Richwoods High School Alumni
Peoria, Illinois (IL)
Recent Members
| Erica Smith | 2005 |
| Nancy Nonnemacher | 1972 |
| Nate Engstrom | 2015 |
| Pam Jeakins | 1974 |
| Pat Hughes | 1962 |
| Rod Smith Jr. | 1975 |
| Shirley Phillips | 1965 |
| Terrence Trent D'arby | 1990 |
Military Alumni
Honoring Our Heroes
This area is dedicated to our alumni that have served or are serving in our armed forces!
Lost Class Rings
Have you lost your Richwoods High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our Knights lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni
A. Douglas Spitalny
Class of 1984
Army, 14 Years
Army Surgeon. Got out as a Major.
Stationed at Ft. Benning and Ft. Bragg. Now GS-14 Surgeon at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
Class of 1984
Army, 14 Years
Army Surgeon. Got out as a Major.
Stationed at Ft. Benning and Ft. Bragg. Now GS-14 Surgeon at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO
Andy Alcorn
Class of 1984
Army, 8 Years
Left after graduation, serve tour in Korea, tour in Ft McClellan AL, sent to Panama with 61th SOAD (ABN) for Operation Just Cause, finished time at Ft Bragg NC with 35th Signal (ABN)
Class of 1984
Army, 8 Years
Left after graduation, serve tour in Korea, tour in Ft McClellan AL, sent to Panama with 61th SOAD (ABN) for Operation Just Cause, finished time at Ft Bragg NC with 35th Signal (ABN)
Bill Churchill
Class of 1963
Army, 2 Years
Served in Vietnam (Bien Hoa) in 1968. Presently I'm a proud member of the American Legion Honor Guard (Military Funerals) Post 26 in Davenport, Iowa
Class of 1963
Army, 2 Years
Served in Vietnam (Bien Hoa) in 1968. Presently I'm a proud member of the American Legion Honor Guard (Military Funerals) Post 26 in Davenport, Iowa
Brad Barker
Class of 1981
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a Food Service Specialist and Manager for 20 yrs. Spent 9 yrs in Europe and deployed 4 times. I love my country!!
Class of 1981
Army, 20+ Years
Served as a Food Service Specialist and Manager for 20 yrs. Spent 9 yrs in Europe and deployed 4 times. I love my country!!
brett jackson
Class of 1989
Army, 5 Years
carpenter/mason severd in the first gulf war from 1990-1991
Class of 1989
Army, 5 Years
carpenter/mason severd in the first gulf war from 1990-1991
brett jackson
Class of 1989
Army, 5 Years
served in the first gulf war (desert shield and desert storm) as a carpenter and mason specialist. Went back in 2011 to the Minnesota National Guard as a refueler
Class of 1989
Army, 5 Years
served in the first gulf war (desert shield and desert storm) as a carpenter and mason specialist. Went back in 2011 to the Minnesota National Guard as a refueler
Dale E. Wittmer
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
Volunteered in '68, NCO, Ranger School, VietNam, Americal Division, RECON, silver star, bronze stars, purple hearts and still living. I am the guy on the left.
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
Volunteered in '68, NCO, Ranger School, VietNam, Americal Division, RECON, silver star, bronze stars, purple hearts and still living. I am the guy on the left.
Dale Wittmer
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
OP-Intel NCO School Ft Benning GA
Vietnam Recon E Co 1st52nd198th Americal Division 2 purple hearts, silver star, 2 bronze stars (one for valor) shot through neck by AK47- living to tell about it!
Class of 1967
Army, 2 Years
OP-Intel NCO School Ft Benning GA
Vietnam Recon E Co 1st52nd198th Americal Division 2 purple hearts, silver star, 2 bronze stars (one for valor) shot through neck by AK47- living to tell about it!
David O. Philips
Class of 1962
Army, 2 Years
Was lucky and spent the entire 2 years on active duty in the US. I was a cook for the OCS brigade at Fort Know Ky.
Class of 1962
Army, 2 Years
Was lucky and spent the entire 2 years on active duty in the US. I was a cook for the OCS brigade at Fort Know Ky.
Debbie Shepard Melton
Class of 1977
Air Force, 20+ Years
I worked in a variety of positions, administrative, supply, base operations and flight management. I worked 20 years with a KC-135E unit and finished with a T-38C unit.
Class of 1977
Air Force, 20+ Years
I worked in a variety of positions, administrative, supply, base operations and flight management. I worked 20 years with a KC-135E unit and finished with a T-38C unit.
