Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni
Cedar Rapids, Iowa (IA)

Recent Members
Judith Mcdermott | 1973 |
Julie Burbridge | 1965 |
Michele Lohman | 1970 |
Naomi Toczylowski | 1976 |
Patty Susan Kay Rissman | 1973 |
Robert Meyer | 1964 |
Teresa Carlson | 1985 |
Tom Sedlacek | 1975 |
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 Thomas Jefferson High School class ring? Have you found someone's class ring? Visit our J-hawks lost class ring page to search for your class ring or post information about a found ring.
Honored Military Alumni

Allen June
Class of 1972
Air Force, 10 Years
After graduating from Baylor University, I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. and entered pilot training at Ft Rucker, Alabama (1976). I flew helicopters/search and rescue and missile site support for 5 years and finished my last 5 years in fixed wing aircraft. My last assignment was in C-130H aircraft. I spent most of my time in southern U.S. but flew multiple deployments outside the country. I finished my service as a captain senior pilot, with over 2,200 flight hours.
Class of 1972
Air Force, 10 Years
After graduating from Baylor University, I was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. and entered pilot training at Ft Rucker, Alabama (1976). I flew helicopters/search and rescue and missile site support for 5 years and finished my last 5 years in fixed wing aircraft. My last assignment was in C-130H aircraft. I spent most of my time in southern U.S. but flew multiple deployments outside the country. I finished my service as a captain senior pilot, with over 2,200 flight hours.

Anita (Roethlisberger) Plotz
Class of 1972
Air Force, 2 Years
A1C, Russian Linguist. Stationed at Defense Language Institute(Monterey CA), Shu Lin Ku AFB in Taipei, Taiwan.
Class of 1972
Air Force, 2 Years
A1C, Russian Linguist. Stationed at Defense Language Institute(Monterey CA), Shu Lin Ku AFB in Taipei, Taiwan.

bill knebel
Class of 1963
Navy, 4 Years
worked on a-4 skyhawk jet engines. my squadron was va95. two cruises in vietnam with uss ranger and uss intrepid
Class of 1963
Navy, 4 Years
worked on a-4 skyhawk jet engines. my squadron was va95. two cruises in vietnam with uss ranger and uss intrepid

carl bare
Class of 1970
Air Force, 20+ Years
22 years as aircraft maint. on b52's c5a's c141's c130's and aircraft job controllers assignments guam thailand, japan ,spain,korea ,new jersey castle ,ellsworth s.d.
Class of 1970
Air Force, 20+ Years
22 years as aircraft maint. on b52's c5a's c141's c130's and aircraft job controllers assignments guam thailand, japan ,spain,korea ,new jersey castle ,ellsworth s.d.

carl bare
Class of 1970
Air Force, 20+ Years
air force b 52 mechanic,air force c141,c5,c130 mechanic,air force weapons controller
Class of 1970
Air Force, 20+ Years
air force b 52 mechanic,air force c141,c5,c130 mechanic,air force weapons controller

Clarence Miller
Class of 1961
Air Force, 4 Years
Served during the Berlin Crisis and Cuban Missile Crisis in France. Assigned to Crash Rescue - 366TFW.
Class of 1961
Air Force, 4 Years
Served during the Berlin Crisis and Cuban Missile Crisis in France. Assigned to Crash Rescue - 366TFW.


David R. York
Class of 1969
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Vietnam(69-70). Duty stations at Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune, Gitmo Bay, Cuba, Okinawa, and Marine Barracks at Yokoska, Japan.
Final rank was a Sgt.
Class of 1969
Marine Corps, 4 Years
Vietnam(69-70). Duty stations at Camp Pendleton, Camp Lejeune, Gitmo Bay, Cuba, Okinawa, and Marine Barracks at Yokoska, Japan.
Final rank was a Sgt.

david rahn
Class of 1987
Army, 7 Years
2 times Korea, 2 times Kuwait and 4 years at Ft. Carson, 94-00
Class of 1987
Army, 7 Years
2 times Korea, 2 times Kuwait and 4 years at Ft. Carson, 94-00

Dennis Brink
Class of 1959
Army, 2 Years
3rd Infantry, Old Guard -- Ft. Myer, Virginia and Ft. McNair, Washington, DC. Ceremonial soldier and S2 Intelligence.
Class of 1959
Army, 2 Years
3rd Infantry, Old Guard -- Ft. Myer, Virginia and Ft. McNair, Washington, DC. Ceremonial soldier and S2 Intelligence.

