Denton Kooyman, 38

Denton Kooyman is a familiar face to area children as he is the assistant director at the popular Bootheel Youth Museum in Malden. He has also been a coach and referee for the local soccer league and has been a soccer commissioner for the last four years. He's also coached boys and girls basketball, t-ball, and youth football. He was also a cub scout leader for five years and a cub scout master for three years. Denton doesn't limit his coaching to just the teams his own kids, sons Johnny and Jacob, compete on, but coaches where there is a need.

Denton likes to help others, especially if there is something he can do that would benefit kids.

In that spirit, he ran for the Board of Education of the Malden School District to which he was elected in 2014.

"I'm passionate about serving the youth of this community," he explained. "I've coached many of them in several sports and I thought I could be a voice for them on the School Board."

His sons are also in eighth and fifth grades at the school.

Denton has also been the chair person of the Malden Parks and Recreation Board for the past four years.

In his spare time, he's a member of the Malden Lions Club- a service organization, has served twice on the Board of the Malden Chamber of Commerce where he has been both vice president and president, is the current president of the Dunklin County RSVP board of directors, and has volunteered for various fund raisers to benefit the Dunklin County Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society.

"If I'm not doing anything, and someone needs help- I'm there!"

Denton recalls that, as a young person, he himself was not always on a good path.

Growing up in Southern California, he was involved in sports and had plenty of resources, but he had problems in reading and spelling. A drill instructor at his JROTC program inspired him to get back on track.

Denton knew he was interested in a career in the military, but JROTC solidified that desire. Soon after his 1995 graduation from Highland High School in Palmdale, California- he joined the United States Navy. He underwent boot camp training in Chicago then went right back to San Diego for jet engine mechanic school. He was soon out to sea on a carrier where he worked as a trouble shooter and gave the final thumbs up of approval before a jet launched.

Soon after returning from his first cruise, he volunteered to go out on his second cruise. That second cruise proved eventful as it was then that he met Yalonda King who was also serving in the Navy and would later become his wife.

During Denton's third cruise with the Navy, Yalonda was stationed on a refueling ship that followed the carrier. So, together, the new couple were able to travel to many exotic locals such as Hawaii, Hong Kong, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates.

In 1999, the couple married.

Both continued to serve in the Navy for several years.

After the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States, Denton was on a carrier within five hours serving as part of the response campaign. He has also been part of Operation Desert Fox and Operation Enduring Freedom.

In 2005, while performing routine maintenance on a helicopter aboard the DDG 91 Pinkley, the ship rocked and Denton fell from the top of the helicopter. He was medivaced to Hawaii where at Tripler Hospital, it was discovered he had broken his spine in three places and broke both knees, crushing one.

His wife, back in California with two young sons, was told by doctors that her husband would never walk again. But Denton had other plans.

With much determination and hard work, Denton began walking before he left the Hawaiian hospital.

Following the accident, Denton was honorably discharged and Yalonda decided not to re-enlist.

Having been a 1997 graduate of Malden High School, Yalonda had friends and family in Missouri. The family decided to move back to her home town in 2006.

That next February, Denton volunteered to work at the Bootheel Youth Museum's annual Mardi Gras charity fundraiser.

After he was medically released for work, he started a job at the prison in Charleston, Missouri.

In October of 2007, Denton received a call from Bootheel Youth Museum executive director Patsy Reublin. She told him of a facility manager position opening and Denton was soon hired on. Denton has been part of the award-winning museum since, and has helped work toward their mission of helping to foster an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and an insatiable curiosity about life.