Mike and Glenda Wise Homedale received the 2015 Outstanding Alumni Award from the Princeton High School Alumni Association during alumni activities on July 4.
The Outstanding Alumni Award is given to an individual or couple who have made and continue to make a positive impact on the community of Princeton. The Alumni Association Board selected the Homedales based on their continued involvement, support of the school and the community as a whole and, based on these factors, the Homedales were very deserving candidates.
The Homedales are long-time residents of Princeton. Mike graduated from Princeton High School in 1970 and Glenda in 1974. After graduating high school, Glenda went on to graduate from Central Missouri State University (now University of Central Missouri) with a degree in finance. She immediately entered the banking business and continues to work at Great Western Bank in Princeton. She is also a long-time member of the Princeton Rotary Club as well as a member of the North Central Missouri College Foundation Board.
Mike continued his education after high school at Trenton Junior College and then went on to Northwest Missouri State University, where he graduated with an education degree. He taught at a few schools before eventually landing at Princeton, where he taught in the science department for many years and also coached high school girl’s track. Mike retired from Princeton High School last year. He is currently serving on the Princeton City Council.
The Homedales also supported the Princeton community by having employed several Princeton students throughout many summers to help with Mike’s painting business. Furthermore, Mike and Glenda are the chief organizers of the Calamity Jane Car Show, an annual event that draws many visitors to Princeton. Both Glenda and Mike continue to stay involved in the community in a variety of ways.
The Homedales have two daughters, Laurel Homedale Owens of Lee’s Summit and Shelby Homedale Hickman, of Princeton.