Mr. Harry Guth, Jr., a 1942 graduate, was born in Perryville in 1924, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry Guth, Sr. During his years at PHS and at the collegiate level, Mr. Guth distinguished himself with his outstanding success in football, basketball and track. He was a member of the 1941 football team, which was the only squad to win every game and where he and fellow football stand-out, Loyd Brinkman, scored a touchdown in every game.

During the 1942 track season, he set a school record in the 100 yard dash at 10 seconds flat, a record that still stands today. At the Missouri State Meet in Columbia that spring, he won the 200 yard dash and tied for first in the 100. At the conclusion of his high school playing days, he had accumulated ten varsity letters.

Following graduation, he played football at Southeast Missouri State University in 1942 and won a letter for playing and helped the team win a conference title. Later in 1942, he entered the U.S. Army and served until January 6, 1945. Two of his years in the army were served overseas.

He entered the University of Missouri in January, 1945. While there, he won track letters in 1946, 1947 and 1948, and won several conference titles and set records that still stand. He graduated from M.U. in 1949 with Majors in Journalism and English.

Mr. Guth served as editor of the newspaper, the Perry County Republican, from 1949 to 1980. He has worked in real estate and become a U.S. Golf Teaching Professional in 1997.

He has participated in track meets at the St. Louis Senior Olympics and U.S. Master Track from 1980 to 1995.

Mr. Guth has been married to Barbara (Seitz) Guth since July, 1950. They have four children; Beverly, deceased in 1957; Vickie Guth of St. Louis; Marlene Guth of Webster Groves; and Mark S. Guth of Los Angeles.

Dr. John E. Steffens, a 1959 graduate of Perryville High School, holds a Ph.D. in general administration from the University of Oklahoma and is the Executive Director for the College of Continuing Education, Public Service Institute at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. His background incorporates a broad spectrum of educational experiences, including school teaching and administration; international programs; development of a broad variety of human and social service programs; the evaluation of social service programs; and the organizational analysis of schools and social service organizations.

He has served as special consultant to the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Advisory Council on Equal Educational Opportunity, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Institutes of Health, the U.S. Departments of Energy, Defense and Labor, the Urban League, the U.S. Air Force, the Organization of American States and a host of other state, local and community agencies, departments and programs, nationally and internationally.

Over the years, programs in Dr. Steffens' division at the University have worked extensively with school systems, communities, social service organizations and agencies, and law enforcement groups throughout Oklahoma, the nation and the world. Dr. Steffens' special skills include training in technical assistance for short courses, conferences and institutes; administration of contracts in addition to analysis and interpretation of legislative regulations regulations as well as educational improvement and the development of public, private, and government organizational responses to human needs.

"Dr. Steffens' work with Native Americans substance abuse problems, education policy at the state and national level, as well as the poverty issues worldwide should be recognized," said nominator Orville Schaefer. "For the last six years, he has played a major role in organizing the World Infopoverty Conference through the United Nations and its officials."