Trustees Emeriti

Ken Brown considered it an honor, privilege and duty to his community to serve as a trustee at State Fair Community College. He was elected in 1998 at the kickoff of the “Making the Difference” major gifts campaign. As trustee, Ken worked with presidents Dr. Steve Poort and Dr. Marsha Drennon.

Ken helped move SFCC forward during his 12 years of service. SFCC opened its new Residence Hall and celebrated the construction of the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center, the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art and the Heckart Science and Allied Health Center.

Education was always important to Ken. After graduating from the University of Central Missouri with a B.S. Degree in Education, he taught industrial arts for Warsaw High School for eight years. In 1968, he started Village Realty in Warsaw and was very involved in the real estate business throughout his life.

Ken was not only involved with SFCC, he also served 20 years as alderman for the city of Warsaw Lion’s Club, Scouts, Benton County and Missouri Democratic Boards, and Whiteman Base Community Council. 

Ken and his wife, Martha, had one son Bart Brown. All are deceased.

Sandra Burford, Ken’s niece, said, “Ken believed in State Fair Community College and saw the promise of a bright future, filled with endless possibilities for those who entered its doors. He felt strongly it was his duty to help all reach their fullest potential, be successful and live their dreams.”

Randall D. Eaton
2010-2022

Randall D. Eaton (Randy) served on the SFCC Foundation from 2001 to 2010. He was elected to the SFCC Board of Trustees in 2010 and served through 2022. He served as President of the SFCC Board for six years.

During his service on the board, Eaton participated in two presidential searches. Eaton, a resident of Warsaw, was an effective trustee advocating to legislators on behalf of the college and advocating for the college in Benton County.

Eaton had a successful career in banking, with more than 30 years of service.  Eaton served as President of Equity Bank and prior to that, was the Vice President of the United Missouri Bank of Warsaw. He was a member of the Missouri Bankers Association and a former President of the Benton-Pettis County Bankers Association.

Eaton also served as a Board Member of the Boonslick Regional Library for 20 years and served on building committees for four libraries.

Randy and his wife Marsha are members of the First United Methodist Church, where Randy served on various committees and as Finance Chairman for 40 years.Eaton is also active in the Warsaw Lions club where he has served as president and other offices.

Eaton served an active leadership role in the community with service to the Area Chamber of Commerce, Warsaw Main Street Association, the Warsaw Park Board, the Warsaw R-IX School District Benton County Republican Central Committee, Benton County Social Services, and  the Warsaw Nursing Home Committee.

Eaton, a graduate of Drury College in Springfield, was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity, where he was involved with the building committee and was the President of the Alumni Council.

Robert Farrington graduated from Missouri Valley College in 1965 with a Bachelor’s in Education. His first teaching job was at Russellville where he also coached basketball. In 1967, John Ragland, a founding father of SFCC, hired Bob to teach and coach at Cole Camp where he devoted 33 years of service. 

Bob helped John spread information about the formation of a new junior college in Sedalia. Before SFCC’s doors opened in 1968, Bob had helped the men’s basketball coach, Fred Wehking, recruit former Russellville player Duane Amos to the team. Amos played two years at SFCC, graduated from MU, and went on to a distinguished career at MO-DOT. Bob considerd Duane a dear friend.

In 1984, John called on Bob to fill the vacated seat of William Hopkins. He accepted and served as trustee for the next 14 years during which time SFCC experienced exciting growth in both enrollment and new facilities.

Bob was a leader while teaching and coaching at Cole Camp and is still active in civic groups and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. He was inducted into the 2000 Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield. 

Bob and his wife, Shari, have five children, three of whom have earned degrees from SFCC.

Bob says, “Success is taking advantage of opportunities. SFCC provides opportunities, and the family like atmosphere and dedication of its staff motivates students to achieve. My association with SFCC goes back 54 years to its humble beginnings. My time on the board is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

Since 1960, Jerry Greer has strengthened the status and reputation of educational institutions in Missouri by serving students as an educator, counselor, administrator, and trustee. His educational career represents his steadfast commitment to quality, accessible programs in secondary and post-secondary education. Jerry became an SFCC counselor in 1969 and is proud to have worked for or served with all five of the college’s presidents.

