Classmate Profiles
Instructions: Hello, Classmate! Our once-in-a-lifetime GOLDEN class reunion is coming soon, and your classmates hope to see you in August! Even if you aren't able to join us, please share below about your after-high school life (~350 words), favorite high school memory/ies, and include a current photo of just you, with your face and hair - or lack thereof. And although your contact information won't be visible on this website, your classmates can contact you via email by clicking on "send [name] a message" link at the bottom of each classmate's profile. Enjoy reading the profiles!
One classmate per profile. To change your profile click Log in. Username = your email.
Bruce Beckley
| State / Province: | MN |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Committed Relationship |
| Children: | 1 |
| Occupation: | General Contractor |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Hello Classmates, I’m looking forward to visiting with you at the next reunion. It’s hard to imagine that 50 years have passed. It’s even harder to imagine trying to encapsulate my life in a paragraph or two. I currently reside in Bemidji, MN. My partner Joan and I share a home on 40 acres. We stay busy with horses and dogs. My dear daughter Katie lives in Fargo, ND. I have three wonderful granddaughters. Since the time of graduation, I worked in the construction industry. I did spend time in commercial construction, but primarily I have worked as a general contractor for residential building. My work has taken me to California and Massachusetts, but I have primarily worked in northern MN. I particularly enjoyed working with timber frame construction. I am winding down my building projects. Ideally, retirement will allow more time for travel. Classmates Mark Grover and Steve Buck live in the area. |
| Share a high school memory: | I’d have to say “Genuine John’s Dime Draws” on Thursday nights was a gem; the rest is a blur. Gym class was a drag on the following Friday mornings! |
Mark Beeman
| State / Province: | ID |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Automation/Robotics |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Married and after four years and one beautiful daughter, divorced. 1979 Married Marsha and after another beautiful daughter and 44 years we are still going strong and happily living in the Idaho panhandle. We have one granddaughter, Brooklyn (we lost our grandson Brice, at 13) and another grandson is on the way due in July. Still working because it’s fun. The automation and robotics world has taken me from JPL and the space station mockup to watching and participating in Tesla’s growth, and many more interesting applications and projects. Space is another market rich in opportunities. I once came home from a meeting at JPL and told my daughter “if the camera on the the next Mars lander doesn’t focus it may be my fault.” ???? I’ve also been very involved in the growth of robotic surgery suites and many other medical related products. For me it’s hard to retire because I’m always looking forward to seeing what the next project will bring. |
| Share a high school memory: | One memory from high school happened in Mona Smiths Creative Writing Class. This was the last semester of our senior year and I think most of us took the class as a filler and were just looking forward to graduation. One day Mrs. Smith was helping someone in the back corner of the classroom and for some reason, in mass, the rest of us looked at each other and then quietly got up and left the room. Mark Grover and I went one way and the rest went the other. Apparently Mrs Smith caught up with the main group and brought them back in. Mark and I didn’t have to answer for our actions until the next day. Since I was sitting in front of Mark I was the first she asked as to why we left. I just told her that I thought class was over. Mark pretty much said “yea, what he said.” Poor Mrs Smith had pretty much had with us by then and just let it slide. |
Jim Benn
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | A lifetime in a few sentences, here we go. Quick stats: Married to Barb (Reece) Benn for 47 Years. Two Son's, Nathan and Steve. One Granddaughter Helena. Life after 1974: I did not have the patience for the college route so just got to work. My first real job was with Ryko Manufacturing Company in Des Moines. Sales and ultimately sales management were my roles. Ryko was a very aviation-oriented company and owned six airplanes. Nearly everyone in sales was a pilot to include myself. I was fortunate to be able to log many hours in some great airplanes as a part of my job. My tenure with Ryko was a very rewarding period in my life. Next up I started my first business, commercial and industial graphic products manufacturing. I grew this business for eleven years and sold it to a private investor. After a brief hiatus started my second business, manufacturing and marketing a product for the shotgun shooting sports industry. Grew this business for six years and sold it to a large manufacturing company in Mayville, WI The last chapter did some business consulting and ended up with one of the Ruan Companies to round it all out. I became professionally unavailable in 2015. The wrap up: Barb and I have made homes in Marshalltown, Urbandale, Johnston, and ultimately moved back to Ames 2015. Our Son's Nathan and Steve both work for the Mayo Health System and live in Rochester, MN. These days I endeavor with the market, mainly futures and options trading. I love my yard, cycling, sailing, and just spending quality time with friends and family. My fondest memories of AHS: Keg parties, "Steak-O-Rama's", building very loud awesome cars, and the music, we just had the best music! One last word, I really miss Mark Newton. He was truly one of the good guys and was taken from us way too early. |
