Monday, October 28, 2024

Jack Cottrell to Receive Honorary High School Diploma at Veterans Day Show

Jack Cottrell will be awarded an Honorary High School Diploma at this year’s Worth County School District’s Veterans Day Program on Monday, November 11, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Cottrell attended school at Grant City High School, but he didn’t have the opportunity to graduate. He went on to serve in the Army during the Korean War where he was awarded three Bronze Stars. Jack Cottrell was nominated for Missouri’s Operation Recognition and the Honorary High School Diploma program by Julie Tracy. Cottrell served as a school bus driver for the Worth County School District for 34 years.

To date, the Worth County Veterans Day program has presented three Honorary High School Diplomas to the following recipients: Paul Hiatt (posthumously) and Dallas Ruth in 2019; and Louis Prichard in 2023.

This year, the school will host 1974 alumni Dr. Dan Weddle as the keynote speaker. Weddle will share about his mother’s time in service as a Russian sharp-shooter and her time spent as a POW in Dachau Concentration Camp during WWII. Earl Hardy will be recognized by the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program for his service in the Army with a World War II certificate of recognition and a WWII Medal and Medallion, which will be presented to his oldest living son, David Hardy. Earl Hardy was part of the battalion that helped to liberate Dachau Concentration Camp.

A Memorial Wall for the biographies of those who paid the ultimate price will be on display in the foyer next to the Partnership Library. In addition to this, there will be a Wall of Honor showcasing both retired and active duty military veteran biographies.

Individuals can nominate any veteran for either wall at any time throughout the year. Nominations can be sent to Julia Wideman at jwideman@wc.k12.mo.us. This year’s display has over 370 biographies.

The public is invited to attend and join us in honoring our local heroes. Please park in the south parking lot of the school and plan to stay for the reception after the program.


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