~Hall of Fame and Honor Wall
SIKESTON -- Sikeston R-6 Schools is currently accepting nominations of individuals for its Hall of Fame and Honor Wall.
Last year Lee Shell of Sikeston nominated Jerry Dyer to the Honor Wall and said the process was a fairly simple one.
"They give you an application to fill out, and if you know of somebody you think is deserving then you write a little history of what they've done and what you think they've done to deserve it," explained Shell, who was also inducted to the Honor Wall in the late 1990s.
The only extra work Shell had to do when he nominated Dyer was get some information he didn't have, he recalled. But that just required a phone call to Dyer's wife so it wasn't much work at all, he pointed out.
Shell nominated Dyer because since 1960 Dyer has worked the chains for Sikeston's home football games and has only missed a couple of games in that span of time.
"He was two years ahead of me in school, and I worked with Jerry running the chains on football games," Shell recalled. "To me, he needed to be recognized for that because there's no pay involved in that and he loves the football games and he was a good football player in school."
And if someone decides there's somebody like Dyer to them, then they should nominate them, Shell advised.
"A committee then takes those applications and they decide who they think is qualified and recognize them at halftime of a football game," Shell said.
Since 1995, the Sikeston R-6 Honor Wall has recognized individuals for their good service to the Sikeston Public Schools. These honorees are usually a past teacher, administrator or school board member.
The Hall of Fame recognizes athletes who have received state honors or beyond. For the Hall of Fame, Sikeston schools honors past graduates who have been out of school for five years which means 2000 graduates and before would be eligible this year.
When a person is honored, they are given a plaque and a duplicate also hangs in the Sikeston Field House on either the Wall of Fame or the Wall of Honor.
Last year Dyer joined Dr. Sharon Gunn as an inductee to the Honor Wall while Brandon Barnes, Bob Deneke, Brian Harper, Blake Ledbetter and Charles Vickery were added to the Sikeston Hall of Fame.
"It was kind of a surprise (to be nominated)," recalled Dyer, a 1952 graduate. "It's just an honor to be able to participate and help your school do the football games."
This year's inductions ceremony is scheduled for Oct. 14 during the Sikeston/
Kennett football game. A tail gate party for inductees, their families and other invitees will be at 6 p.m.
"I think it's a great thing," Shell said about the Hall of Fame and Honor Wall. "And I don't know of any other schools that have anything like this program. They will retire a football jersey, but to recognize someone on a wall -- I guess Sikeston's kind of leading the pack."
Nomination applications will be accepted through Aug. 19 and are available at the Board of Education Office, 1002 Virginia, or Sikeston High School, 200 Pine St., or via the district's Web site: www.sikeston.k12.mo.us (look for the hyperlink on the left). For more information, contact the Board of Education office at (573) 472-2581 or high school at (573) 472-8850.