Full Press Release
 

Full Press Release
 

Joseph E. Spear is a 1972 graduate of Labette Community College where he received his Associate of Arts. He then earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. Spear is a registered Architect and NCARB certified. He is a member of the American Institute of Architects, AIA Kansas City, and AIA Missouri. Spear is a founding senior principal of Populous, a global design practice specializing in architecture, master planning, urban design, and interior design.  Spear has major responsibility for the firm’s designs. His experience, which spans more than 30 years, includes design, programming, site studies, master planning, interior architecture, cost estimating, delineation of design concepts, production of contract documents and contract administration. Full Press Release
 

Daniels began his professional career at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center in Parsons, KS in 1962. He began as a Psychiatric Aide and moved on to become a Psychology Trainee. He was a Clinical Psychologist for Four County Mental Health Clinic of Independence, KS and a Clinical Psychologist for Parsons State Hospital and Training Center from 1966-1967. Daniels was a Staff Psychologist at the Nisonger Center for Mental Retardation at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH from 1973-1979. Full Press Release
 

P. Michael Brotherton began teaching in the English Department at Labette Community College in 1976; he retired in December 2006, having taught 30 years. During his tenure at Labette, he worked on many college-related projects. He coordinated the restoration of the LCC Art Collection (a project nominated for the Governor’s Arts Awards) and the renovation of Hendershot Gallery. With other members of the English Department, he worked to establish the first college-wide placement testing program on campus, and he served on “The Team,” a group of faculty members who pioneered online education at Labette  Full Press Release

Emil Frank "Sonny" Zetmeir has been named the 2008 Cardinal Citation Award winner by the Labette Community College Alumni Association and LCC. This is the highest honor that is bestowed an individual for lifetime achievement.  Full Press Release

2007 Cardinal Citation Recipient

Arvon Phillips of Parsons has received the highest honor bestowed from the LCC Foundation & Alumni Association for lifetime achievement. He has been named the 2007 Cardinal Citation Recipient.  Full Press Release

Robert E. Brandenburg of Parsons has received the highest honor bestowed from the LCC Foundation & Alumni  Associations for lifetime achievement. He  has been  named the 2006 Cardinal Citation Recipient. For full press release, click here

2005 Cardinal Citation Recipient

Bill Guthridge
BS 1960, MS 1963, Kansas State University

Bill grew up in Parsons and attended Washington Grade School, West Junior High School, and Parsons High School graduating in 1955. In 1956 he attended Parsons Junior College before transferring to Kansas State University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1960 and his Master’s Degree in 1963. For full press release, click here.

Ralph “Deadeye” Dennis
AA 1946 Parsons Junior College, BA 1948 Pittsburg State University

Retired teacher and coach Ralph Dennis, Olathe, Kansas is a native of Parsons. He attended Washington Elementary School, West Junior High, Parsons High School and Parsons Junior College. He graduated from PJC in 1946. Dennis is often called “Deadeye” by his friends, a name attached to him in grade school during a chase-and-capture game. He was student body president in his sophomore year at PJC. The summer after graduating from PJC he managed a Pee Wee baseball team, then enrolled at Kansas State Teachers College—now Pittsburg State University. He graduated from KSTC in 1948 with a bachelor’s degree in education. For full press release, click here

Max Schiefelbusch

BS and MS Pittsburg State University  

Max Schiefelbusch, of Parsons, was a teacher and coach in Parsons public schools for 15 years and an instructor at Parsons Junior College for 21 years. He also served in the United States Army, leaving as a master sergeant. During his employment with PJC, he served as chairman of the social science department for four years and sponsored the college's Pep Club, Democratic Club, and Foreign Students Club. He retired in 1981. Schiefelbusch has also been involved with the Boy Scouts, the Kansas State Teacher's Association Convention, Parsons Rotary Club, Parsons Human Relations Commission and the Parsons Planning Commission. He received the Elks' Distinguished Citizen Award in 1989. For full press release, click here

Lester "Les" Hearson, PhD

AA 1954 Parsons Junior College

Lester L. Hearson, Ph.D., a 1954 graduate of Parsons Junior College, is a retired registrar and professor of biology at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He has served as a city council member and deputy mayor of Crawfordsville, chair of the committee for revitalization of downtown, member of the steering committee for Christians for Montgomery County and president of Crawfordsville Schools Board of Trustees. He has also been the recipient of the 1997 Man of the Year and the 1999 Community Service Awards. Hearson supports the Kiwanis Club, Family Crisis Shelter, United Fund and the Commission on Environment.

