Published August 2018

WILES NAMED 2018 ‘ALUM OF THE YEAR’

Our 2018 Alum of the Year, Jeff Wiles was born and raised in Plattsmouth. The
Wiles family farm west of town was homesteaded in 1862. Growing up as the second of four
boys, he did the usual farm chores & activities and little league sports. While in high school,
he competed in football, basketball, and track. Inspired by his grandmother who had been a
kindergarten teacher in Omaha for many years, and the experience of coaching his younger
brother’s sports teams, and the coaches and teachers he had at PHS, he decided a career in
secondary education was his future. He began his studies at Midland University in Fremont
to pursue his teaching degree and play football. When Midland dropped their Social Science
program he transferred to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln receiving his Bachelor of Sci-
ence in Social Science Education in 1985.

Jeff is the grandson of the late Chet & Lucile Albert ’31 Wiles and son of the late
’57
Alan Wiles and Jean Marler ’59 Wiles. Jeff and Vicki Frazier ’83 Wiles have been married
for 33 years. Brothers, Roger ’83 and Craig ’90 are also PHS grads. Jeff & Vicki are loyal
Husker Fans and avid golfers.

Jeff’s teaching career began in 1985 at PHS, where he once again wore the blue and
white of the Blue Devils. The coaches he played for while growing up, were now his professional mentors and co-workers.
People like, Bob Priebe, his Social Studies department head and Don Freeburg, Cecil McKnight, and Charlie Caverzagie be-
came the coaches he would now assist. Jeff coached football, basketball, and track during his teaching years. Jeff played an
important role as the sponsor of the PHS Student Council, his leadership expanded to the role of advisor for the State of Ne-
braska Student Council and he also brought the State Student Council convention to PHS several times because of his leader-
ship in the organization. During his tenure at PHS Jeff was the recipient of the Ron Joekel award for leadership develop-
ment, the State Student Council Advisor of the Year, National Healthy School Champion, NCA District Track coach of the
year, and many other recognitions,

Jeff earned a Masters Degree in Economics. He was the PHS Athletic Director for 5 years. In 2005 Jeff earned an
endorsement in Administration and became High School
Principal in 2006. Teaching in Plattsmouth has never
been an 8:00 to 3:00 job for Jeff. He was a part of the
community in the promotion of kids and their education
through involvement in many organizations in Platts-
mouth. He knew everyone. He led kids by example, he
wasn’t afraid to pick up a hammer to build for the athletic
department or a broom to sweep the floor to be ready to
show off the facilities. Jeff’s latest passion as an admin-
istrator was to bring career academies to PHS. The ca-
reer academies balances learning preferences and careers
together. The ultimate goals are to have PHS students
career/college ready upon graduation and to have greater
involvement with community business leaders. Jeff Wiles
lived the PRIDE, HONOR, SPIRIT of PHS.
-continued on page 3-
 2018 HONOR CLASSES

50 YEARS - CLASS OF 1968

First row (LtoR): Betty Worfarth Findeis, Cynthia Osterholm Garrison, Pam Sell Carman, Roseanna Shropshire Adams, Jeanie
Young Brookhouser, Patty Larson Lambert, Yvonne Jochimsen Reigle. Second row (LtoR): Craig Smith, Vicki Cole Snyder, Frank
Pohlmeier, Connie Richards Pohlmeier, David Morris, Debbie Lindquist, Cathy Buechler Day, Nancy Ramge Mundorf, Kathy
Hackwith Grothe, Phyllis Thiessen Nelson, Linda Lepert Latimer, Joan Wehrbein Patocka, Steve Nielsen, George Schworm, Linda
Whitehouse Spencer. Third row (LtoR): Jim Dietz, Max Linder, Fred Ulrich, Greg Morehead, Steve Miller

55 YEARS - CLASS OF 1963

First row (LtoR) Carol Smith Wehrbein, Sharon Dunlap Stone, Cheryl Toman Mead, Carman Pfeifer Horn, Wanda Jenkins Hudson,
Cheryl McGraw, Karen, Allen, Ted Wehrbein, Steve Wehrbein, Gene Noell, Jimmie Bryant, Roger Beverage, Dennis Horn, Tom Brink
 2018 HONOR CLASSES

20 YEARS - CLASS OF 1998 35 YEARS - CLASS OF 1983 45 YEARS - CLASS OF 1973

Douglas McKnight, Alicia Vinduska
Garbers, Mary Pulsifer Roger Wiles, Vicki Frazier Wiles Sam Hardy, Debra Meisinger Griebe

Alum of the Year Continued -

The development of leadership skills in young people has been Jeff’s mission in his teaching career. Helping
our students become the leaders of tomorrow will not stop with his retirement. One of the nominators for Mr. Wiles
said, “Mr. Wiles is the teacher who best prepared me for college. In my senior economics class, he gave a lecture, we
had great discussions and then an assignment. AND then the assignment was due, no extensions, no nagging to get your
work done, no exceptions – intro to college classes 101.”

