Victoria Holder
of good for his community and communities around him, which is why today Leo is undeniably the perfect candidate for the Hall of Fame. Victoria Holder (Class of 1944) Inducted 2015 Victoria Holder graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1944. She attended the University of Iowa for two years, and eventually graduated from Omaha University, now known as University of Nebraska at Omaha, with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Secondary Education English and Social Studies in 1949. A love of education drove her to gain her master’s degree in Secondary Education from Omaha University in 1953. Ms. Holder had a passion for writing, and for learning. This passion created endless opportunities to grow. She took a variety of different English and media classes from the University of Denver, Creighton, University of Iowa, and Iowa State University in order to expand and enlighten her teaching abilities. While venturing into these learning experiences, she worked at Union Pacific headquarters for one and a half years to pay for her last two years of college classes. This job was the only time she worked that was not in education. She began her career in education at West Harrison High School from 19501959. Ms. Holder began working in the Council Bluffs Schools in 1959, and educated Council Bluffs students until 1992. She worked in many buildings including: Edison, Wilson, and Abraham Lincoln. Iowa Western Community College became a Regional Writing Sponsor in 1995, and Ms. Holder served annually as a judge to read and critique writings to select a winner. She not only was an advocate for this experience, she eventually became a cocoordinator for the entire regional program. She judged writings, produced publications for award winners, selected winners, created judging teams, and hosted celebrational activities for years. After ten years of working and sponsorship with this program, Ms. Holder collaborated with Dorothy Brown in writing A Decade of Honored Writing: A Collection of Writings by
Scholastic Writing Award Winners of Southwest Iowa. Along with this distinguished writing, Ms. Holder was awarded the Upsilon State Achievement Award, a professional honor of women educators. Outside of her life in education, Ms. Holder held office in her PEO chapter, volunteered weekly as a Friend of the Library in the gift shop and served as a church deacon and elder. She was an immense force in the development of the New Horizon Prayer Shawl Ministry, which knits and donates more than 200 shawls to people in need. After her time as a junior and senior high school educator, Ms. Holder spent time working as a volunteer in local kindergarten class rooms. Tony Beck (Class of 1978) Inducted 2015 After graduating from Abraham Lincoln in 1978 Tony Beck served a full time mission in Italy for his church. He later attended Brigham Young University earning his degree in Accounting eventually becoming a CPA. He began a long career in business and accounting in the Phoenix area working for Ernst and Young a national accounting firm. Tony and his wife Miriam moved to Council Bluffs in 1989 where he began working for a small private company doing accounting work. In 1997, Mr. Beck started his own accounting business in Council Bluffs. In 1999, he purchased his first of ten Papa Murphys branches in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. Through his businesses, Tony Beck is able to influence and build our community by employing over 100 employees consisting of mostly high school students. Communities grow because of three distinct reasons: Ideas; Action; and Investment. Leaders emerge from businesses, schools, and community programs to create a place in which citizens are proud to live in. This doesn’t happen overnight and dedicated workers are required in order to achieve the dreams of a growing community. Our community enhancement lies in the hands of driven people such as Tony Beck. The life and character of Mr. Beck can be summarized by using the phrase community investment. He has spent his life investing in our
Scholastic Writing Award Winners of Southwest Iowa. Along with this distinguished writing, Ms. Holder was awarded the Upsilon State Achievement Award, a professional honor of women educators. Outside of her life in education, Ms. Holder held office in her PEO chapter, volunteered weekly as a Friend of the Library in the gift shop and served as a church deacon and elder. She was an immense force in the development of the New Horizon Prayer Shawl Ministry, which knits and donates more than 200 shawls to people in need. After her time as a junior and senior high school educator, Ms. Holder spent time working as a volunteer in local kindergarten class rooms. Tony Beck (Class of 1978) Inducted 2015 After graduating from Abraham Lincoln in 1978 Tony Beck served a full time mission in Italy for his church. He later attended Brigham Young University earning his degree in Accounting eventually becoming a CPA. He began a long career in business and accounting in the Phoenix area working for Ernst and Young a national accounting firm. Tony and his wife Miriam moved to Council Bluffs in 1989 where he began working for a small private company doing accounting work. In 1997, Mr. Beck started his own accounting business in Council Bluffs. In 1999, he purchased his first of ten Papa Murphys branches in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. Through his businesses, Tony Beck is able to influence and build our community by employing over 100 employees consisting of mostly high school students. Communities grow because of three distinct reasons: Ideas; Action; and Investment. Leaders emerge from businesses, schools, and community programs to create a place in which citizens are proud to live in. This doesn’t happen overnight and dedicated workers are required in order to achieve the dreams of a growing community. Our community enhancement lies in the hands of driven people such as Tony Beck. The life and character of Mr. Beck can be summarized by using the phrase community investment. He has spent his life investing in our