For full press release, click here.

Earl Seifert

AA 1941 Parsons Junior College; BS 1943 Mechanical Engineering Kansas State University  

After serving in the US Navy during WWII, Earl Seifert returned to Parsons and worked for the Katy Railroad as a product engineer of tests.  In 1957, he joined what is now the Dayton Superior Corporation in Parsons as a sales and product engineer.  He retired in 1987.  Earl is a nationally recognized authority on highway paving joint design.  He is a past chair  of the Bar Support Committee of the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) and was active in the American Concrete Paving Association (ACPA) and Wire Reinforcing Institute (WRI). The Parsons Arboretum Foundation is included in his many interests and services to the community. The Earl Seifert Visitor Center at the Arboretum was named in his honor in 2000. Earl is also a recipient of the “Kansas State Forester's Award in Urban and Community Forestry.”  For full press release, click here.  

Dana Jane (Richmond) Saliba

AA 1949 Parsons Junior College; BS University of Kansas, MS Pittsburg State University  

Dana Saliba’s interest in music began with her parent's store, Richmond Music Home. She taught music in several schools, and while living in Lebanon, she directed projects to establish music education in other Middle Eastern countries.  She returned to the U.S. and Kansas to continue teaching music education in several schools.  In 1976, she joined the faculty at LCC where she was head of the music department for 17 years.  Among Dana's credits are being named 1978 "Outstanding Faculty Member," and initiating the LCC Community Symphony Orchestra and Chorale.  In 1985, she began the tradition of presenting Handel's, "The Messiah.”  She is a member of the LCC Foundation.  

Rhodelma (Schoenborn) Bell

AA 1929 Parsons Junior College; BS 1931 Chemistry University of Missouri

Following her college graduation, Rhodelma Bell was a social welfare worker in Parsons.  During WWII she moved to Texas to teach servicemen how to repair B-17 bombers. Rhodelma was an enthusiastic supporter of LCC. She was a member of the editorial staff committee for the Cardinal Magazine, wrote articles for the magazine and was named "Special Ambassador" for the LCC 75th Anniversary Celebration. Bell was an active volunteer for various organizations including the Girl Scouts, Red Cross, Eastern Star and her church.  For 75 years she collected hats and presented hat shows throughout the mid west.  She was affectionately known as the “Hat Lady.” 

Helen C. (McGuire) Jones

BS University of Missouri;  MS University of Alabama

Helen Jones began her involvement with LCC as an instructor in Home Economics in 1965. She was administrative assistant to the LCC president and executive secretary of the LCC Endowment Association from 1972-80. She is also a past president of the LCC Foundation Board of Directors. She has been active in her church on both the state and national level. She has also been active in the community, spearheading the Parsons Community Development Corporation. Helen has also served as Chairperson of the County Central Committee for her political party from 1996 to 1998.  Recognition for her volunteer work and service includes the “Valiant Woman Award” from Church Women United and the Soroptimist International “Women Helping Woman Award.” 

Bill R. Pounds

AA Sayre Junior College; BS Southwestern State College; MS Oklahoma University

After a career as an educator in Oklahoma, Bill Pounds moved his family to Parsons in 1962 to become Vice-Principal at Parsons High School and to teach in the math department.  For the next 25 years, from 1966 until 1991, Pounds was employed by Labette Community College. He began as registrar and math instructor.  From 1997 until retirement, he was Dean of Student Services.  Twice he was called upon to serve as interim president of LCC.  He has been active in his church and community as well as several professional education administrator organizations.