree in business management. Braun came to Albia in 1975, after accepting the position of general manager of the Chariton Valley Rural Electric Cooperative. He was an original incorporator of the Albia Community Betterment Corp., Monroe County Professional Management and Monroe County Community Foundation. He was one of several Albians who help fund and reorganize the Albia Industrial Development Corporation and with three others was an original incorporator of the Monroe County Sports Complex. Braun also has been active in the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce serving as President in 1977 & 1978. He received the Chamber of Merit Service Award in 1985 and Civic Award in 1993. He has also helped the Chamber with its lighting projects for the Albia Square. He has been an active leader in Albia and Rathbun Area Babe Ruth baseball programs. He was also the State Tournament Co-Chairman the three times Albia played host to the tournament. He was also involved in the Albia Lions Clubs as well as serving several times on the Albia Board of Adjustments. While working as general manager of Chariton Valley REC he oversaw the building of the new REC office/warehouse and presided when the Albia Light & Railway Company was purchased by the REC Braun has also served as president of Iowa REC Managers Association for two terms.

John Johnson – 2001

        To John Johnson, the word "Volunteer" has always meant more than just having your name listed as a member of some committee or group. Johnson has always dedicated his time and talent to whatever community project he has been involved with, and for that reason he is the newest inductee to the Albia Hall of Fame. In Albia, as well as in his native town of Lovilia, Johnson has a long community service record. Johnson was born in Lovilia and graduated from Lovilia High School in 1959. His father was born and raised in Buxton, and worked in the coal mines. Johnson remembers a day when his father took him down into O'Brien shaft mine near Lovilia, and describes the long, dark passage as a place to which he didn't care to return. "I wanted no part of coal mining from that time forward," Johnson remembers. He decided to go into the field of insurance sales. He and his wife, Judi, have owned and operated Johnson Insurance Sales Corp. since starting out in the insurance business in 1972. Community service has been a part of Johnson's life from the time he started as a volunteer fireman for the Lovilia Fire Department in the early l960s. He served as secretary/treasurer for the fire department from 1973 to 1982. During that same time, Lovilia Community Betterment was being formed to provide funds to help the fire department, and also with the dream of constructing a community building which would be available for the use of all Monroe County citizens. Funds were made available when Johnson joined four other individuals who co-signed a personal guarantee at the bank to provide the construction funding, and also helped with the construction of the Lovilia Community Building. Annual fund raising drives involved a lot of dedication to help retire the original loan on the building. One of Johnson's main efforts is his work with the Monroe County Conservation Board. Recently with Johnson's leadership as president of the board, lake Miami has added three cabins that are available for rent, as well as another two cabins nearing completion. The Monroe County Park area at Lake Miami also added several camping sites that are complete with electric, water and sewer hook-ups. Owning one of the historic buildings on the Albia square has made Restoration Days an important event for Johnson. Johnson's insurance office is located at 13 Benton Avenue East in one of the oldest buildings on the square, constructed in 1885. Restoration Days have benefited from Johnson's commitment to organizing the window displays in business buildings around the square and bringing antique farm displays for everyone to enjoy. A few years ago, the Des Moines Buxton Club came to Albia to set up their display with Johnson's help. He also helped to provide contacts when Iowa Public Television came to town to do a film about the coal mining town from the past. A self-described "Victorian Era enthusiast", Johnson was one of the original organizers of the Restoration Days Victorian High Tea, which has become a popular event. Johnson is a member f Albia Rotary Club, and in the club he has for many years enjoyed picking corn for the club's fund-raising sales. The Johnson also hosted a foreign exchange student from Finland. Through Rotary, he helped entertain guests from Japan by providing housing while they learned about life in Iowa. The Rotary Club has helped with many projects to improve Albia city Park, and Johnson has volunteered for those. He is also a member of the Paul Harris Foundation of the International Rotary Club. Johnson was the recipient of the 1996 Albia Area Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year Award, and has served on the Chamber Board of Directors. He is currently an active member of the Albia Restoration Days Committee, the Albia Victorian Stroll Committee, the Monroe County Conservation Board, the Albia Rotary Club, and Monroe County Tourism. He is also a member of the Lovilia United Methodist Church Board of Trustees and has been involved with the Lovilia Fire Department and Lovilia Community Betterment. He is a charter member of the South Central Life Underwriters Association and the United Life Insurance Presidents Club and Number One Club. "When I was told that I was selected to the Hall of Fame, I was thrilled beyond words, and yet feel that so many others have done so much more. I am humbled by this award", he said. He added that he wants to give of himself whatever he can, so our community will continue to show pride and improvement in the facilities we have available for all people to enjoy. The Johnsons have three children, Tammy McMains and Mark of Oskaloosa, Terri Krupp and Curtis of Sigourney and Tony Johnson of Ames. They have five grandchildren (and a sixth due at the end of August).