Sue Bliss (Bliss)
| Marital status: | Married |
|---|---|
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | "You never know where you're goin' til you get there." |
| Share a high school memory: | Frosty mornings on the practice field with the marching band, Unkl Milt calling out "We go!" and sometimes Homer Gartz calling, "Save it, band, save it!". Jazz band playing the Budweiser song at BBall games. Early morning cookouts with friends at the park, before school. I still know all the songs from Guys-N-Dolls and Pirates of Penzance, actually had a national-level scoop for the school paper with interviews lined up and the advisor would not print the story (!), glad I took chem with Floyd Sturdevant and would loved to have skipped the last year of classes and gone straight to college. Still in touch with friends from band, which goes to show you, although the uniforms were a little dorky, we worked our koesters off and it was one of the best things about AHS! AND relieved to see (via youtube) that the fight song was not changed and that people can still do the 3/4 turn off the field at the end of halftime show, which I can still do, too. |
Scot Boon (Boon)
| State / Province: | MN |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 3 |
| Occupation: | Electrical Engineer |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | I attended Iowa State right after high school and earned an Electrical Engineering degree in 1978. Fed up with cold Iowa winters, I dashed off to National Semiconductor in Santa Clara, California to design custom integrated circuits for companies like Mattel and Apple. While traveling on business I met a Scottish lass in Glasgow. Jean joined me in California and subsequently in Colorado Springs, where I developed automotive ICs at Ford Microelectronics. Wearing a kilt, I married Jean at Miramount Castle in Manitou Springs in 1983. Our son, Ryan, joined us in 1985, and we moved that year to the Twin Cities. At VTC I developed a semi-custom IC design system for classified applications and designed disk drive ICs. Daughters, Courtney and Haley, were added in 1988 and 1991 respectively. On New Year's Eve in 1994, we traveled on Amtrak to Rhode Island and experienced the New England lifestyle while I managed a design team at Cherry Semiconductor. Two years later we returned to the Twin Cities, again on Amtrak. Over the next 27 years I designed implantable medical devices at Boston Scientific, we raised our three children, saw two of them marry and are now enjoying our three grandchildren, Katelyn, Annika and Roderick. Retirement finally arrived in 2023 and I am enjoying hiking and chasing the elusive northern lights. |
| Share a high school memory: | Some of my favorite memories from Ames High were performing in theatrical productions of "Dark of the Moon" and "Macbeth". Socializing with the cast and crew, attending the practices and performing was a unique experience. My favorite classes were Trigonometry with Mr. Hilmer, Electronics with Mr. Stone, and working on cars in Auto Mechanics. |
Gary Bornmueller
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 1 |
| Occupation: | Retiree in training |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Not sure how well I remember this stuff from so long ago. Fortunately, there are people around to remind me of all the dumb things I did. After graduation, I did what everyone else wanted to do, but had no money - enlisted in the Army. Spent 2 years driving officers around Europe until they'd finally had enough and sent me home. Decided, College - yeah, that's a good idea, and since the GI Bill would pay for it, got a degree in Hotel, Restaurant Management. Best thing about college is I did find my wife there and somehow have stayed married all this time. Moved to San Franciso after graduation to work for the airline catering companies (2 words that really don't belong next to each other - airline and catering). Moved on to restaurant management to prove just how much I did not know. We got pregnant and thought - can't raise kids out here in San Fran - so moved back to Iowa - what? Did some more restaurant management/ownership - Ground Round and Pizza Ranch and finally sold out and have been a food broker for the past 30 years. Company was just sold in January and so as of this writing, I begin my retirement training. We do have a granddaughter that has been asking for the last couple of years when I was going to retire because she has so many things we can do together. Everyone has to learn the 'be careful what you ask for' lesson, so I guess this will be her time. Looking forward to seeing everyone in August. |
| Share a high school memory: | The spine-tingling, less-than-controlled operation of the concession stands by a bunch of clueless nerds during home sporting events. |
Ruth Bosley (Burkhalter)
| State / Province: | OH |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Retired graphic designer |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | After graduation in 1974, I put in four earnest years at ISU in Advertising Design; transferred to Ohio State in Arts Administration for another two and never wound up with a degree in either! I met my husband Larry in Columbus; we moved to Cincinnati in the early ‘80s and have been here ever since. By magical luck, I thrived in Corporate America...until I didn’t. I worked as a dual graphic designer/copywriter for many years and created good work I was proud of, but never quite liked the folks I was doing it for. I spent 25 years in Marketing Communications for a large insurance company; retired in 2018 a few breathless moments before I would probably have been fired. These days, I donate design work to non-profits I admire; helped a niece launch a children’s bookstore in KY and continue to support it with marketing materials as needed. I make funky earrings; take lots of extreme closeup photos of leaves, and create the occasional wierdo artwork for a nearby gallery. Larry and I have two daughters, both now living near Tacoma, WA. Maren is mom to our granddaughter; Jourdi serves the city of Tacoma as a firefighter. I suspect we’ll be heading out that way sooner than later. We’d all be in the same zip code for the first time in decades. Can’t wait. |
