Ladue Schools to Identify and Recognize Second Group of Distinguished Alumni

In 1959, Ladue was just finding its place among the best sports teams in St. Louis. To everyone in Ram-land, their hero was Charles "Andy" Russell. At 6-foot-0, 185 pound, he was a man among boys. My how times have changed. That would be the size of a smaller defensive back these days.

Russell went on to become a Big 8 performer for the Missouri Tigers and then became captain on the Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl champs. Russell is one of many athletes who have led Ladue to greatness over the years.

Ten years ago, on the 50th anniversary of Ladue Horton Watkins High School (LHWHS), the district recognized 35 former graduates who had made significant contributions in their fields. Russell was honored in that first wave.

This year, on the 60th Anniversary of Ladue Horton Watkins High School, an additional group of nominees will be selected and recognized.

The original group included representatives from a broad range of fields, including the arts, medicine, athletics, science, math, politics, community service and more.  Recipients from this original group graduated between 1953 and 1992.

LHWHS graduates from 1953-2002 are eligible for recognition. Citizens of the community are invited to nominate anyone they feel may be deserving of this honor.

Nominees will be evaluated for “a lifetime of excellence, accomplishment and recognition in their field” by a committee of alumni, current and former faculty members, and members of the first class of Distinguished Alumni.  Honorees will be announced by May 30, 2012. 

The deadline for nomination is May 1, 2012.

 A reception and presentation ceremony honoring the second group of recipients is being planned for the weekend of September 21, 2012, in conjunction with LHWHS 2012 Homecoming activities.

Nomination forms are available online here.

Go to the link above to get a nomination form, to learn more about past recipients and the selection process, or for the contact information of event organizers.

Here's the first group that was honored 10 years ago:

Col. Bud Bucha (‘61) – Chairman, Ohio Coatings Company; Congressional Medal of Honor recipient – former President of Congressional Medal of Honor Society

Mary Burnett Strauss (‘55) – Fox Theatre - Co-owner and Director of Restoration; Broadway producer – 2001 Tony Award Best Revival of a Play – ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’; numerous civic activities, service on St. Louis cultural Boards and recognitions including St. Louis Variety Club Woman of the Year - 1985.

Jim Dierberg (‘55) – CEO/Chairman/owner, First Banks — largest family-owned bank in the U.S. (150 branches).

Robert Dierberg (‘57) – President/Chairman, Dierbergs Markets — responsible for company’s growth to 19 stores; numerous civic boards and commissions.

Christine Ferer (‘68) – Founder and Chairman, VIDICOM/APPLEVISION; on- air fashion and style correspondent – NBC TODAY Show, WNBC-TV, NBC News Channel, EXTRA The Entertainment Magazine, Regis and Kathie Lee, WABC-TV, ABC Radio, CBS Early Show.

Michael Flachmann Ph.D. (‘60) – Professor of English, CA State University, Bakersfield; author; Carnegie Foundation US Professor of the Year, 1995; Shakespearean scholar; Fourth Degree Judo Black Belt.

Francis Ginsberg (‘73) – International dramatic soprano – Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Symphony, Prague Festival, New York City Opera, L’Opera de Nice, New Israeli Opera, Welsh Natioanl Opera, Washington and Pittsburgh Operas.

Jonathan Hasler Ph.D. (‘61) – Adjunct faculty, Colorado State; international expert in genetics and reproductive technology.

Col. William Hecker, Jr. (‘61) – Teledyne Brown Engineering - Program Manager - National Missile Defense Program; Program manager -Multiple Launch Rocket System(MLRS), Desert Storm; numerous military awards.

Lori Heise (‘79) – International expert — gender analysis, bioethics, HIV/AIDS, violence against women, women’s reproductive health, technology transfer from industrial to developing countries.

Elizabeth Cohen Heller (‘72) – Vice-president of extended enterprise & corporate futurist, Nestle Purina PetCare Company; First recipient ‘St. Louis Business Journal’ Most Influential Business Woman Award – 1999.

Rabbi Patrice Heller  Ph.D. (‘72) – Rabbi — one of the first women in the U.S. to be ordained; Psychologist – Marriage and Family Therapist; Classical ballerina.

David Hendin (‘63) – Literary agent; Author – 11 books, 1,000 newspaper/magazine articles – 1975 Pulitzer nomination; international authority on Biblical, ancient Jewish coins; former Sr VP, United Feature Syndicate; former President/Publisher – World Almanac/Pharos Books.

Richard Henrick (‘67) – Author – Flight of the Condor, Crimson Tide, Attack on the Queen (15 other novels); executive producer – Attack on the Queen (2002 release).

Marty Hogin (‘76) – Racquetball – Five national championships 1978-82; Author; National Paddleball Champion; International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame; ‘Racquet Magazine’ Athlete of the Year – 1977; ‘Racquetball Illustrated’ Athlete of the Year – 1980,81,82; ‘National Racquetball’ Top-Ranked Player of All Time – 1985.

