Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 13, 2014

Over two years ago the concept of a Mount Ayr Schools Hall of Fame ws first introduced. over the past several months members of the Hall of Fame committee have reviewed over 40 nominations, and it is expected that number will grow significantly in future years. Everyone who is nominated this year will remain in the pool of candidates for future years.

On Friday, February 7 Mount Ayr activities director and Hall of Fame chair Delwyn Showalter announced the first induction class of the Mount Ayr Hall of Fame.

Formal induction ceremonies for the first class of the Mount Ayr Hall of Fame will be held in conjunction with the first home football game in the fall. That weekend has been disignated Hall of Fame Weekend and will include a banquet on Saturday night. More details will be announced as they become finalized.

First Class of the Mount Ayr Hall of Fame, 2014 are:

 Huff, a 1990 graduate, was an outstanding high school and collegiate athlete. One longtime Mount Ayr coach called her "the best all-around female athlete to graduate from Mount Ayr." She placed in three events in the 1988 state track meet and helped Mount Ayr win the state championship that year. she was a two-time state long jump champion and first-team all-state in both basketball and softball. In 1990 she was named the Des Moines Register Female Athlete of the Year.

Jack Elliott was co-captain of the 1944 undefeated football team. Later in life he was a long-time volunteer at the school serving as a school board member, basketball score bookkeeper and football clock operator. He was a tireless worker for community betterment and economical development in Mount Ayr and Ringgold County. He was active in Republican Party politics on both the state and local level. Jack was named in Iowa Master Farmer and Iowa Master Pork Producer in addition he served as a 4-H leader for many years. Throughout his life he promoted our school and community throughout the state and nation, and in 1996 he was recipient of the Iowa Volunteer of the Year Award.

Mildred Elliott was also active in state and national government service. She served on the state Real Estate Commission and on the Iowa Board of Corrections. She was a member of the White House Conference on Children and on the White House Conference on Aging. She was president of the Iowa Republican Women and delegate to the 1980 Republican Natonal Convention. She worked on the Iowa campaign staff of George H. W. Bush in 1988. She was also active on all levels of the Eastern Star and Rainbow organizations, and in 1995 she received the State of Iowa Distinguished Service Award.

Geiger was universally respected by students and staff alike, and many cited his compassion and concern for people. He had a tremendous influence on the lives of his students even today. When faced with a tough decision, one of his former students who is now a school administrator says he always asks himself the question "What would Vance do?" On nominator said Geiger was "the key person" in the reorganiation of many small schools into the Mount Ayr Community School district. Before coming to Mount Ayr, Geiger was a succesful basketball coach in Hopkins, MO. His 1952 team had a record of 42-4 and finished second in the Missouri state tournament. He also servied in the US army Air Corps in World War II. Geiger was elected to the Representative Council of the Iowa High School Athletic Association and was active in numerous community organizations. After retirement he worked with student teachers at his alma mater, Northwest Missouri State University. He and his wife Zeline were very generous benefactors to Northwest, and his gifts to that institution continue to help students to this day and long into the future. In summary, one former student and colleague remarked that when he thinks of the "Mount Rushmore" of our school, the first person he would expect to see is Vance Geiger.

A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Hunter is currently the executive vice president and general counsel of DirecTV and the senior lawyer for their entire operation. At various times he has served as chairmanand CEO of DirecTV, Ceo of DirecTV Japan divions and CEO of DirecTV Latin American division. Hunter joined Hughes Electronics in 1993 and helped transform that compnay from a defense contractor into the leader in the satellite TV industry today. Hunter serves on numerous corporate boards and philanthropic organizations, and he is one of the most respected legal minds in the digital entertaniment industry. He and his wife Rita (Barker) have been silent contributors to various aspects in the Mount Ayr schools over the years, with a special interest in art, music and drama.

With 136 wins McNeill is the winningest football coach in Mount Ayr history. His 1963 team went undefeated and is considered the best football team that has ever played at Mount Ayr. He was named the 1963 Des Moines Register Coach of the Year and was selected to the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame. He attended the University of Idaho on an athletic scholarship but left after two years to serve in the Army during World War II. After discharge, McNeill went to Drake University and played football for three years helping the Bulldogs win the 1946 Raisin Bowl over Fresno State. He came to Mount Ayr in 1948 and other than two years in Iowa Falls, he spent his entire career in Mount Ayr. McNeill also coached baseball and basketball at various times and took the 1954 basketball team to the state tournament. He also worked as a basketball official in the area for many years.

Still was quarterback of the undefeated 1963 football team that is considered the best ever in Mount Ayr history. He started his teaching and coaching career in Mount City, MO where he had very successful football, girls basketball and girls track teams. In 1979 he came back to Mount Ayr and resurrected the football program, winning numerous conferences an ddistrict championships along with a numbe of undefeated teams. Still coached the first playoff team in Mount Ayr football history in 1984 and took a total of five teams to the playoffs during his career. His 109 football wins are second only to his high school coach, Joe McNeill. He enjoyed a tremendous success as a girls track coach, winning many conference championships. In 1988 his team won the state championship, and that year he was named Iowa Track Coach of the Year. Still also coached girls basketball and baseball during his time in Mount Ayr. He was respected by his students and colleagues and truly cared about the people around him. Over the years he mentored many young coaches, and he was committed to building relationships with people before that was the "in thing" in education. Like his high school football coach Joe McNeill, Still is a member of the Iowa Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

With a chemistry degree from Iowa Wesleyan and a doctorate in biochemistry from Rice University, Whitson became an astronaut candidate in 1996. She was the first female commander of the International Space Station, and she was named the first NASA science officer, designing and conducting numerous experiments in space. She set records among American astronauts and women for most time in space - 377 days - and completed six spacewalks in her career totaling 39 hours and 46 minutes. In 2009 she became chief of the NASA astronaut corps, overseeing all astronaut activites including crew selection and training. A former classmate and teammate remembers her work ethic in school and how she always gave a complete effort, both in the classroom and in athletics.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, October 09, 2014

Pictured above are the members of the 2014 Mount Ayr Community School Hall of Fame who received their plaques during the homecoming ceremonies last week. Pictured, (l-r): Larry Hunter, David McNeill acceptiong for Joe McNeill, Barry Monaghan accepting for Van Geiger, Beth and Keith Whitson along with Hugh and Jackie Whitson (not pictured) accepting for Peggy Whitson, Dawn Huff Elliott (Craig Elliott and Karen Bender not pictured) accepting for Jack and Mildren Elliott and Dave Still.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014; updated October of 2014