Students have always been at the heart of Jerry’s service. From the early days recruiting students in old clunky vans to attending countless plays, concerts, activity fairs, and Roadrunner ballgames, Jerry still greets students on the first day of fall classes handing out water and providing directions.

Jerry served as trustee for 24 years and two months retiring in 2020 and held positions of secretary, vide-president, liaison to the SFCC Foundation and member of the Daum Museum’s acquisition committee. He served 13 years on the Pettis County R-XII Board of Education at Dresden; 33 years on the Citizens Advocacy Board for Missouri Probation and Parole, District 29; president of Wesley Kids for Christ Preschool; and along with his wife Kay, serves in many capacities in the United Methodist Church and the Sedalia community.

Jerry and Kay Greer financially invest in SFCC students through their gifts to the SFCC Foundation’s annual fund, capital campaigns and special projects. Their daughters, Gay Lea Griffis and Joy Fluty, graduated from SFCC with associate degrees.

State Fair Community College was celebrating its 20th anniversary when Robert Hoskins joined the Board of Trustees. He was a staunch supporter of the college from its beginning. During his 18 years of service, SFCC transformed from a fledgling college into a robust institution with a beautiful and expanded campus. 

As a trustee, Bob saw the demolition of Plywood U, construction of the Stauffacher Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, dedication of the Potter-Ewing Agriculture Building, the opening of the Fred E. Davis Multipurpose Center, construction of the Daum Museum of Contemporary Art, and construction of the Heckart Science and Allied Health Center.

Bob was a big fan of Roadrunner basketball and rarely missed a game. He was recognized as the first Booster Club member to have held continuous membership for 40 years and the first non-athlete to be inducted into the SFCC Athletics Hall of Fame. 

Bob was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, a State Farm Insurance agent for 33 years, a long-time member of Sedalia Rotary, and a 54-year member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. 

Bob recently passed in August 2021. He and his wife, Virginia, have seven children, 17 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.

“When I came to SFCC in August of 1972, it never occurred to me that I would spend over half of my life serving this place and its student-centered vision in a variety of capacities,” said Gary Noland

Gary taught mid-management courses, served as Director of Institutional Job Placement and eventually oversaw Statewide Job Placement. He directed the Pettis County R-XII Board of Education at Dresden from 1984-2001 and managed the college farm.

Gary was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2004 and served as president from 2008-2016. The Heckart Science and Allied Health Center was constructed during his leadership.

Gary served on boards and held offices for the Missouri Farm Bureau and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. He is a Vietnam War veteran. Gary and his wife, Debbie, endowed a scholarship in memory of his parents Florence and Willard Noland and also provided other gifts to the SFCC Foundation.

“As time passed, I watched SFCC transform from a single plywood building to a beautiful campus affording opportunities for students to transfer directly to the workforce or to further their education at nearby universities,” said Gary. “What a wonderful way this was to spend 44 years of my life.”

Richard Parkhurst, long-time SFCC supporter, said, “When I think of SFCC, Gary always comes to mind. He has spent his entire professional life at and for the college. Even in retirement you cannot talk with him for five minutes without his promoting the college and what it is still doing for the students and communities it represents.”

“In many ways, I feel like I have grown up with the college,” says Judy Parkhurst. “I moved to Sedalia in 1966 and began taking classes not long after SFCC opened.”

Judy has been a dedicated advocate for SFCC since 1969 when as a Jaycee wife she got behind Fred Davis and promoted the new college to the community. She was part of a small group led by Dr. Proctor that initiated the Pettis County Health organization, and she served two terms on the Pettis County R-XII school board at Dresden.

In 1971, she worked to achieve the Certified Professional Secretary status and was invited to attend the National Secretaries Association Convention in Los Angeles where she was honored with the Woman of the Year Award. 

Prior to being elected trustee, Judy served 17 years on the SFCC Foundation Board. She and husband Richard were honored with the naming of the Parkhurst Student Commons in Stauffacher Center for their significant unrestricted gift and were recognized nationally by the Council for Resource Development and the Missouri Community College Association’s Award of Distinction.

Recently, the Parkhursts endowed a scholarship for students in programs that will move to the new Olen Howard Workforce Innovation Center. To her surprise, Richard named the scholarship in Judy’s honor.

“I feel very fortunate that the board has always worked together for the best interests of the students we serve,” said Judy. “All of our success and accomplishments are shared by the entire board, not just one person.”

