Inductees have been announced for the 2011 Bison Alumni Wall of Fame.  They are Don Thompson, Class of 1928  and Brigadier General Gerald Eugene McIlmoyle, Class of 1948.

   Don Thompson ‘28 was nominated primarily for leadership in the Republican Valley Conservation Association. This organization was responsible for the dam and lake projects in the Republican Valley.  To quote from the letter of nomination, “We would not have our lakes without Don Thompson, and Nebraska would not have its water law structure without him.”

Because he witnessed the destruction of the 1935 flood, Thompson became involved in conservation and flood control.  His philosophy that “underground water and surface water must be considered together or there will be problems in the future” led to his authoring of two legislative studies with UNL on the topics of underground water and public power.  He also penned some of the first underground legislation for the state.  For this vision he received the “Headgate Award” from the US Bureau of Reclamation.

Elected to the legislature in 1954, Thompson’s first bill with Senator Harry Pizer from North Platte was to pave Highway 83 between the two communities.  He served as Speaker of the Unicameral in 1961-62.

Don and his brothers, Dale ‘38 and Chester ‘25, gained national recognition as leaders in the Registered Hereford Business. Because he remained in the McCook area, his influence was also evident in Kiwanis, Jaycees, the District 8 school board, the Chamber of Commerce and the McCook College Foundation. He served not only on the Red Willow County Fair Board but also as president of the Nebraska State Fair Board as well as the Nebraska County Fair Managers Association. He was a life-long supporter of 4-H and as such chaired the Red Willow County 4-H committee for a time.

  Jerry McIlmoyle ‘48 was nominated specifically for flying U-2 reconnaissance over Cuba and providing information to help avert the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.  For this he was thanked personally by President Kennedy and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. At one time he was also assigned as Director of the Joint Personnel Recovery Center. Their task was to recover all allied MIAs and POWs from Southeast Asia.

A thirty year Air Force career included intelligence duties at Strategic Air Command, Offutt Air Force Base, as well as the Pentagon. Conceptualizing and documenting SAC needs in cameras, films, processing, electronic and other intelligence collectors as well as specifying SAC’s worldwide intelligence requirements and processing and dissemination of the intelligence data collected were projects under his leadership. McIlmoyle was instrumental in briefing the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the need to endorse and fund the Space Shuttle. Before Ronald Reagan was inaugurated, it was McIlmoyle’s duty to brief him on nuclear responsibilities and release codes. When he retired in 1981, Gen. McIlmoyle was well decorated. In all he had been awarded a Distinguished Service Medal, two Legions of Merit, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, and 3 Air Medals.

  The Wall of Fame Committee is always wanting to add to the pool of nominees.  If you know of individuals who have been out of high school for at least ten years and who have contributed significantly to community and/or profession, please submit a nomination on their behalf. Letters should include the candidate’s name, address and phone number if applicable, and graduating class year as well as a paragraph outlining significant contributions.  Nominations must be signed and dated and include a phone number for further clarification.  They may be mailed to Steve Clapp   307 Park Ave.   McCook, NE  69001.

Alumni interested in serving on the selection committee may volunteer at the same address or by calling (308) 345-6835.