Geri Jaffee Rothman Serot ('62)  – U.S. Senate nominee from Missouri, 1992; former President of Missouri Legislative Spouses; multi-honored civic volunteer/advocate women’s health issues.

Dr, Larry Kaiser (‘70) – Chair of the Department of Surgery and Chief of Surgery at University of Pennsylvania Hospital; John Rhea Barton Professor of Surgery; Author; Inventor; America’s Best Doctors – Good Housekeeping’s Top Women’s Cancer Specialists, Lung Cancer – 1999.

Jimmy Kolker (‘66) – U.S. Ambassador, Burkina Faso; former U.S. government assignments at American embassies in Denmark, Botswana, England, Sweden, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Dr, Stuart Kornfeld -  Co-Director, Division of Hematology-Washington University School of Medicine; David C. and Betty Farrell Distinguished Professor of Medicine (WashU); Biomedical research – international expert on glycobiolog.

Mark Levin (‘68) – CEO, Millennium Pharmaceuticals — one of the largest biotech companies in America, specializing in genomics.

Larry Levy  – Chairman & CEO, Levy Restaurants and The Levy Organization (real-estate development); 1999 IFMA Gold Plate Award – America’s Restaurateur of the Year; 2001 Ernst and Young’s Master Entrepreneur of the Year.

Mark Levy (‘64) – Co-founder — Levy Restaurants; developed The Restaurant Group, The Sports and Entertainment Group, and The Consulting and Advisory Services Group.

Patrick W. McGinnis  (‘65) – President & CEO, Nestle Purina PetCare Company; Board of Trustees – Washington University.

Eugene Mackey (‘56) – Architect, MackeyMitchell Associates; restoration of more than 1000 St. Louis historical buildings; renowned designer of local landmarks such as Japanese Garden in Missouri Botanical Garden and St. Louis Zoo south entrance; architect for Ladue Horton Watkins High School 2002 natatorium/gym addition.

Joel Meyers (‘72) – Sports announcer: Fox Sports Net – San Antonio Spurs, Major League Baseball, Big 12 Football, PGA Golf Tour; CBS Radio – NFL, college basketball, Major League Baseball, Dream Team Olympic Games; ESPN; St. Louis Cardinals radio announcer.

Col. Steve Nielson (Ret-USAF) (‘58) – 200 combat missions, Distinguished Flying Cross, Eight air medals in Vietnam; National War College – Washington, D.C.; senior management and commands within USAF.

Jean Passannte (‘71) – Co-Head Writer - ‘As The World Turns’ (current), ‘All My Children’, ‘Another World’, ‘One Life To Live’ (former); Emmy Award – 1993; Writers Guild Awards – 2000, 1992; Off-Broadway producer; Actor.

Robert Quicksilver (‘73) – President – Fox Television, Network Distribution; Attorney.

Joe E. Rand (‘75) – Faculty, Film Scoring – UCLA; Composer; Music editor, films - ‘Titanic’, ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’, ‘Clear and Present Danger’, ‘Braveheart’, ‘The Perfect Storm’, ‘Jurassic Park III’; MPSE Golden Reel Award (Titanic) – 1998.

Carole Rothman (‘66) – Artistic Director & Co-Founder – Second Stage Theatre, NYC; First woman director ever to be nominated for a Tony award – 1987; Producer – 80+ plays for 26 Obie Awards, 5 Drama Desk Awards; Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Directing; Northwestern University National Advisory Board, School of Speech.

Andy Russell (‘59) – Pittsburgh Steelers Linebacker – Team Captain, 10 years; Pro Bowl – 7 years; All-Pro Rookie Team – 1963; NFL All-Decade Team – 1965-75; Steeler MVP – 1970; Member of two winning Super Bowl Teams – 1974, 1975; Pennsylvania Hall of Fame; University of Missouri Hall of Fame; Big Brothers and Sisters Man of the Year – 1989.

Kevin Spirtas (‘80) – Actor: Broadway – A Chorus Line, Meet Me In St. Louis; TV - ‘Days of Our Lives’ Series Regular; Films; Co-founder, Ladue ‘Graduate Stars Concert.’

Dr. Catherine Spong (‘85) – Chief of Pregnancy & Perinatology Branch at National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health (NIH); Associate Editor, ‘Obstetrics and Gynecology’; International expert in maternal-fetal medical research.

Todd Susman (‘65) – Actor: Films – ‘The Juror’, ‘Blast From the Past’, ‘Beverly Hills Cop II’; Television – Multiple series regular, guest star and recurring roles; Voice-overs – Multiple, current Mitsubishi, Sonicare.

Jeff Whyman (‘71) – Artist, sculptor.