Kim & Jeanne Howie – 2002

        "Community is what you make of it," said Kim Howie when asked why he dedicates so much effort for the betterment of Albia. "Hey, if you don't like the way it is around here, quit complaining and get involved. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!" Kim is a man who speaks his mind. If he sees something in the community that needs work, he'll let you know about it. But, he'll also be one of the first to start a committee or group that will work to solve the problem.        Kim and his wife, Jeanne, have committed countless hours of their time throughout the last three decades working to make Albia a better place. It's for that reason that Kim and Jeanne Howie were chosen as the 2002 inductees into the Albia Hall of Fame Kim was born in Monticello, IA, then came to Albia with his family at the young age of 5. He says he vividy remembers his first community service project in Albia. It was in 1958 and he joined the Cub Scouts in placing luminaries along Main Street to beautify the city for Christmas. It was a cold job, but somebody had to do it! Kim graduated from Albia High in 1968, then moved to Burlington to attend Junior College, and lived there for 5 years. That's where he met Adams County, Illinois native, Jeanne, and they were married in 1969. The couple decided to move to Albia in 1973, and quickly became important members of community life here. Kim worked as an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance, and was named Farm Bureau Rookie of the Year in 1973. He became the local agency manager in 1981, and was named Agency manager of the Year in 1983. He then went back to being an agent, and was again named Agent of the Year for Farm Bureau in 1985. Later in 1985, he left Farm Bureau to start his own insurance agency, Insurance World, and continues in that business today. Jeanne took an important role in the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, working as Chamber Secretary for many years. It was through her work at the Chamber that one of Albia's most successful community events was born, the Victorian Stroll and she continues to work on the Victorian Stroll committee each year. Jeanne was also a charter member of the Town & Country Gals, a charter member and president of Jaycee-etts, and past Restoration Days Committee member. She also works closely with Pheasants Forever, helping each year with their annual meeting. In addition to this, she serves as a member of the Ragtime Industries Board of Directors. Kim has also been very active with the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce and currently serves on the Board of Directors. He has been one of the driving forces behind the Cruizin' Albia celebration for over a decade. Apart from the Chamber, one of Kim's main projects is the Cedar Creek Pheasants Forever Chapter, which has raised thousands of dollars for community projects. He was a charter member of the group, and continues to serve as its secretary. He was also a charter member of Ducks Unlimited, Albia Jaycees (where he served one year as president), past Boy Scout Commissioner for Monroe County, and a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Albia. He also served on the Iowa High School Rodeo Committee, and was named Cook-Out King three times for Monroe County Beef Day. In addition, to his community service, Kim is an avid restorer of classic muscle cars. He is currently restoring a famous Super Stock vehicle, a Fred Gibb car driven by Dickey Harrell in 1970. He often travels throughout the country attending drag races. In her spare time, Jeanne enjoys the quieter pursuits of gardening, decorating and reading. When the Howies are not busy with community service work, they are active in the restoration of their home, the historic Hess house on 4th Avenue East. This has been somewhat of a hobby for the couple, as they have restored two other historic buildings around the Albia square.

Jim Keller – 2003

        Jim is actually a native of Chariton, Iowa where he began his 34-year career with Hy-Vee as a high school student in the Chariton store. He was a Major League Baseball prospect out of high school but instead entered the U.S. Army as an infantryman, serving 11 1/2 months in Vietman walking point for the 101st Airborne Division. He returned from the service in 1970 and restarted his career with Hy-Vee, serving as assistant manager in Centerville and Humboldt and also Chariton. He was promoted to manager of the Grant City, MO store, then came to Albia as store manager in 1982. He worked in Albia until transferring to Chariton in 1995. Jim served on the Hy-Vee Board of Directors and was Hy-Vee Manager of the Year in 1995.
       Jim and his wife of 35 years, Connie, are retired and live here in Albia where he remains active in community life. He served on the board of Directors of Chariton Valley REC, helped found the Albia Parks Board and has served many years on the Monroe County Conservation Board, several terms as its President. He was President of Ragtime Industries for two years, developing a can recycling program with Ragtime and Hy-Vee. Jim is also an avid hunter and fisherman.
       As Chamber of Commerce retail chairman, Jim helped establish the community's Victorian Stroll and the Cruzin' Albia summer rock-n-roll/old car celebration. He also was President of Albia Babe Ruth baseball and served on the board of Rathbun Area Babe Ruth baseball. He is now President of the Monroe County Sports Complex Board where he spearheaded a $40,000 fund-raising effort to build a year-round hitting and pitching facility for softball and baseball players of all ages. Jim says, "the indoor hitting and pitching facility is probably the highlight of my volunteer work in Albia. It's important for our kids to have the best opportunities we can give them. You know, as your time winds down you want to leave a legacy and I guess if I were to leave a legacy, it would be this new facility." BUT, Jim's legacy at the Sports Complex is far more than just the new hitting and pitching facility. He has poured hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" at the ball park, helping repaint the concession stand, resetting parking posts, rebuilding the pitcher's mound, resodding the infield on the baseball field and repainting the tennis court -- just to name a few projects.