Donatus Kelch
Class of 1963
Navy, 7 Years
Proudly served in Vietnam and others, Mustered out as an E6 computer specialist. The Navy taught me my life's work in "IT" and brought the world into a clear view. Am currently VFW Post Adjutant, Post 3118, Pleasant Hill Mo.
Class of 1963
Navy, 7 Years
Proudly served in Vietnam and others, Mustered out as an E6 computer specialist. The Navy taught me my life's work in "IT" and brought the world into a clear view. Am currently VFW Post Adjutant, Post 3118, Pleasant Hill Mo.
Ed Gott
Class of 1961
Army, 2 Years
Drafted 1968. Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood. No AIT. Spent 5 months at Oakland Army Base. Spent 8 1/2 months at Dong Tam, Vietnam with 9th Infantry Division. Spent 4 months at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii in USARPAC. Spent last 3 1/2 months at Schofield Barracks Hawaii in USARHAW. Returned to civilian life in April, 1970.
Class of 1961
Army, 2 Years
Drafted 1968. Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood. No AIT. Spent 5 months at Oakland Army Base. Spent 8 1/2 months at Dong Tam, Vietnam with 9th Infantry Division. Spent 4 months at Ft. Shafter, Hawaii in USARPAC. Spent last 3 1/2 months at Schofield Barracks Hawaii in USARHAW. Returned to civilian life in April, 1970.
Eugene Wallace
Class of 1960
Army, 2 Years
Served 2 years stateside at Fort Sam Houston, TX in the medical corps. Worked in FUSAML - Fourth US Army Medical Lab running medical tests. Also part time at Brooks Army Medical Center. Met my wife Aline while in the service. Now deeply involved with Greater Peoria Honor Flight, which provides free trips to DC for Veterans to visit the memorials built in their honor. Great program - look it up - greaterpeoriahonorflight.org or the national organization honorflight.org.
Class of 1960
Army, 2 Years
Served 2 years stateside at Fort Sam Houston, TX in the medical corps. Worked in FUSAML - Fourth US Army Medical Lab running medical tests. Also part time at Brooks Army Medical Center. Met my wife Aline while in the service. Now deeply involved with Greater Peoria Honor Flight, which provides free trips to DC for Veterans to visit the memorials built in their honor. Great program - look it up - greaterpeoriahonorflight.org or the national organization honorflight.org.
Fred Osborn
Class of 1964
Navy, 4 Years
Electronic Technician in an anti submarine squadron stationed NAS Key West Florida.
Class of 1964
Navy, 4 Years
Electronic Technician in an anti submarine squadron stationed NAS Key West Florida.
GARY A JACOBS
Class of 1963
Army, 2 Years
Army Engineering School, Ft. Belvoir, VA; served in Kaiserslautern and Kassel, Germany.
Class of 1963
Army, 2 Years
Army Engineering School, Ft. Belvoir, VA; served in Kaiserslautern and Kassel, Germany.
Jeffrey L Grant
Class of 1976
Army, 12 Years
Stationed in Ft. Richardson, Alaska; Ft. Jackson, South Carolina; Ft. Ord, California; Airborne school at Ft. Benning, Georgia, Bad Tolz, Germany, Vicenza, Italy; Ft. Bragg, North Carolina with the 82ndAirborne
Class of 1976
Army, 12 Years
Stationed in Ft. Richardson, Alaska; Ft. Jackson, South Carolina; Ft. Ord, California; Airborne school at Ft. Benning, Georgia, Bad Tolz, Germany, Vicenza, Italy; Ft. Bragg, North Carolina with the 82ndAirborne
Jerry Leman
Class of 1959
Army, 2 Years
Specialist 4th Class. U.S. Army Materials and Mechanic Research in Watertown, Massachusetts
Class of 1959
Army, 2 Years
Specialist 4th Class. U.S. Army Materials and Mechanic Research in Watertown, Massachusetts
Joe Whitehouse
Class of 1963
Air Force, 2 Years
Kadena Air Force Base Okinawa-Dentist
Class of 1963
Air Force, 2 Years
Kadena Air Force Base Okinawa-Dentist
Joel Simons
Class of 1976
Navy, 6 Years
NavCamsEastPac, Wahiawa, Hawaii.
NSGA Adak, Alaska
Class of 1976
Navy, 6 Years
NavCamsEastPac, Wahiawa, Hawaii.
NSGA Adak, Alaska
John Nyman
Class of 1969
Navy, 20+ Years
I chose the Navy as a career. I was in for 20 years. My specialty was ship navigation. Most of my time was on ships imported in San Diego. I visited many countries and I was in Viet Nam for 8 months in 197$. I retired at the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1991.
