Famous Alumni

Joe Haymes (1907-1964), Class of 1925

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Joseph Lawrence Haymes was an American jazz bandleader and arranger. As a youth he was a drummer for the local Boy Scout Band and he took piano lessons as well. He played locally in his own band from 1926-1928 while attending Drury University. Joe was hired as an arranger by the famous bandleader and musician, Ted Weems. Joe arranged the hit "Piccilo Pete" for Weems and Haymes set a new highly jazz-informed style for the orchestra. In 1930, he formed a band in Tulsa, Oklahoma and continued to write Weems' arrangements. Haymes relocated to New York City in 1932 and was at one time the leader of one of the country's hottest dance bands. His group had a particular knack for jazz novelties and recorded on all 3 major labels. He sold the band to actor-leader, Buddy Rogers in 1933 and continued to create popular bands and sell them the rest of his career. Joe worked with the Dorsey brothers and later toured as an arranger for Les Brown in 1938 and 1939. Haymes also arranged for radio and Hollywood studios from the late 1940s to the 1950s. He worked with Lawrence Welk in the 50s during the heyday of Welk's famous TV show.

Durward G. Hall (1910-2001), Class of 1926

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Dr. Hall was a six-term US Representative from Missouri's 7th Congressional District from 1960 to 1973. He received his A.B. at Drury University in 1930 and graduated with his M.D. in 1934 from Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Hall served as a physician in the US Army during WWII, in the Office of the Surgeon General and became a member of the United States Army Reserve in 1955. In 1964, Dr. Hall was appointed as a delegate to the 1964 Republican National Convention. He was co-founder and board of trustees member of Uniformed Services, University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland from 1973 to 1981. He later served as a faculty member for Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida.

John Wilkinson (1945-2013), Class of 1963

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John Wilkinson was a nationally and internationally known guitarist and singer. He met Elvis Presley backstage at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield, Missouri at the age of ten after sneaking into his dressing room. John told the 21 year old musician that he did not like the way he played the guitar. "The King of Rock and Roll" asked him for an impromptu guitar lesson. Years later, John became a member of Elvis Presley's famed TCB band and toured with Elvis from 1968 until Presley's death in 1977. He was a talented rhythm guitarist and performed over 1,200 times with his close friend Elvis Presley. In his later years, John always found the time to mentor young musicians.

Dr. Paula J. Caplan, Class of 1965

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Dr. Paula Caplan is a clinical and research psychologist, author of books and plays, playwright, actor and director. She received her A.B. with honors from Radcliffe College of Harvard University, and received her M.A. and Ph.D. in psychology from Duke University. Currently, she is an associate at the DuBois Institute, Harvard University, and a Fellow at the Women and Public Policy Program of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.

Previously she has been a Lecturer at Harvard in Women, Gender, and Sexuality and in the Psychology department. She is former Full professor of Applied Psychology and Head of the Centre for Women's Studies in Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, and former Lecturer in Women's Studies and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Dr. Caplan is the author of numerous books including, When Johnny and Jane Come Marching Home: How All of Us Can Help Veterans.

Payne Stewart (1957-1999), Class of 1975

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William Payne Stewart was a world famous professional golfer, winner of 11 professional events, including the 1989 PGA Championship, the 1991 and 1999 U.S. Open Championships and was a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup Team. Stewart was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001. He was a graduate of Southern Methodist University.

His family accepted the USGA Bob Jones Award the summer of 2014 in his memory. This coveted award is the highest honor in professional golf and recognizes an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character and respect for the game exhibited by Jones. Payne's passion for the game, his legendary talent and traditional golf attire is forever remembered by golf fans from around the world. The ceremony was held at Pinehurst Golf Course where Payne won the 1999 U.S. Open Championship. On June 8, 2014 the documentary " Payne" premiered on NBC.

Billy Long, Class of 1973

Billy Long

Billy Long is an American politician and auctioneer who served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2023. The district includes much of the southwestern quadrant of the state and is anchored in Springfield. It also includes Joplin and Branson. A member of the Republican Party, Long was elected to fill the district's seat in 2010, succeeding Roy Blunt upon his election to the U.S. Senate.

A fourth-generation native of Missouri, Long was born in Springfield in 1955. He attended the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.

Judge W. Brent Powell, Class of 1988

Judge W. Brent Powell

Judge W. Brent Powell was appointed to the Supreme Court of Missouri in 2017. He was previously a circuit judge in Division 11 of the 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County. Judge Powell earned a B.A. from William Jewell College and a J.D. from the University of Missouri-Columbia.


Judge Powell is a member of the Missouri Sentencing Advisory Commission, The Missouri Bar, the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis. He serves on the Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance (LEAP) board of governors and is an active member of Visitation Catholic Church.

Allyson Witherspoon, Class of 1995

Allyson Witherspoon

Allyson Witherspoon is vice president and Chief Marketing Officer, Nissan U.S. She was appointed to this position in November 2020. In this role, Witherspoon is responsible for marketing communications and media, data innovation and customer experience, enhancing brand value, customer trust and insights, and brand and product marketing.

Witherspoon brings 20 years of automotive marketing experience working in a number of senior roles with, and on behalf of, automotive OEMs. Prior to her appointment with Nissan and INFINITI, Witherspoon served as the global business director for Volvo in Amsterdam, Netherlands, adding to her marketing agency experience that included leading accounts for two other automakers.

Witherspoon holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Missouri-Columbia. In 2014, Automotive News named Witherspoon as one of the "40 Under 40" for automakers and suppliers. In 2020 she was recognized as a Female Frontier for breaking brand barriers by Campaign US and was also named one of the 100 Leading Women in North American Auto Industry by Automotive News. Witherspoon was added to the 2022 MotorTrend Power List and was acknowledged by MediaPost as Automotive Marketer of the Year.

Aminu Mohammed, Class of 2021

Aminu Mohammed

Mohammed grew up in Lagos, Nigeria. At age 14, he moved to the United States to attend Archbishop Carroll High School in Washington D.C. In his freshman season, Mohammed earned First Team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference honors, before transferring to Greenwood Laboratory School. As a sophomore, he averaged 34.2 points and 17.5 rebounds, leading his team to a Missouri Class 2 state title, its first state title since 1942. He was named Class 2 District 10 Player of the Year and Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year. As a junior, Mohammed averaged 34.8 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. In his senior season, he earned Mr. Show-Me Basketball, McDonald's All-American, and Jordan Brand Classic honors. Mohammed scored 2,709 points at Greenwood, the most in Springfield history. Aminu then went on to play college basketball at Georgetown University. He currently plays in the NBA G League for the Delaware Blue Coats.