If you would like to submit or update a biography, please contact CHS.
Batterson, Darren | Cope, Bill | Cope, Jim | Gray, Bill | Hughes, Scot
Kesselring, Grant | Klodt, Jan Tallman | Nicholson, Frances Gray
Bill Gray: March 23, 2006 back to top
1985 CHS Graduate. A year later I married Laurie. She graduated from IHCC in ’85 and worked two plus jobs until I graduated in 1987 with an A.A.S. degree from the first IHCC Laser Program. I started out as a Laser field service engineer in Los Angeles , California for Gerber Garment Technology. Beach and sun everyday of the year, so much variety, and fun we could hardly take it. In 1989 I went to work for McDonnell Douglas Aerospace, St. Louis , as a development technician in the Defense Support Program. I built and tested optical systems and lasers for ground, airborne, and space systems. Laurie was hired by McDonnell Douglas Missile Systems Company shortly after. In 1994 the Air Force shut down my program, but it was perfect timing because the Laser Instructor position at Indian Hills Community College opened up. I have been teaching lasers and optics ever since. I love it, 4 days a week, teaching a trade that I believe in and am very passionate about. (There are many CHS alumni who went through the IHCC laser program and are in the laser field.)
We had our first daughter Michelle in 1991. She was on the track running when she turned 2. On New Years Eve in 1997 we had our second daughter Mallorie. She is 8, in second grade at Horace Mann Elementary now and loves life. Her heart is as big as a truck. Michelle is a freshman at Ottumwa High and on the cross country and track teams which I assistant Coach. I have coached youth track in Ottumwa for 8 years, the last five for the high school. Laurie is now the office manager for Williamson Dental Practice here in Ottumwa .
I enjoy working with the high school students in the area, and I need to focus on my Alma mater where I know we can find quality people. If I can come in anytime and talk to your science, math, physics, or any technology classes about optics, lasers, light,...and how they relate to what you learn in school, let me know.
Darren Batterson: March 21, 2006 back to top
I graduated from Cardinal High School in 1986. After working several years in farming I went on to attend Indian Hills Community College and graduated as class valedictorian in Criminal Justice. I was hired in May of 1998 for the Davis County Sheriff’s Department. One year later I was hired by the Ottumwa Police Department. I am currently assigned as a School Resource Officer at Evans Middle School. My duties consist mainly of being seen, interacting with the students, teaching D.A.R.E. and being proactive. I am also on the department’s Emergency Response Team. We do high-risk search warrants and my main duty is to ram or pry the door open so we can gain entry. I am also an assistant Varsity Football Coach at Cardinal and I have coached Little League Baseball for the last 20 years. I really enjoy coaching and it allows me interact on a different level with the students.
I have been married since June 27, 1992 to my wife Tishia. We have 3 children, Ty is the oldest, Danielle, and Delaine. We currently live in rural Agency were I grew up. My future plans include being the department’s canine handler.
Jim Cope: March 10, 2006 back to top
Jim Cope (1980) After graduating from Cardinal I attended a number of colleges. I have an undergraduate degree in music business and a master’s degree in elementary administration with endorsements in music, special education, and drivers’ education. I have been teaching for 14 years and have coached a number of sports and have had several high caliber bands in my career. I have a wife, Margaret, who is the District Conservationist at the Centerville Natural Resources Conservation Service, and two children Michael 9 and Sarah 7. We live on 80 acres West of Drakesville. I enjoy hunting, fishing, woodworking and photography.
In college I played football, rugby, was in an “Old Timers” wrestling club and participated in numerous music ensembles.
I am a 1972 graduate of Cardinal High School . After high school I attended Scott Community College for motorcycle repair. I earned my diploma and began to work in various motorcycle shops. In 1975 I married Vickie Spees (class of 1970). We have three sons, Kirk, Ben and Ryan. We live on a small farm near Fremont .
Over the course of 20+ years, I continued to increase my education by attending factory/manufacturer schools. By attending these schools I became a factory certified Honda motorcycle technician.
I had begun to have a desire to teach and decided to attend college and earn my teaching degree. I started at William Penn College in 1991 and graduated in 1995. I taught Industrial Technology for 6 years at Oskaloosa High School . I was also earning my Master’s degree in counseling during that time. I am currently a counselor at Fairfield High School and taking classes to become a high school principal. You are never done with your education!!!
(Published in the April 2002 Cardinal Newsletter)
Frances Gray Nicholson: April 2002 back to top
Tech. Sgt. Frances E. Nicholson of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois , recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after 15 years.
She was an in-flight refueling instructor. Her service included a tour of duty flying on the Looking Glass at Offutt Air Force Base. During the retirement ceremony at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma , she received the Meritorious Service Medal, a personal citation from President Bush and a personal citation from the Air Force Chief of Staff. She and her husband, Tech. Sgt. Anthony Nicholson, have two sons.