| Share a high school memory: | I remember my theater experiences at AHS fondly, although I have to admit that Hank and I never cared much for each other. The art/theater wing was new then - loved being cast as a witch in Macbeth and crawling up onstage from under the steps in warty, hideous makeup. Might have tripped on my black robes. Still remember my lines! |
Barbara Boyer (Mahlstede)
| State / Province: | TN |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 2 |
| Occupation: | Director Food Safety & QA-R.D. (Plan to retire by the end of the year!) |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | I actually found our AHS Reunion booklet from 1994 and decided the best way to recap the last 50 years would be to highlight significant milestone years since graduation, so here goes: 1974-1978-Attended and graduated from ISU with a BS in Food and Nutrition with a Major in Dietetics. Following graduation and before beginning work, traveled in Europe for 8 weeks which began my love for traveling and adventure. 1978-2001-Worked for Dobbs International (airline catering) in the Corporate Office in Food Safety & QA. 1985-Present-Married to my husband Tim 1990 & 1991- Children David & Christina born 16 months apart. 2002-2007-Full time cheerleader and Uber driver for my children. I was very involved in the PTA, community activities in Germantown and served on several commissions. 2008-2024-Empty Nester and started my own business. Began consulting and worked as the Director Food Safety for Air Fayre in Los Angeles. Both children graduated from University of Tennessee. My son David works in Supply Chain for Unilever. He will be married in California in September. My daughter Christina is a CPA and worked in Spain for three years and now resides in Atlanta. 2024 and beyond-Consulting between tee times, spin classes, traveling and church activities. The Boyer family continues to travel together and most recently attended the Liberty Bowl in December as a "Divided Family" since my husband attended the University of Memphis. Unfortunately ISU lost. ???? Looking forward to seeing everyone and catching up! |
| Share a high school memory: | I have so many wonderful memories from Ames High and friends it's hard to pick just one. From participating on the first Ames's high school girl's swim team in 1971 with only a few team members, to being state runners-ups in 1973 was awesome. Drill team, modern dance, golf team and I can't forget my Camp Fire Girls-Ki-Ya-Luas to name a few more. |
Ruth Bran (Bran)
| State / Province: | CA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 0 |
| Occupation: | Volunteer Collegiate Minister @ CSUSM |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | Chose to become a US citizen and participate in civics. |
Nancy Brooks (McMillen )
| State / Province: | IA |
|---|---|
| Marital status: | Married |
| Children: | 6 |
| Occupation: | Retired |
| Highlights of your last 50 years: | After our 10 year class reunion my life took some curves and twists. At a time when needing some happiness I met the love of my life. Dennis and I blended our families. My 3 sons and his 3 daughters. We are very blessed to be grandparents to 6 boys and 3 girls. Amazingly we are young enough to be great grandparents to 4 boys and 2 girls. April 1st a sweet little great granddaughter will be joining our family a total of 7 wonderful great grandchildren! Being a Grandma and Great Grandma is an honor. All our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are very precious to me. They bring a lot of joy to our lives. I went to college as an adult student raising 3 sons on my own was a challenge. I wanted to better myself and be able to support my family. I started gradually with a 1 year certificate through DMACC. I worked at Wal-Mart for a little while then went to ISU enrolling in accounting. After 4 semesters I stepped back and returned to DMACC. I received my Associate Degree in Accounting and Office Management. My professional career took me to DeKalb Administrative Office. I assisted farmers from South Dakota, North Dakota and part of Nebraska. The office was relocated to DeKalb, Illinois taking a turn to work at Story County Court House. I worked in Property Tax for the Story County Treasurers Office. In High School I worked at Hy-Vee. I returned a few times to Hy-Vee as a cashier and accounting office. I assisted the move to the brand new store on Grand Avenue. In 1999 I was blessed to be hired by the Federal Government for USDA. I worked 23 plus years before retiring. I started out opening specimens to be tested by the labs and time sheets to get my foot in the door. I moved up to an Administrative Assistant. Handled payroll, arranged and processed employees travel all over the world. Over the years I have made many friends from childhood, classmates and coworkers holding them close to my heart. I am thrilled to continue to have them as part of my life all these years. My loving husband and I are retired trying out being snowbirds wintering in Arizona. Our life journey is happening as we go in the mean time enjoying every minute. Being able to come and go when I want is pretty awesome. |
| Share a high school memory: | My favorite memories are times spent with my girlfriends. Driving to and from school, attending football and basketball games, going to watch our friends in plays and musicals. Cruising main street and hanging out at Georges Pizza. Thank you for the good times. |