Dennis Brink
Class of 1959
Army, 2 Years
Drafted in December 1963 and completed 2 year engagement in December 1965. After basic training and advanced infantry, I was chosen to go to the 3rd Infantry at Ft. Myer, VA and Ft. McNair, Washington DC. I was in the Old Guard, the ceremonial battalion of the army and involved in parades, guarding at Arlington Cemetery, political events in Washington, DC, and in the S-2 intelligence section of the battalion.
Class of 1959
Army, 2 Years
Drafted in December 1963 and completed 2 year engagement in December 1965. After basic training and advanced infantry, I was chosen to go to the 3rd Infantry at Ft. Myer, VA and Ft. McNair, Washington DC. I was in the Old Guard, the ceremonial battalion of the army and involved in parades, guarding at Arlington Cemetery, political events in Washington, DC, and in the S-2 intelligence section of the battalion.

Diane R. King
Class of 1968
Navy, 2 Years
SN-3: Enlisted in Chicago. Boot in Orlando, Fla. Served at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.; Norfolk Naval Station, Norfolk, VA; Naval Air Station Oceana. I am a member of WIMSA (Women in Military Service of America). My name/picture can be found in the database (& seen) at the Women's Memorial at Arlington, Washington DC. I am PROUD to be an American & I am PROUD to have served. THANKS to all the other service people that have served!
Class of 1968
Navy, 2 Years
SN-3: Enlisted in Chicago. Boot in Orlando, Fla. Served at Pensacola Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla.; Norfolk Naval Station, Norfolk, VA; Naval Air Station Oceana. I am a member of WIMSA (Women in Military Service of America). My name/picture can be found in the database (& seen) at the Women's Memorial at Arlington, Washington DC. I am PROUD to be an American & I am PROUD to have served. THANKS to all the other service people that have served!


Duane Albin
Class of 1972
Air Force, 4 Years
Antenna and pole jockey in communcations
Class of 1972
Air Force, 4 Years
Antenna and pole jockey in communcations



Ernest Rimrodt
Class of 1962
Army, 20+ Years
US Army Berlin Brigade 62-65
Iowa Army National Guard 73-85
US Army Reserve 85-94
Class of 1962
Army, 20+ Years
US Army Berlin Brigade 62-65
Iowa Army National Guard 73-85
US Army Reserve 85-94

Ernie Coleman
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Joined Marines Aug. 66. I served in a rifle company with Company C 1st Battalion 5th Marines for 13 mo. from 67-68. Once back in the states, I was a rifle instructor for new recruits at Edson Rifle Range at Camp Pendleton Calif., until being honorably discharged in April of 69.
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 3 Years
Joined Marines Aug. 66. I served in a rifle company with Company C 1st Battalion 5th Marines for 13 mo. from 67-68. Once back in the states, I was a rifle instructor for new recruits at Edson Rifle Range at Camp Pendleton Calif., until being honorably discharged in April of 69.

Francis (Mike) Fowler
Class of 1965
Navy Reserves, 6 Years
Served from 1966-1972 with 2 years 0f active duty aboard the USS LaSalle (LPD-3) which was an amphibious transport dock. Our mission was to transport and offload up to 1,000 U.S. Marines for invasion landings anywhere in the world. After many years of good service the USS LaSalle was used for target practice by other U.S. naval vessels and eventually sunk somewhere off the panhandle coast of Florida and is now being used to form a coral reef.
Class of 1965
Navy Reserves, 6 Years
Served from 1966-1972 with 2 years 0f active duty aboard the USS LaSalle (LPD-3) which was an amphibious transport dock. Our mission was to transport and offload up to 1,000 U.S. Marines for invasion landings anywhere in the world. After many years of good service the USS LaSalle was used for target practice by other U.S. naval vessels and eventually sunk somewhere off the panhandle coast of Florida and is now being used to form a coral reef.


Gale Dorman
Class of 1972
Army, 20+ Years
Chief Warrant Officer, in charge of maintenance of Patriot Systems deployed to SWA for Desert Storm, Served in Germany, Fort Bliss (Nike Hercules, Patriot), Korea. Was a Army Recruiter in Cedar Rapids.
Class of 1972
Army, 20+ Years
Chief Warrant Officer, in charge of maintenance of Patriot Systems deployed to SWA for Desert Storm, Served in Germany, Fort Bliss (Nike Hercules, Patriot), Korea. Was a Army Recruiter in Cedar Rapids.

