2018

Distinguished Alumni Awards 

The Board of Education of Centralia High School proudly announces the following individuals as recipients of the Centralia High School Distinguished Alumni Award
Class of 2018

Richard Campbell

Richard Campbell

Class of 1957

Graduated-Centralia Junior College-1959-AA

Graduated-Missouri School of Mines & Metallurgy-1962

Received-PhD from University of Alabama-1969

Worked for Boeing on NASA's Space Program-1962-1963

Worked for NASA at the Marshall Space Flight

Center-1963-1978

Designed & tested Saturn V first stage thrust vector

Designed and tested Space Shuttle thrust vector control system

Designed and tested space craft control system

Served as Founder & President of Campbell

Engineering-1978-2005

Manufactured many items used by astronauts on space

walks & over 14,000 items currently on the Space Station

Manufactured orthopedic instruments used during

knee and hip replacement surgeries

Served as Adjunct Professor in Mechanical Engineering

Department-University of Alabama-1972-1992

Founding partner of EC Tech-2005-2014

Founding partner of Theonics-2010-2018

Christopher Myers

Christopher Myers

Class of 1974

Graduated-BS in Agricultural Engineering-

University of Illinois-1978

Received-MS in Mechanical Engineering-

University of Illinois-1982

Served in various Engineering/Operations

Leadership Positions for John Deere-1978-1999

Served as Global Manager, Seeding Engineer

for John Deere-1999-2005

Served as Manager, Worldwide Tractor Product

Planning & Component Engineering for

John Deere-2005-2006

Served as Director, Worldwide Tractor &

Component Engineering for John Deere 2006-2009

Served as Global Director, Tractor Platform

Engineering for John Deere-2009-2018

Served on the Board of Directors for the

Society of Automotive Engineers International

Served as John Deere's Executive Sponsor of

the National Society of Black Engineers

Served as Women Reach Executive Sponsor

Serves as Vice-President, Advanced

Technology and Engineering for Deere and Company

Harry Johns

Harry Johns

Class of 1975

Graduated-Kaskaskia College-AA

Graduated-Eckerd College-Bachelor of

Business Administration

Received-Masters of Business Administration-

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management

Served as committee member of the executive

team of the American Cancer Society

Served as Board Member of the National Health Council

Served as Executive Committee Member and Board

member of Research!America

Serves on the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research,

Care and Services

Serves as Chairman of the World Dementia Council

Serves as President and CEO of Alzheimer's

Association-2005-present

Received-Power and Influence Award-Top 50

Received-William H. Kadel Medal for Outstanding

Career Achievement, Eckerd College

Centralia High School Distinguished Alumni Awards-2018