NEW OFFICERS

Volume 1, Number 12 - Summer 1964

President Mr. Claude Hibbard

Our new President is Mr. Claude H. Hibbard of Ava, a charter member and Director from Douglas County since 1961. He is a well-known educator in this region and before his retirement served thirteen years in the Missouri Department of Education. Beginning his career as a rural teacher, he was elementary school principal and principal of the high school at Ava, and for sixteen years was County Superintendent of Douglas County.

Mr. Hibbard was born near Blanche in Douglas County, and was one of eight children. In 1912, he and Halie Uhlmann of Buckhart were married. They have three children: Grace Sheldon of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, Sue Martin of Liberty, and Glen Hibbard of Piedmont.

After his children were born, Mr. Hibbard finished high school at Ava. He and his elder daughter were in

[20]

class together at Southwest Missouri State College, Springfield, and he and his younger daughter attended the University of Missouri at the same time.

A long-time member of the State Teachers Association Legislative Committee from Southwest Missouri, Mr. Hibbard was also a member of the Executive Committee of the Southwest District Teachers Association. He served as president of the Southwest Teachers Association and of the State County Superintendents organization.

Since his retirement, he has had some time for his hobbies: reading and horses.
We are looking forward to the new year with Mr. Hibbard and his officers and hope that each member will read and take to heart the President's Message on page 2.

First Vice-president Dr. O. Myking Mehus

Dr. O. Myking Mehus, a charter member, is our new First Vice-president. Now a resident of Stone County, Dr. Mehus was born of Norwegian parents in North Dakota. He received the A.B. degree from Augsburg College, Minneapolis; the A.M. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of North Dakota.

For twenty years Dr. Mehus served as Chief of Vocational Rehabilitation and Education Division of the Veterans Administration, in charge of all of Missouri and ten counties in Kansas. In 1960 he was named the Federal Civil Servant of the Year in the Greater Kansas City area where there are 15,000 federal Civil Service employees. Prior to his career in the Veterans Administration, he was an instructor at the University of Minnesota, Professor of Sociology at Northwest Missouri State College, Maryville, and President of State College, Winona, Minnesota.

In addition to our Society, Dr. Mehus is a member of the American Legion, the Scandinavian Club of Kansas City of which he is a past pres-

[21]

ident, the Norwegian-American Historical Association, Scandinavian-American Foundation, Nordmanns Forbundet, and he now serves as President of the Hallinglaget of America whose motto is "Let us not forget our forefathers." His biographical sketch appears in Who's Who in America.

Since his retirement, he and his wife, Mrs. Jewell Ross Mehus, operate the Old Shepherd's Book Store on Highway 76 near Silver Dollar City.

Second Vice-president Mrs. Kenneth D. Ford

Mrs. Kenneth D. Ford of Hollister was elected Second Vice-president at the annual meeting. Formerly of Kansas City where they had a floral shop, she and her husband were frequent visitors to this area before becoming permanent residents in 1952.

Mrs. Ford is well-known for her work in church, civic clubs and Scouting. In Kansas City she was a member of the Athenaeum Federated Club, serving as president of the junior organization, and was active in the Missouri Federation of Women's Clubs. She is a past president of P.T.A., and in her work with the American Cancer Society, founded a well-baby clinic at Hickman Mills. With her husband, she sponsors the youth group of the Branson Presbyterian Church and serves as a teacher and director of the Bible School. For her outstanding work in Scouting, Mrs. Ford has received a number of awards. Both she and her husband hold the Order of Merit, and she and her son, Kenneth Jr., received certificates of appreciation when she conducted the Cub Scout Round Table and her son was a junior leader. In 1951 she became a den mother and has received the Den Mother's award. At present she is den mother of the Webelos, a group of 10 1/2 year-olds in Branson.

Mrs. Ford, her husband and son now operate Ford's Flowers at the Yacht Club in Hollister.

Secretary Miss Belle Mosley

The Society's newly-elected Secretary is Miss Belle Mosley of Branson. A native of Missouri, Miss Mosley was

[22]

born at Marionville where she graduated from high school. She received the B.S. degree from Southwest Missouri State College at Springfield, and the M. Ed. degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

An outstanding educator, Miss Mosley came to Branson as a teacher and has been principal of Branson High School for the past several years. In addition to our Society, she is a member of a number of professional organizations. She is a charter member and past president of the Branson Business and Professional Women's Club, and serves as Deaconess of the Christian Church of Branson.

[23]

This volume: Next Article | Table of Contents | Other Issues

Other Volumes | Keyword Search | White River Valley Quarterly Home | Local History Home

Springfield-Greene County Library