Class of 1969
Navy, 20+ Years
I chose the Navy as a career. I was in for 20 years. My specialty was ship navigation. Most of my time was on ships imported in San Diego. I visited many countries and I was in Viet Nam for 8 months in 197$. I retired at the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1991.
Joseph Keel
Class of 2003
Army, 6 Years
Drove tanks in South Korea then trained new officers in Fort Knox. Came to Peoria with a Reserve Unit to be an IT Specialist
Class of 2003
Army, 6 Years
Drove tanks in South Korea then trained new officers in Fort Knox. Came to Peoria with a Reserve Unit to be an IT Specialist
Ken Jaeger
Class of 1977
Navy, 20+ Years
Cook/food service supervisor. Served on several types of ships that included a frigate, destroyer, amphibious assult ship and a hydrofoil. Favorite ports: Hong Kong and South Kprea.
Class of 1977
Navy, 20+ Years
Cook/food service supervisor. Served on several types of ships that included a frigate, destroyer, amphibious assult ship and a hydrofoil. Favorite ports: Hong Kong and South Kprea.
Kerney Dante Labbe
Class of 1988
Air Force, 4 Years
3 yrs as a SAC Elite Guardsmen. One year spent at Kunsan AFB member of the EST team
Class of 1988
Air Force, 4 Years
3 yrs as a SAC Elite Guardsmen. One year spent at Kunsan AFB member of the EST team
Linda Etaugh
Class of 1973
Air Force, 7 Years
Law Enforcement Military Working Dog Handler in USAF.
Group Historian and Law Enforcement in Air National Guard
Class of 1973
Air Force, 7 Years
Law Enforcement Military Working Dog Handler in USAF.
Group Historian and Law Enforcement in Air National Guard
paul geuvens
Class of 1969
Marine Corps, 2 Years
vietnam disabled vet. need help with suicide thoughts from any war vet. please help. send e-mail to diana emrick [ messerli ] richwoods high school class of 1969.
Class of 1969
Marine Corps, 2 Years
vietnam disabled vet. need help with suicide thoughts from any war vet. please help. send e-mail to diana emrick [ messerli ] richwoods high school class of 1969.
Randy Corwin
Class of 1977
Air Force, 20+ Years
Forward Air Controler,
Transportation Officer,
Logistics Officer
Class of 1977
Air Force, 20+ Years
Forward Air Controler,
Transportation Officer,
Logistics Officer
Richard Barker
Class of 1965
Army, 2 Years
Served as an infantry soldier with Charlie company, 2/16 infantry (Rangers), 1st Infantry Division, in Vietnam from Feb 1968 - Feb. 1969
Class of 1965
Army, 2 Years
Served as an infantry soldier with Charlie company, 2/16 infantry (Rangers), 1st Infantry Division, in Vietnam from Feb 1968 - Feb. 1969
Richard Herring II
Class of 1989
Navy, 4 Years
Served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and traveled the world. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I needed both discipline and direction and received each of them in their entirety.
Class of 1989
Navy, 4 Years
Served in Desert Shield/Desert Storm and traveled the world. I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. I needed both discipline and direction and received each of them in their entirety.
Robert Hodge
Class of 1977
National Guard, 1 Years
I served with the old Army National Guard unit that used to be on Adams Street just north of downtown Peoria, Co. A of the 1st Bn., 123d Inf. Regiment of the 47th Infantry Division. I was a company clerk, serving for not quite one full year before receiving a medical discharge due to eyesight. I was sent to Fort Knox, Ky. for basic training, and advanced training was at Fort Harrison, Ind( which was closed during the 1990s).
Class of 1977
National Guard, 1 Years
I served with the old Army National Guard unit that used to be on Adams Street just north of downtown Peoria, Co. A of the 1st Bn., 123d Inf. Regiment of the 47th Infantry Division. I was a company clerk, serving for not quite one full year before receiving a medical discharge due to eyesight. I was sent to Fort Knox, Ky. for basic training, and advanced training was at Fort Harrison, Ind( which was closed during the 1990s).
Stephen O'Brien
Class of 1964
Army Reserves, 6 Years
495th Engineering Btn Co D.Combat Engineer,Recruiter,Truck Driver.
Class of 1964
Army Reserves, 6 Years
495th Engineering Btn Co D.Combat Engineer,Recruiter,Truck Driver.
Alumni Stories
Read and submit stories about our classmates from Richwoods High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow Knights.
Our Richwoods High School military alumni are some of the most outstanding people we know and this page recognizes them and everything they have done! Not everyone gets to come home for the holidays and we want our Richwoods High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Peoria are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!