Officers

Brief History of Region 18

Region 18 AIS has had a total of 29 Regional Vice Presidents since 1947. Following is a complete listing of Region 18 RVPs and the city or town they called home.

1947 Agnes Whiting Mapleton, IA

1948-1950 Carl Schirmer St. Joseph, MO

1950-1952 Wellington F. Scott, Jr. Ferguson, MO

1952 Ray Rickman Joplin, MO

1953-1955 P. M. Peterson Kansas City, MO

1956-1958 Ada Buxton Webster Groves, MO

1959-1961 Dr. Hugo Wall Wichita, KS

1962-1964 C. Robert Minnick Kansas City, MO

1965-1967 Allen Harper Kansas City, MO

1968-1970 Russell Morgan Parsons, KS

1971-1973 J. Donald Puett Baxter Springs, KS

1974-1976 Grace Newman Ironton, MO

1977-1979 James Rasmussen Wichita, KS

1980-1982 O. David Niswonger Cape Girardeau, MO

1983-1985 Keith Fillmore Garden City, KS

1986-1988 Elvan (Al) Roderick Desloge, MO

1989-1991 Leda Christlieb Severy, KS

1991 Forrest Townsend *(acting RVP) Independence, MO

1992-1994 W. Riley Probst Kirkwood, MO

1995-1997 Mike Hargrove Wichita, KS

1998-2000 Jim Morris Ballwin, MO

2001-2003 Ray Keisling Liberty, MO

2004-2006 Rita Gormley Cedar Hill, MO

2007-2008 Carolyn Ash Lenexa, KS

2009-2012 Judy Eckhoff Haven, KS

2013 Ginni Hill Wentzville, MO

2013-2015 Debbie Hughes Wellsville, KS

2016-2018 Bev Hoyt Saint Joseph, MO

2019- Laurie Winzer Agusta, KS

Four of the Region 18 RVPs have gone on to become President of AIS: Dr. Hugo Wall (72-74), James Rasmussen (87-89),

Dave Niswonger (96-99), and Jim Morris (2014- 2016)

Region 18 Member Judy Keisling has also served as President of AIS (2010-2013)

Of the past RVPs Rasmussen, Niswonger, Probst, Hargrove, Morris, Ash, Eckhoff and Hughes are still living.

The first Region 18 Bulletin (Vol. 1, #1, July, 1959) started the present Bulletin format.

Following is a list of Region 18 Bulletin Editors:

1959 Rev. David Kinish

1960 Mrs. Bert Brickell

1961-69 George Warner

1970-71 Leda Christlieb

1972-76 Mrs. C. L. Fondoble

1976-79 Diana M. Moreau

1979-81 Annabel Pollack

1982-83 Jim Morris

1984-88 Forrest Townsend

1988-90 Clancy Walz

1991 Forrest Townsend

1991-93 Betty M. Marty

1993 Ken Elgart

1994-98 Nancy Barnum

1998-2001 Barbara P. Lawton

2001-2016 Judy Keisling

2017- Debbie Hughes

Two of the Region 18 Editors have gone on to become President of AIS: Judy Keisling (2010-2012) and Jim Morris (2013-2015)

Reprinted with permission of Region 18 Missouri Membership Chairperson

Programs

Nicky Mealey

327 W 3rd

Cherryvale, KS 67335

Ph. 620-336-2606

mealeynicky@yahoo.com

Public Relations

All Members

Youth

Jean Morris

682 Huntley Heights Dr.

Ballwin, MO 63021-5878

PH. 636-256-3927

morrisje1@aol.com

Web Design

Jim Murrain

8871 NW Brostrom Rd

Kansas City, MO 64152-2711

Ph. 816-746-1949

KansasCityIris@gmail.com

The American Iris Society formed region 18 in 1947. Prior to that time, Kansas and Missouri were joined with Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska as members of AIS Region 9.

In 1946, the AIS Board took action to form a new region, effective January 1, 1947, consisting of Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska to be known as Region 18. Illinois remained alone as Region 9.

Then in November 1949, the AIS Board established another new region, Region 21, effective January 1, 1950, comprised of Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Since that time, Region 18 has been comprised of only Kansas and Missouri.

Text Courtesy of Rita Gormley.

Iris Show in Kansas City

Region 18 Vice President

Laurie Winzer

3718 SW 100th St.

Augusta, KS 67010

Ph. 316-775-1480

lauriewinzer6@gmail.com

Assistant RVP

Bob Skaggs

5425 Peaceful Ridge
House Springs, MO 63051

314-706-3701
bskaggs7856@att.net

Secretary