Gary Benford
Class of 1967
Army, 20+ Years
Served on active duty, 1972-1975; and in the Army Reserve or National Guard, 1975-2001. Retired as a Colonel.
Class of 1967
Army, 20+ Years
Served on active duty, 1972-1975; and in the Army Reserve or National Guard, 1975-2001. Retired as a Colonel.

Gary L Fisher
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 4 Years
1965-1969 MOS 3516/3531 -1966 3rd MAW MAG 33 1966 - 1969 5th Marine Division Service Battalion Maintenance CO SGT E5
Class of 1965
Marine Corps, 4 Years
1965-1969 MOS 3516/3531 -1966 3rd MAW MAG 33 1966 - 1969 5th Marine Division Service Battalion Maintenance CO SGT E5

Gordon Fuller
Class of 1980
Navy, 8 Years
Duty stations included USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Emory S. Land (AS-39)
Class of 1980
Navy, 8 Years
Duty stations included USS Nimitz (CVN-68) and USS Emory S. Land (AS-39)

Gregory Birky
Class of 1969
Air Force, 4 Years
Weapons loader on F4 aircraft in Thailand 1972, weapons loading trainer on F4 at Kunsan AB, Korea 1973/74
Class of 1969
Air Force, 4 Years
Weapons loader on F4 aircraft in Thailand 1972, weapons loading trainer on F4 at Kunsan AB, Korea 1973/74


James L. Fuhrman
Class of 1958
Army, 3 Years
USNS Corpus Christi Bay Vietnam Act. Sgt.
Army Commendation Medal
Class of 1958
Army, 3 Years
USNS Corpus Christi Bay Vietnam Act. Sgt.
Army Commendation Medal

Jeannine Johnson
Class of 1972
Navy, 4 Years
I joined the Navy in 1973 and was stationed primarily in Charleston, S.C. and worked as a radioman. I spent about three and half years active duty and about one year in the Navy Reserves.
Class of 1972
Navy, 4 Years
I joined the Navy in 1973 and was stationed primarily in Charleston, S.C. and worked as a radioman. I spent about three and half years active duty and about one year in the Navy Reserves.

Jim Minninger
Class of 1964
Army, 20+ Years
20+ years in Army Aviation, retired in 1992 as a CW4
Class of 1964
Army, 20+ Years
20+ years in Army Aviation, retired in 1992 as a CW4


John Bruce Miller
Class of 1963
Navy, 3 Years
Attack Squadron VA212 two cruises off coast of Viet Nam on Carriers USS Hancock & USS Bonn Hom Richard.
Class of 1963
Navy, 3 Years
Attack Squadron VA212 two cruises off coast of Viet Nam on Carriers USS Hancock & USS Bonn Hom Richard.

John Houser
Class of 1970
Air Force, 4 Years
Spent most of my military time at Luke A.F.B. in Phoenix, AZ. Worked in Surgery at the Air Force Regional Hospital during the Vietnam War, honorably discharged after serving 4 years.
Class of 1970
Air Force, 4 Years
Spent most of my military time at Luke A.F.B. in Phoenix, AZ. Worked in Surgery at the Air Force Regional Hospital during the Vietnam War, honorably discharged after serving 4 years.


Kit Covington
Class of 1967
Navy, 6 Years
Submarine Service on Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine SSBN 658 USS Mariano G. Vallejo!
Class of 1967
Navy, 6 Years
Submarine Service on Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine SSBN 658 USS Mariano G. Vallejo!

Loretta (Lori) Adams
Class of 1986
Army, 6 Years
Psychological Operations Specialist -37F
Operation Just Cause 1989
Desert Storm Era Veteran
Class of 1986
Army, 6 Years
Psychological Operations Specialist -37F
Operation Just Cause 1989
Desert Storm Era Veteran


Michael D Mason
Class of 1974
Army, 20+ Years
Mechanized Infantry, Military Police, Logistics/Operations, Recruiting. Served 12 of 21 overseas (Korea, Germany)
Class of 1974
Army, 20+ Years
Mechanized Infantry, Military Police, Logistics/Operations, Recruiting. Served 12 of 21 overseas (Korea, Germany)
Alumni Stories

Read and submit stories about our classmates from Thomas Jefferson High School, post achievements and news about our alumni, and post photos of our fellow J-hawks.
School News
1959 Jefferson Class 60th Reunion
At the Long Branch Hotel in Cedar Rapids IA. on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019. We will be at the Banquet room at 6 PM followe...
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Our Thomas Jefferson 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 Thomas Jefferson High School Military to know that they are loved and appreciated. All of us in Cedar Rapids are proud of our military alumni and want to thank them for risking their lives to protect our country!