Dr. Proctor was a member of the Jaycees when talks began regarding a junior college in Sedalia. He felt education was very important and wanted others to have the opportunity he had by having a community college close at hand. Dr. Proctor believed in student success and supported students and faculty. As a visionary, he laid the groundwork for what the college is today and considered SFCC one of his “babies.”

During his 36-year tenure, the longest of any trustee, the college grew steadily from an idea into Plywood U and 42 students in the first graduation class. Dr. Proctor spearheaded many campus additions and investments including the purchase of 113 adjacent acres, the area vocational-technical school, annexation of the Otterville School District, and SFCC’s first national accreditation. In total, 11 campus buildings were constructed without a tax bond. Dr. Proctor was a builder of ideas, people and facilities that we proudly call State Fair Community College. The SFCC library was named in his honor in 2002. 

Dr. Proctor passed in January 2015. He and his wife, Janet, have nine children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Education: B.S., University of Missouri; M.D., Washington University; Surgical Residency, University of Oklahoma; Meteorology degree, University of Chicago and University of Wisconsin. 

Military Service: Army Air Corps in World War II; first to fly through hurricanes providing vital information to naval ships. 

Medical Career: 1953-1989 including chief-of-staff at Bothwell Regional Health Center. 

Geraldine Schrader had just completed 30 years of teaching for Sedalia Public Schools when SFCC opened its doors in 1968. 

Barbara Schrader, Geraldine’s daughter, said, “When Dr. Steve Poort reached out and asked her to join the college faculty and head the music department, there was hesitation and more than a little doubt. Yet she made the leap and the lives of our entire family changed—definitely for the better. She relished the enthusiasm and motivation of the mostly younger instructors and embraced the mission of the college in supporting all students and programs.” 

A 1932 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School, Geraldine studied three summers at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, received a Bachelor’s in Music from Central Methodist College, and a master’s degree from Northwestern University. At SFCC, she taught music and chaired the Fine Arts Department until her retirement in 1981. During her teaching tenure, she directed the SFCC Singers, Band, College Choir, and was the director of the annual musical.  

In 1982, she was elected to the Board of Trustees becoming the first female member and the first former employee to serve as trustee. Geraldine was an original member of the SFCC Foundation and continued her support of the college with generous gifts and donations throughout her lifetime.

Daughters Barbara Schrader and Katie Osborn are appreciative of the opportunity for Geraldine to be honored as Trustee Emeritus.

Robert E. Schulz
1980-1992

Bob graduated from Smith-Cotton High School, attended Central Missouri State University (UCM), and became a realtor at the age of 31. He owned and operated his own real estate office in Sedalia for 47 years. Although an exceptional business leader, he often remarked how he cherished time with his wife.

Schulz was a successful service-minded businessman and civic leader in our community. Bob was a member of the Sedalia Jaycees, where he chaired was active on numerous committees, whose efforts culminated with the formation of State Fair Community College (SFCC).

In 1988 Bob Schulz was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the local newspaper, The Sedalia Democrat.

Schulz served in law enforcement. He was a Scout leader, and the president for the Liberty Apartments (low-income housing), and was active in many civic organizations.

Bob also served his country the United States Air Force during Korea.

Ron Wineinger is a believer in the benefits of education to individuals and society as a whole. He contributed outstanding leadership, stewardship and innovation to SFCC for 43 years, 18 of those as trustee. Ron has been a vocal advocate for community colleges at the local, state and national levels and spearheaded efforts to increase advocacy among the Missouri Community College Association trustees and national Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT). Ron has been a presenter, the Missouri coordinator and the regional representative at ACCT’s National Leadership Congress.

Ron taught speech, theatre and communications at SFCC for 25 years helping countless students reach their potential. He directed many outstanding plays and started a student travel program, which allowed over 2,000 students and community members to travel across the world to experience art and theatre. He received numerous honors including the 2001 Hall of Fame and Emeritus Award from the Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri.

Eric Yazell, retired SFCC theatre instructor, wrote this about his former teacher and mentor. “Ron inspired me in so many ways, and getting me involved in theatre changed my life forever. That’s what Ron does. He is always positive and makes you feel like you are incredible. The most important lesson I learned from Ron was that I mattered and I could accomplish my dreams.”

Ron retired from the SFCC Board in 2020 and lives in Sedalia with his wife, Linda.