DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS 2017

The PHS Alumni Association will present the 2017 Distinguished Alumnus Awards to two graduates during Homecoming festivities on Saturday, Oct. 6.

The PHS Library will be open immediately following the Homecoming Parade for the All-Alumni Reception. At 11 am, the PHS Alumni Association will honor Michael Lundy of the Class of 1971, and Dr. Howard Dickmann of the Class of 1937. Dr. Dickmann will receive the award posthumously. The entire community is welcome to attend the brief ceremony and stay to enjoy refreshments with the honorees and their guests.

2017 PHS Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni

Mr. Michael Lundy, Class of 1971

Mr. Michael Lundy, Class of 1971

Mr. Michael Lundy, PHS Class of 1971, receives the 2017 Perryville High School Distinguished Alumnus Award for his work to honor Perry County's veterans.

Mr. Lundy is a retired assistant warden with the Missouri Department of Corrections. He worked for MODOC for 26 years at every level, including as a correctional officer, a caseworker, a unit manager and assistant warden. He retired from Potosi Correctional Center in 2011 and also worked at the prisons in Farmington, Bonne Terre and Pacific.

He and his wife Vicki have three children — Michelle (John) Howard, Chuck (Michelle) Durham and Michael Lundy. They have six grandchildren — Matthew and Madison Howard, Grey and Tripp Durham, and Emily and Kristopher Lundy.

Mr. Lundy attended Perryville High School after completing grade school at St. Vincent Elementary School. During his four years at PHS, he was involved in band, pep club, Future Business Leaders of America, library club and was on the staff of The Pirate Puns.

"There are so many wonderful memories from PHS, it's hard to pick just one," he said. "During your short time in high school, you do so many important things that you'll carry for the rest of your life. You drive a car for the first time, buy your first motorcycle, attend a school dance and hold hands with that special someone. You have that first real kiss that makes your heart race.

"You visit other communities for games, and meet new people. You explore outside the boundaries that your parents believe are safe, go where you have never gone before. You fail history for the third time, not realizing that what goes on in your life will be that history you didn't think was important: like the Vietnam War, the Beatles, man landing on the moon. You find out that you can make a difference."

Mr. Lundy is president of the Missouri National Veterans Memorial and president of Perry County Military History Museum. He and his wife Vicki have worked tirelessly to preserve Perry County's military heritage, and to honor our veterans.

He is the driving force behind the Perry County Military Museum, the Perry County Veterans Wall of Honor at City Park, the 2014 visit by the Wall That Heals Traveling Vietnam Memorial, the recent celebration of Perry County’s Korean War Veterans, and Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial under construction in Perryville. In September, he and Vicki helped organize the Wall To Wall Ride, which saw the exchange of flags that had flown over the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, and Missouri National Veterans Memorial in Perryville. The local memorial will soon be home to the nation's only full-size exact replica of the Vietnam Wall.

Mr. Lundy is also a member of the Sons of the American Legion and past president of Show-Me Corvette. He said that "everything you do in retirement is great," but he particularly enjoys vintage cars, traveling with his wife and spending time with his dog Buddy.

Dr. Howard Dickmann, Class of 1937

Dr. Howard Dickmann, Class of 1937

Dr. Howard W. Dickmann, PHS Class of 1937, receives the award posthumously. He is survived by his wife Susan (Bredall) Dickmann, of Webster Groves, and children Janice Yamnitz and John B. Dickmann.

After graduating from Perryville High School in 1937, Dr. Dickmann attended the University of Missouri from 1937 to 1939. He then attended Texas A&M University, where he earned the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine in 1943.

He served two years in the Army Veterinary Corps during World War II and was stationed at Fort Devens, Mass. He attained the rank of captain and was honorably discharged in August 1947.

Dr. Dickmann returned to Perryville where he established Dickmann Animal Hospital and practiced veterinary medicine 43 years. He enjoyed travel, especially by car, and during his lifetime was able to visit all 50 states, Mexico and Canada.

He was a member of the Perryville Lions Club and Moonier-Reddick American Legion Post for 63 years. He also held lifetime memberships in the American Veterinary Medical Association, Missouri Veterinary Medical Association, and Southeast Missouri Veterinary Medical Association.