We are proud to announce the debut of the JEFF WILES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FUND. The
purpose of the fund is to help foster leadership opportunities for PHS students. This Fund will be available to students,
educators, administrators, and clubs, as a vehicle for attending leadership conferences, bringing training to Plattsmouth
for the benefit of students and staff. The help could come in the form of a grant to help students attend national leader-
ship activities, or to pay for a speaker to address specific needs, to bring in professionals to help with team building. The
opportunities are limitless and supported by our imagination. The Fund will be managed through the Plattsmouth Educa-
tion Foundation to provide the benefits of a 501(c)(3) tax deductible organization.

I would like to make a contribution to the JEFF WILES LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FUND.

NAME_______________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:___________________________________________________________________________
PHONE:_________________________ EMAIL:____________________________________________

Make check payable to: AMOUNT OF GIFT

Plattsmouth Education Foundation
P.O. Box 283
Plattsmouth, Nebraska 68048
Write: Wiles LDF in the memo line.
$________________
Under the umbrella of the Plattsmouth Education Foundation, the donors
to this project will enjoy the Tax Deductible benefits of a 501c3 non-profit
corporation.
 2018 HONOR CLASSES
70 YEARS - CLASS OF 1948
Leon Elliott
Mary Todd Rogers-Hammons
Garold Michaelsen
Pete Hill

65 YEARS - CLASS OF 1953

Edith Wetenkamp McCaw
Shirley Glaze Stipe
Bettie Sutton Meisinger
Bob Parriott
Russ Menges

60 YEARS - CLASS OF 1958

Front (LtoR): Janice McGaw Pohlmeier, Betty Smiley Henry, Janet Friedrick Meisinger, June Babcock Slater, Sheila
Marsh Speck, Barb Ulrich Toman. Back (LtoR): Tom Sullivan, Ken Dasher, Gene Farris, Duane Heim, Jay Speck,
Darrel Sudduth, Dan Wehrbein.
 “THE BAND PLAYS ON”
A
GALA FUNDRAISING EVENT

SUPPORTING PLATTSMOUTH BANDS

BE A SPONSOR
Friday, September 28, 2018 Sponsorships Available:
6PM - Cocktails - 7PM - Dinner Event $1000.00 Donation
Company/Individual Name on all event signage and
Slattery Vintage Estates Advertisements and Audio recognition throughout
Event.
8925 Adams Street
Dinner $500.00 Donation
Nehawka, NE 68413 Company/Individual Name on all dinner signage and
Audio recognition throughout event.

Cost $40.00 per person OR Cocktail Hour $650.00 Donation

Company/Individual Name on all signage and audio
$300.00 per table of 8 Recognition throughout cocktail hour.

RSVP by September 20, 2018 to Sandy UNIFORM COSTS: Buy a Uniform!

McKnight 402-298-8513
______ Entire Uniform: $450.00 Donation
Send checks to: ______ Jacket: $200.00 Donation
Plattsmouth Alumni Association
______ Pants: $130.00 Donation
P.O. Box 283 -Plattsmouth, NE 68048
______ Hat: $55.00 Donation
______ Accessories: $ 65.00 Donation

CLASS NOTICE: PHS HALL OF FAME

The Class of 1969 is making 50 year reunion plans. There
will be a function on Friday, May 24, 2019, (details will be
communicated later) and the class will attend the All School
Alumni Banquet on Saturday, May 25, 2019. We would like
for our classmates to contact me, Marcia Gruber Paul, with
their current information. Send your address, phone number,
and email address To: marciafpaul@gmail.com or text to: 214
-502-9973.
PHS Hall of Fame will be welcoming two new mem-
bers to the PHS Hall of Fame! Kathy Hackwith
Groth’68 & Lt. Col. William McGraw‘87! Congratula-
tions! The induction ceremony will take place on
Friday, September 14, 2018 at 1:00 PM in the PHS
Auditorium.
Plattsmouth Alumni Association NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
P.O. Box 283 U.S. POSTAGE
Plattsmouth, Nebraska 68048 PAID
PLATTSMOUTH, NE
PERMIT NO. 90

Football Game
Plattsmouth Blue Devils vs.
Ralston Rams

Join the Alumni Association for a Homecoming Tailgate Event

Friday, October 5, 2018
PHS Blue Devil Stadium Patio @ 6:00 PM
Cost: $10.00 per person (advance ticket price)

Don’t miss this opportunity to join classmates and

friends to Celebrate Plattsmouth’s Homecoming!