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 Those inducted into the Dunklin County Hall of Honor and pictured from left at Sunday's ceremony at the Dunklin County Library at Kennett are Joyce Walsh and her husband Bill Walsh, both of Kennett; Byron "Keith" Mitchell of Kennett; Bill Hampton of Malden; Larry Brewer of Paragould, Ark.; Charolyn Baker "Bid" Miles of Kennett; and Dr. William Terrell Branch, formerly of Kennett, now of Tampa, Fla. Inducted posthumously were Charles Meredith Cable; R.K. "Kimble" Swindle; and Larry J. Thomason. Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates were declared honorary Dunklin County citizens for their philanthropic efforts. [Click to enlarge] |
A crowd of approximately 100 people jammed the upper level of the Dunklin County Library at Kennett to pay homage to some of the county's most revered residents, both living and dead, and to include three people as honorary Dunklin County citizens by virtue of both their good will and their philanthropy.
This year, the Dunklin County Hall of Honor Committee members -- Randall Baker, Ann Bostic, Diane Johnson, JoNell Minton, Kathy Richardson, Patt Sharp and Sammie V. Wood -- considered a number of nominees.
 Dunklin County Hall of Honor inductees Joyce and Bill Walsh of Kennett speak Sunday at the Hall of Honor ceremony at the Dunklin County Library at Kennett [Click to enlarge] |
Honored posthumously were Charles Meredith Cable; R.K. "Kimble" Swindle and Larry J. Thomason.
Philanthropist Warren Buffett and Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife Melinda were declared honorary Dunklin County citizens, Minton said.
"We have computers here because of their foundation," she said of Bill and Melinda Gates. "Our first grant was about five years ago for about $40,000.
"Their foundation provided the rest of the $85,000 during the last five years," she added. "That allowed us to upgrade the computers for our patrons. We have Bill Gates, his wife, and their foundation to thank for having computers here at all. I think it's fitting to include them as honorary members of our community."
Information released by the library indicated Buffett made a commitment recently to give away 85 percent of his fortune, most of which would be going to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. It was the largest act of charitable giving in United States history.
Dr. William T. Branch's legacy began with his maternal grandfather, D.T. Dempsey, a Kennett physician, and his paternal grandfather, W.A. Branch, who served the community as a school superintendent and Arkansas as a legislator, said Patt Sharp, who introduced the honoree. William T. Branch's parents, W.O. and Marry Rose Dempsey Branch owned the Carter-Branch Dodge and Plymouth dealership at Kennett, Sharp said.
Sharp joked about Branch's membership on the "Golden Era" Kennett High School football team "which lost 22 straight games while Dr. Branch was its stellar left guard," she said.
"Perhaps, during this period of his life, his greatest claims to fame included being an original member of the Dirty Seven and possessing a red hot rod, with which he is alleged to have tormented local law enforcement officers, with Tom Mouser riding shotgun," Sharp quipped.
Branch, a certified urologist, is a graduate of Arkansas State University, and was the first alumnus ever to be honored as the Distinguished Alumnus of ASU; is a clinical professor of Urology and an associate professor of surgery at the University of South Florida College of Medicine ; past Chief of Urology at Tampa General Hospital; past Chief of Staff and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Memorial Hospital of Tampa; past President of the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons represented Florida as the Governor of American College of Surgeons; and is a member of the Royal Society of medicine, to name a few of his accomplishments.
Malden's Bill Hampton, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred "Sodie" Hampton, was named the community's Citizen of the Year in 2005. He was graduated from the Malden Schools System and earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Arkansas State University in 1970.
Hampton's professional life includes being an agent, district manager, recruiter and mentor for Farmer's Insurance Group; co-owner of Malden Speedway; Director of Malden's Chamber of Commerce and the city's Economic Development Commission.
He and is committed deeply to a new venture for the county, NewWave Cable Co., Channel 21.
Bill and Joyce Walsh of Kennett were honored for their tireless work for Americans, and more specifically, for the people of the county.
After their arrival at Kennett in 1946, Bill went to work with his father and began a supermarket empire that filled generations of Bootheel bellies.
In addition to owning Ward Food Store, Walsh owned the Kennett Supermarket, which changed its name to Walsh Jack Sprat Store; Walsh Big Star; a Putt-Putt miniature golf range; Kennett Cash and Carry; Snappy Sacker Grocery; and Cash and Carry Discount Foods.
Prior to his career as a merchant, Bill addressed his country's needs with his 1942 enlistment in the United States Navy. He was awarded the World War II Victory medal, Asiatic Pacific, with four Bronze Stars for his military service.
