By Dewey Terrill
JC Post
"This is home."
Those words were spoken by Vonn Webb as he delivered the keynote remarks during the Geary Community Schools Foundation Celebration of Teaching Banquet Monday evening in Junction City.
Webb is a 1981 Junction City High School graduate who went on to become a teacher, high school and Division One men's basketball coach, administrator, motivational speaker and founder of Stay Shaded Non-Profit.
There was a trip down memory lane. "I have friends here for life." Webb remembered influential people in his life and friends ranging from Dr. Mary Devin, Buck Gibson, Ben Bennett and Ligia Paquete to Curtis Self and David White. Multiple former wrestlers such as Henry Petty and Mike Goodwin were also remembered. He credited former USD 475 administrator Dr. Larry Dixon for his influence and for connecting him with the influential Upward Bound program at Kansas State University.
Webb told the teachers that the odds are that the kids are listening to what they are teaching. For those who were retiring he expressed his respect and praised those who stuck with education all the way through their careers.
2025 retirees were honord during the banquet including Associate Superintendent Dr. Deb Gustafson.
Other retirees included Lori Mitchell, Heidi Ring, Christine Fant, Lori Geist, Melissa Hall, Erika Hart, Catherine Hollis, Kimberly Loader, Donna Miller, Stuart Schwarz, Danita Gordon, Jean Rafalko, Ethel Brooks, Virginia Barth, Ellie Dillon, Viola Moore, Mary Cay Stauffer, Vanessa Eisermann, Patricia Paxton and Jean Warner.
Overall there were 14 certified staff retirees with 311 years of experience and eight classified staff retirees with 184 years of experience. Eleven teachers were presented with scholarships while five received para-educator scholarships to further their education.