HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Leo Cash (Class of 1942) Inducted 2015 Leo Cash graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1942. He was an avid football player, but later found his true passion in wrestling. After high school, Leo joined the Navy and wrestled for the United States. His team was very good and went on to win many championships, including a national championship. Leo became a mail carrier and the president of the Letter Carriers Union. he fought for raises for mail carriers all the way to Washington D.C.. In addition to his career in the U.S. Postal Service, Leo spent 52 years umpiring softball games He said he was “thrown into umpiring” but thoroughly enjoyed what he did. Even more notably, Leo also started a wrestling league in Council Bluffs. Again, he was sort of “thrown into it,” but Leo loved what he did. The league started small but grew quickly. Leo was very passionate about wrestling and it definitely showed. Many of the young boys who were involved in the league still remember Leo and his dedication to the sport. Leo could recall several occasions when he would be stopped by strangers who remembered him from when they were younger and involved in his league. These kids were not only involved, but they were good. There is no doubt about the level of inspiration that was involved with the organization and the level of selfless dedication Leo had with his teams. He continued his passion for about 25 years before he retired. His wife, Lloydine recalled him not being home most of the time because he was so dedicated to what he did. Another prominent success in Leo’s life was his lengthy involvement with the American Legion. When Leo’s father died young, the American Legion helped Leo’s family. From that point on, Leo knew he wanted to be a part of the American Legion. He was an active member for many years, donating many hours as a volunteer. Leo’s wife shared that Leo had once said “when I go, I can say I am happy because I got to do everything I wanted in my life. I have had a good life.” Indeed Leo has done many wonderful things and has done lots 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. A​ long 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 community. Investing in people. Very few have the bravery and patience required to dedicate their lives to the people in the space in which they live. Tony Beck has spent his time and energy insuring the future success of our community, particularly the students of Abraham Lincoln High School. Outside of his professional life, Tony takes time to serve his community through the Boy Scouts of America, Kiwanis of Omaha, and work within the school district and area sports organizations. When asked about why he is so faithfully invested in the youth of our community, Mr.Beck said, “I do this because I believe in you ­ you young men and young women are our future leaders.” Our school and community are greatly impacted by strong leaders just like Tony Beck. He has dedicated his life to his family, his religion, and his work, which all had a profound impact on Abraham Lincoln High School and Council Bluffs Iowa. Fred Glassburner (Class of 1933) Inducted 2015 Fred Glassburner graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 1933. Dr. Glassburner then earned bachelors and masters degrees and a Ph.D. He attended Iowa State, the University of Iowa and George Peabody College for teachers. Fred served in World War II from 1942­1945 as a captain of artillery. He fought in Africa, Italy, France, and Germany, and helped liberate a concentration camp. He was seriously wounded by enemy fire in an ambush on April 6th, 1945 in Germany and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. Fred’s main interests were in the fields of education and music. After his recovery from the war. He became a music teacher for five years in elementary and high schools. He became the superintendent of one of the schools where he taught music. He also judged music contests for the various schools. He was a wonderful musician and could play almost every instrument well. He played in many symphonies, for many Broadway shows and local productions, the Ringling Brother’s and Shrine Circuses and even played under Carl King. He directed the Iowa Western Community band, the Legion Band, Shrine band and Elk’s band. For the last seven years of his life, he and his wife had their own band, the Fred and Norma Glassburner Orchestra. After receiving his doctoral degree he held various positions including Kern County Schools coordinator in Bakersfield, California, professor of education at Buena Vista College at Storm Lake, Iowa, director of research at Wisconsin University, Consortium director for three colleges in Dubuque, and resident of Lea College at Albert Lea, Minnesota. Fred volunteered in so many ways and helped so many people. He directed church choirs in five different communities. For 37 years, the Glassburners helped support children from poverty stricken countries each month. Fred also started the first Council Bluffs Senior Center and was president for three years.He also attended volunteer meetings for the Southwest Area on Aging. Senator Harkin once asked Fred to come to Washington for three days to speak about aging. Fred was a donor for any cause and accepting of anyone. While Fred was working on his doctorate in Nashville, he was president of the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity. During his presidency, Fred inducted the fraternity’s first black member, which was unusual in the 1950’s.