Joyce answered her patriotic call and joined the U.S. Navy as a Wave in 1944, and was accepted in "The Singing Platoon," which performed for both live and radio audiences.
Later in her military career, she was assigned to the Naval Air Station at Ottumwa, Iowa, where she mustered out a young seaman -- her future husband, Bill. The two were married there on June 15, 1945.
Bill was president of the Chamber of Commerce, and in 1957 he and lifelong buddy Jack McDaniel started the Christmas parade, which evolved into the Delta Fair Parade. This year, Bill and Jack enjoyed their Golden Anniversary as parade coordinators, and those who enjoy the Independence Day fireworks have Bill to thank for initiating that tradition.
Not to be overshadowed, Joyce Walsh started and directed the Chancel Choir for 18 years at the 1st United Methodist Church at Kennett.
In addition, she served as chaplain of PEO Sisterhood, Wesleyan Service Guild and the Adelphian Civic Club. Joyce was a founding member and member of the board for the Friends of Music Club. She joined the Wednesday Music Club of Kennett; served as president and counselor of five junior music clubs; served as the President of the Missouri National Federation of Music Clubs; and a Joyce Walsh District Music Scholarship was established in 1988. That scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving high school senior.
Together, Bill and Joyce raised nearly $200,000 since 1984 by selling T-shirts, whose logo, "My Heart Belongs to Music" is known nationwide. The proceeds from the scholarships allow disabled music students the opportunity to advance in the discipline, and the couple to remain as close as the day they met.
Charolyn Baker "Bid" Miles graduated from Kennett High School in 1937 and graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California and earned a teaching certificate through the University of Missouri.
Bid joined her father, Charles B. Baker, in the Delta Gas Co., and was among the first women in the U.S. to enlist in the United States Navy in 1943. She pursued her military career and graduated as an Ensign from the U.S. Navy Midshipman School at Smith College in Massachusetts and served until 1945, when she was discharged honorably.
Ever proactive, Bid was instrumental in organizing the Girl Scouts of America Cotton Boll Council in 1948, and along with her father, developed Camp Latonka at Lake Wappappello for the use of the scouts; joined Each One to Teach One, a literacy organization that aided people in acquiring their GEDs; was active in the Meals on Wheels program; tutored at-risk children; and is known for her extensive collection of Native American artifacts, which she donated to the Dunklin County Museum at Kennett.
In addition, Bid was one of the first members of the Dunklin County Library Board of Directors and served on the first Board of the Delta Children's Home. She remains active at the 1st United Methodist Church at Kennett, where she teaches a very popular adult Sunday School class, and a Bible studies class on Wednesdays.
Byron "Keith" Mitchell began his distinguished career at Hezzie Highfill's Grocery Store when he was 11 years old. As a student at Senath High School, Keith was honored with the American Legion School Distinguished Achievement Award and was chosen to attend Missouri Boy's State where he was elected vice-president.
A formidable athlete, Keith earned varsity letters in three sports -- baseball, basketball and track -- all four years at Senath and earned an Outstanding Athlete scholarship. He graduated from the University of Missouri at Columbia, where he was active in the Kappa Si fraternity. Keith earned his degree in pharmacology from the University of Memphis in 1961.
As successful in business as on the playing field. Keith bought a number of area pharmacies beginning with McGhee's Drugstore in 1967; Utley's; Lorance's; Blakemore's; Presnell Hospital's pharmacy; and finally Simer's Pharmacy, all of which he combined into Mitchell's Drugstore on the south side of the Square at downtown Kennett, where he has served the health needs of others for more than 40 years.
Keith served as president of the Downtown Merchant's Association, and along with his wife Robin and their extended family donated land for the Sheryl Crow Aquatic Center and the adjacent land that will be developed into Mitchell Park.
A past president of the Kennett Rotary Club and the Kennett Chamber of Commerce, Keith was named Employer of the Year by the Board of Public Works, and served as a member of that panel. He's been a Sunday School teacher; honorary VFW member; is a Mason; created a Little League baseball program for young ladies and headed Kennett's Little League Baseball program of a decade.
Keith also supported the Kennett Golf Club Association and the Harold Simmons Golf Tournament.
He is a candidate for the Missouri District 163 House of Representatives seat and faces Campbell's Tom Todd for that position in the Nov. 7 mid-term election.
Larry Brewer was born at Cardwell in 1927 and graduated from Cardwell High School in 1944.
A World War II U.S. Army veteran, Larry attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was one of the first to occupy Japan after its surrender.
Larry earned his bachelor's degree from Arkansas State University (ASU) -- then Arkansas State College -- in 1951 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and served as a a president of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
He joined his family's business, Brewer Brothers, which owned three gasoline stations at Cardwell and Senath, and a bulk gasoline and oil business at Cardwell. Under his leadership, Brewer Brothers was successful enough to sell more than 65 million gallons a year.