A 1982 graduate of Cardinal High School , she is the daughter of Merrill and Ardythe Gray of Ottumwa .
(Published in the April 2002 Cardinal Newsletter)
Jan Tallman Klodt: March 2002 back to top
Jan Tallman Klodt graduated from Cardinal High School in May 1983. She enrolled in the Animal Health Technology program at Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University ) in Kirksville , MO in August of 1983. Animal Health Technology was a two-year program, which she completed in 1985 and passed the Missouri State Veterinary Technician board in May of that Year. Jan had also applied for a two-year Army Reserve Office Training Corps Scholarhips in April of 1985. The scholarship was awarded with an eight-year military obligation. Four years were to be on active duty. She continued at NMSU with the scholarship to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Vet Biology, which she finished in May 1987. During that time she had the opportunity to attend Army Airborne Training. Jan had always wanted to be a veterinarian and applied to Iowa State University (ISU) in 1987 and was accepted.
Jan attended ISU, College of Veterinary Medicine from 1987 to 1991. She graduated in May of 199a and the Army wanted her. After three months of Officer Basic Course in San Antonio , Texas , Jan was ready to be a Captain in the Army Veterinary Corps. She was first stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska , from October, 1991 to July, 1993 and Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico from July 1993 to February 1996. In February 1996 Jan decided to return to Iowa and leave the military life.
Jan returned to Iowa with her husband, James Klodt, whom she had married in August of 1990. They also brought their daughter, Alexandra, who was born in June 1995 in Puerto Rico . Jan and James live near Ottumwa and Jan owns Eastview Animal Hospital with her business partner, Dr. Beth Doggett. There have been two more additions to the family since returning to Iowa : Zoe in January 1999 and Will in May 2001.
(Published in the March 2002 Cardinal Newsletter)
Grant Kesselring: Feb 2002 (updated Mar 9, 2006) back to top
After graduation from Cardinal in 1993, Grant enrolled in college at Iowa State University in Ames . At the beginning of his sophomore year, he declared a major in electrical engineering. Grant worked for an aerospace engineering company in Rockford , IL at the end of his junior year as part of an internship program. In the spring of 1998, Grant graduated with distinction from Iowa State with an emphasis in microelectronics.
From June of 1998 to present, Grant has been working at IBM Microelectronics in Burlington , VT. His department specializes in designing microchips used in electronic devices, such as computers and cell phones. In October 2001, Grant completed his Masters of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He has a patent pending for the invention of a power management circuit that increases the battery life of portable electronic devices.
Grant and his wife Gina were married last June in Vermont . She graduated from Iowa State in 1998 also, and then went on to study at Des Moines University to become a physician’s assistant. In the spring of 2000 she got her degree in Physician Assistant Studies and now works in the emergency department at their local hospital.
Grant and Gina recently bought their first house near Burlington , VT , and have been working hard to renovate it. The newest addition to their family is a 4-month-old black lab dog – Mokey. She is cute, but mischievous. Other things Grant enjoys in his free time include: skiing, snow boarding, playing the guitar, playing volleyball or softball, and amateur radio.
(Published in the February 2002 Cardinal Newsletter)
Update 3/9/06
Well, the one big that has happened since that original biography was written is that my wife and I had a baby girl last November. Her name is Elena Marie and she was born at Fletcher Allen Health Care hospital in Burlington, Vermont on November 4th. I am adjusting to fatherhood, and it has been a lot of fun watching her grow and learn how to do new things. Also, last year my wife, Gina, finished her Master Degree in Physician Assistant studies from the Univeristy of Nebraska distant learning program. She was also promoted to Chief PA of Emergency Medicine in 2005 at our regional hospital. Now she is trying to transition back to work after being on maternity leave for the past three months! Anyway, I hope all is well with you.
Scot Hughes: December 2001 back to top
(1982 graduate) has been an air traffic controller at the Cedar Rapids airport since 1991. Over the past five years, he has also served the Federal Aviation Administration in roles of training and quality assurance specialist and as a temporary supervisor. Away from the airport, Scot spends much of his time performing on stage. He has appeared in numerous productions with the Rochester (MN) Civic Theatre, Theatre Cedar Rapids, Classics at Brucemore and Riverside Theatre in Iowa City . Some of his roles include George Bailey in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, Ben Marco in “The Manchurian Candidate”, Murray the Cop in “The Odd Couple”, Captain Keller in “The Miracle Worker”, Carr Gomm in “The Elephant Man” and Frank Strang in “Equus”. Scot, his wife Marcia, and their children Katie and Spencer live in Cedar Rapids .
(Published in the December 2001 Cardinal Newsletter) |