Joanna Albers – 2004

        Joanna was born in West Union and raised in the Iowa town of Hawkeye. She has made her mark on Albia since moving here in 1979. Throughout the last 25 years, she has consistently been involved in nearly every community group and project imaginable. As a member of the Albia Chamber of Commerce, she has served on the board and worked many volunteer hours for the promotion and advancement of the community. She is a current member of the Carnegie-Evans Public Library Board of Trustees, and serves on the Monroe County Hospital Board of Trustees, as well as the Monroe County Health Care Foundation Board. She is past present and member of the founding board of Monroe County Hospice. She is also a current member and former president of the Ragtime Industries Board of Directors. For many years she was involved with the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, as well as volunteering various times for school, Trinity United Methodist Church, Chamber of Commerce, and community projects.
       Joanna said that all of her hard work has been part of a responsibility to work toward the betterment of her community. “If you lie here, there is a responsibility to the community; not only to maintain but to upgrade and improve. Once you get involved and participate, you understand that indeed it does make a difference. It comes with a sense of price. You make friends, meet new people you probably wouldn’t meet otherwise. My husband and I both believe this, that we need to work to make our surroundings and lifestyle more pleasurable.”
       Joanna’s parents were both educators, both taught school and her father was a principal and superintendent. After High School, Joanna earned a bachelor of arts of degree from Drake University in Des Moines. She married her husband, Dennis on December 28, 1963 and they lived in Nashua (home of the Little Brown Church in the Vale), where they owned a drug store. Their two sons, Mark and David, were born there and later the family moved to Albia in 1979 and operated the Hess Drug Store for 20 years. After working for many years in the family business, she returned to college to earn her Juris Doctor degree with distinction from the University of Iowa in 1996. She then entered into her own law practice in Albia. Her story has inspired others to pursue higher education later in life.
       During their years in Hess drugstore, both boys worked at the soda fountain; David is the originator of the Strawberry Mountain Dew drink and malt. Mark is currently a neurologist attending physician with Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City and is a research scientist in memory disorders at Columbia University. David is a research scientist focusing on Parkinson’s disease in the Boston area.

Dr. John Scieszinski - 2005

        Dr. John Scieszinski grew up in Monroe County and graduated from Albia Community High School in 1973. He has dedicated much of his life to work that has improved in the local community. He has consistently been involved in almost every community group and project over the recent decades. He is the son of Tom and the late Grace Scieszinski of rural Monroe County. He studied at the University of Iowa to become a dentist. He received his bachelor of science degree in 1977, and his DDS in 1981. His family dentistry practice has been in Albia for over 24 years. When asked about his many contributions to the community over the years, John said, "I do not wish to be thought about for accomplishments, but rather for forethought, leaving Monroe County better than I found it. It has been said that each generation stands on the shoulders of the last one, and we need to leave our little corner of the world better than we found it." Over the years, Scieszinski has been an active participant and leader in many community groups and projects. He has served as president of the Albia Area Chamber of Commerce, the Albia Lions Club, the Albia Rotary Club, the Albia Parks Board, and he has served as president of the St. Mary's Church Council six times. He is the secretary of the Albia Municipal Waterworks board, and is a charter member and continuous member of the Albia Industrial Development Corp. since it's founding. He serves as a trustee of the Frances Cooper Trust, is a member of the Albia School Board and is a master gardener with the Monroe County Master Gardeners. Scieszinski was actively involved with the effort to build the new swimming pool in Albia serving on the Aquatic Center Committee. He is also a member of the University of Iowa President's Club and the Dean's Club at the University. He has served as president of the Southeast Iowa District of the American Dental Association, the Wapello County Dental Society, and is involved with the Iowa Dental Association. In 2004, he was awarded the Consumer Research Council's Family Dentistry Award. Working for community progress has long been one of Scieszinski's top priorities, and he emphasizes the many improvements in the Albia area that have happened over the last decade and a half. "Think about what was not here 24 years ago and you see real progress", he said. "Some, but certainly not all, include the new high school, the restored square, that despite changes remains vibrant; new restaurants….especially franchise restaurants which were unheard of before; the aquatic center and the park system." "Also, new industries like Ajinomoto, Heartland, Wacker, Cargill, RELCO, Hawkeye Molding, Iowa Aluminum, Superior Machine, Quiktron and others too numerous to mention." "And lastly, numerous new churches, a new hospital . . . our glass is not half full-it's nearly full; it's all a testament to the will and determination of Monroe County citizen's." Do we have more to do?   Of course. The schools need a new track and auditorium, senior citizens need assisted living housing to complete a continuum of care. We need to be vigilant and not become complacent, remembering the past and looking toward the future. Scieszinski is married to District Court Judge Annette J. Scieszinski and they have four daughters, Caroline, Brooke, Susan and Lauren. Lauren (Bennett) lives in Urbandale with her husband, Mitch and their daughter Emily.