He was instrumental in flame cultivation -- using fuel for weed control in cotton crops prior to the widespread use of Treflan, which he helped to introduce to the area.
Former Arkansas Gov. Dale Bumpers appointed Larry to Arkansas State's Board of Trustees, where Brewer aided in developing a policy that allowed Bootheel students to pay in-state tuition at ASU. Larry accepted the leadership of 1st Paragould Bankshares, and helped grow that firm from a $180 million holding company to one that boats $500 million in assets.
He was active in the Cardwell 1st Baptist Church; the 1st Methodist Church of Paragould; the Masonic Lodge at Cardwell and Hornersville and both the Cardwell and Paragould Rotary Clubs. He was named director of the Missouri Oil Marketers Association and the Missouri LP Gas Dealers Association.
Larry was named an Arkansas State University Distinguished Alumni in 2002.
Those inductees honored posthumously are equally as deserving, Minton said.
Charles M. Cable was 10 when his parents, James Elijah and Catherine Sexton Cable moved to Octa, Mo., near Senath, where Charlie attended school until his graduation from Humes High School at Memphis, Tenn.
He continued his studies at Memphis and graduated with distinction from Rhodes College, now Southwestern University, with a bachelors degree in mathematics.
Charlie enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1941 and was commissioned in 1942. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his service in the Battle of Guam; a letter of commendation and The Purple Heart for his service in Korea; three combat action decorations and a total of 14 medals for his participation in a number of battles.
He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and retired from the Corps in 1952 after he sustained serious wounds during the Korean Conflict.
Charlie continued his government service during the following two years at the Pentagon, where he served with the Central Intelligence Agency.
He joined the faculty at Harvard University where he taught math prior to beginning law school at George Washington University at Washington, D.C. He served as editor of the prestigious Law Review, and was a member of the Order of the Coif.
He graduated at the head of his class in 1956 and returned to Dunklin County, where he was admitted to both the Dunklin County and the Missouri Bar Associations.
Charlie served as president of the Dunklin County Bar; as a governor of the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys; and was a member of the Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American Judicature Society.
Cable was appointed Dunklin County Prosecutor by former Gov. James Blair in 1959, and was an attorney both with Tom B. Mobley's law firm and the Bradley and Noble Law Firm prior to starting his own firm, Cable Seabaugh and Williams.
The lawyer also was a member of the Kennett Lions Club; Rotary; VFW; and the American Legion.
Roy Kimble "R.K" Swindle was born in 1910, was raised in the Nesbit Community and graduated from Senath High School.
He attended Will Mayfield College at Marble Hill and Southwest Missouri State Teachers College, now Missouri State University, at Springfield. He served as principal of the elementary school at Nesbit prior to entering lumber and agricultural work.
An active participant in the farming industry; Swindle served as president of the Missouri Cotton Producers; president of the Dunklin County Farm Bureau; board member of the Federal land Bank; and on the advisory board of ACG.
Swindle served as an elected member of the Senath Public Schools for 21 years, including as its president for 18 years. He served at the pleasure of the governor as a Regent at Southeast Missouri State University from 1962 until 1974.
He also was a member of the Senath Methodist Church; the Order of the Eastern Star; the Bootheel Shriners Club; and was a 32nd degree Mason.
Swindle was 1 55-year member of the Senath Lions Club; a member of the Dunklin County Library Board; chairman of the Senath Housing Authority; and a member of the Public Water Supply District Board of Directors.
He served as vice-president of McDaniel Funeral Service, Inc., and was the owner of the South Dunklin Insurance Agency.
Born at Jefferson City, the late Larry Thomason was a graduate of ASU at Jonesboro where he earned a bachelors degree in communications.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1971-1974 and was executive director of the Kennett Chamber of Commerce when he initiated the Kennett Jaycees annual Show-Me State Barbecue Cook Off, which just celebrated its 25th year.
Also, Thomason started the Chamber's annual golf tournament, which celebrates its 23rd anniversary this year.
Thomason was chairman of the Southeast Missouri Regional Growth Association; the Highway 412 Corridor Association; the advisory boards of the International Business Institute of Southeast Missouri State University, Dyersburg State Community College; and the Lower Mississippi River Delta Commission.
Thomason served in the Missouri House of Representatives District 163 seat and was honored as Outstanding Freshman Representative in 1988.
He served as Democratic Majority Whip for two terms and left the House when former Gov. Bob Holden appointed him as executive director of the Missouri Highway Commission, and Larry eventually became the director of the Missouri Motor Carrier Services, which included the Highway Commission.