Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, December 25, 2014, Page 1 & 2

The Mount Ayr Community Schools Hall of Fame was established to create a lasting tribute to groups and individuals who have brought honor to themselves, their schools and their communities. The Hall seeks to recognize those who have accomplished extraordinary feats in extra-curricular activities, those who have made significant contributions to the school and graduates who have distinguished themselves in life after high school. Listed are newest inductees of the Mount Ayr Community School's Hall of Fame of 2015:

Raymond Baker was a 1924 graduate of Beaconsfield High School. He attended Iowa State University where he won the 1928 Banner Trophy for highest yielding corn in the state. Raymond became a tenant farmer for Henry A. Wallace, and was also the second employee of Pioneer Hybrid. When Wallace became Secretary of Agriculture in 1933, Baker became solely responsible for the seed corn program. He was the director of research & corn breeding at Pioneer Seeds from 1928-71, and later served on their board. Under his direction, the annual research budget grew from $2,000 in 1932 to $53,484,000 by 1988.

Mr. Baker was personally responsible for average yield increases from 30 bushels per acre to 140 bushels per acre by the time he retired. He and Henry A. Wallace are considered the most influential men in the development of hybrid seed corn.

Raymond was given 10 shares of Pioneer stock in lieu of salary. He purchased additional stock over the years, and upon his death in 1999 gave Iowa State University a stock gift worth $80-90 million, the largest individual gift ever given to ISU.

Larry Giles was a 1958 graduate of Tingley High School. He taught and coached for four years in Aplington, Iowa before gaining employment in the Mount Ayr Community School System.

Larry was hired as a junior high math teacher at Mount Ayr in 1966. He became the elementary guidance counselor in 1969, and in 1970, after the death of superintendent O.C. Walker, Larry took on the role of the elementary principal. Mr. Giles served as elementary principal for 29 years, and was also special education coordinator for much of that time.

Larry was very involved in the reorganization of individual schools into Mount Ayr Community Schools. After reorganization, he was principal in 13 buildings at the same time.

Larry started officiating football and basketball in 1967. He was inducted into the Basketball Officials Hall of Fame in 2005.

Mr. Giles has been active in many community organizations and projects. He has been a long time board member of the Mount Ayr Golf and Country Club.

Since retirement, Larry has served on the Mount Ayr Community school board, Southwestern Community College board and Mount Ayr Community School foundation board.

Mark Larsen came to Mount Ayr in 1970 as a math teacher and girls basketball and track coach. He coached six on six, and later five on five basketball, winning 286 games. His girls basketball teams won six conference titles, two teams won six conference titles, two teams lost in the regional finals, and the 1998 team qualified for the state tournament.

Mr. Larsen's girls track teams claimed 15 conference titles and four district championships, while winning 68 meets. Later, Mark was an assistant under Dave Still, and helped coach the Raiderettes track team to the 1988 state team title.

Mark has been best known for his success on the softball diamond. He started the girls softball program in 1972 and amassed over 700 wins. Under Coach Larsen, Raiderette softball teams won 14 conference titles and 25 district titles. His 1982 and 1994 teams qualified for the state tournament.

Coach Larsen was inducted into the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame in 1998, and was a finalist for the National Softball Coach of the Year in 1999.

Mr. Larsen also served as athletic director for 20 years, and was elected to Iowa High Schools' Athletic Directors' Association Hall of Fame in 2002.

Chet Roed taught Industrial Arts at Bagley, Iowa for six years. At Mount Ayr, he coached football, girls and boys basketball, track and baseball. As a shop teacher, he is credited by many in the community as teaching them how to take care of their homes. In fact, many would be heard saying, "Mr. Roed taught me to do that." Mr. Roed was a state leader in Industrial Arts Education.

At Mount Ayr, Chet was a long time football assistant to Hall of Fame coach Joe McNeill. He helped coach the Raiders to win four conference titles. Mr. Roed coached two undefeated teams, including the 1963 team which some say was the best team ever!

Coach Roed's favorite sport is track and field. His team was runner-up at both the 1964 indoor and outdoor state meets. Three of his athletes won state titles in seven different events and he coached a Drake Relays champion.

[Page 2] The Raiders dominated the conference track meets during the 60s, gaining titles in 62-63-64-65-66 and 68. In one meet, after arguing with timers who overlooked a Raider, Coach Roed had his wife Annie sew a white band across the jerseys so they could be more readily seen. To this day, he commands universal admiration, gratitude, and, respect from his students.

Individuals and groups from any school which is now part of the Mount Ayr Community School district are eligible for selection to the Hall of Fame.

The committee relies on nominations submitted by the public. For information submitting nominations, please refer to the school website or contact the Mount Ayr Record-News.

The formal induction will take place next fall as part of the homecoming week festivities. The Hall of Fame banquet and induction ceremony will be held on Saturday, September 26.

Photographs courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2015

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September 24, 2015, Page 1

The second annual Mount Ayr Community Hall of Fame induction and banquet is set for Saturday, September 26.

The event will honor the 2015 inductees into the MAC Hall of Fame - Raymond Baker, Larry Giles, Mark Larsen and Chet Roed.

A social time will open the event at 5 p.m. followed by a seven-course dinner prepared by Charmayne Hughs of the Bar-X-Ranch in Denver, Mo.

The induction ceremony will follow the dinner.

All events will take place in the MAC commons.

This year's induction class features three educators and one graduate who went on to a leadership role in agribusiness.

They will join the five Hall of Fame members inducted in 2014: Dawn (Huff) Elliott, Jack and Mildred Elliott, Vance Geiger, Larry Hunter, Joe McNeill, David Still and Peggy Whitson.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, October 01, 2015, Page 1

Newly inducted members of the Mount Ayr Community Hall of Fame include (L-R) Mark Larson, Larry Giles and Chet Roed. Accepting the award in honor of Raymond Baker is Beth Whitson.

Photograph courtesy of Mount Ayr Record-News
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, October of 2015