KVHOF Chairman of the Board
H.B. Deatherage is the Chairman of the Board of the Kentucky Veterans' Hall of Fame (KVHOF) and the Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame Foundation, He has been at the helm of the foundation since the day in early 2010 when the idea was just a vision.
As a Vietnam Veteran, H.B. knows all about visions and missions. Many years after returning home from his service to our country, his mission was to build a veterans memorial in the city of Florence, KY. Deatherage, who grew up in Boone County and owns a Florence business, garnered the city's approval in 1995 to erect the monument on 44 city-owned acres on Ewing Boulevard, where a new city building was planned. Although the monument was to be located in Florence, this veteran pointed out that the memorial is for everyone who wants to pause and "pay homeage to the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen who were killed in the line of duty". The finishing touches to the monument were completed during the Memorial Day ceremony in May 2011 when the POW/MIA monument was dedicated to the Boone County Veterans Memorial site......H.B. now claims that the final portion of his "veteran's vision" will be the completion of the Kentucky Veterans' Hall of Fame.
KVHOF Board of Directors
Sue Flick is on The Board of Directors and is currently volunteering at St. Elizabeth's hospital thrift shop. Since moving to Boone Co., KY in 1971, Sue has kept busy in may avenues of business and helping others.
She has 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Her years of business experience include 8 years with the government, 10 years managing The Liquor Cabinet in Hebron, managing the green house departments of both the Hebron and Burlington Filck's stores. Her love of people and giving back continues to shine as she says "yes" when asked to step in helping in the community with bingo, sports committees, church festivals and now the KVHOF.
Terry Vannarsdale is on the Board of Directors and is also the Director of Nominations/Processing for KVHOF. Terry is a lifelong resident of KY, graduating from Holmes High School. He is an Army veteran of 6-1/2 years having served in Vietnam achieving the rank of Sergeant.
Terry's military awards include: Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation w/Palm and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon w/Device(1960). Terry retired from the Florence KY Police Dept. after 20 years. Terry held positions on the board of directors with 4 organizations here in KY. After retiring from the police department Terry worked as a security manager for Coca-Cola . Terry and his wife Deborah began working with the KVHOF as volunteers from its beginning and continue to provide support for the organization.
Jim Thurman is on the Board of Directors and was inducted into the KVHOF in 2016. KY State Commander with NABVETS. Member of American Legion Post #132 in Lexington, KY. Author, teacher and Lecturer. U.S. Army Combat Engineer (1966-1972).
PHD Biblical Studies, EdD Education, Masters Biblical Studies and Masters Business. Co-chair VEAC. Kentucky's first Male Veteran of the Year (KY/IN Epilepsy Foundation 2014. Listed in Congressional Record in Washington as "Outstanding Kentuckian". Numerous civic and community awards. Member Rep. Andy Barrs Veteran Coalition Advisory Board 6th Congressional District.
Craig Cammack is on the Board of Directors. He is a graduate of Hanover College in Hanover, IN. He has resided in KY for the last 20 yrs. Craig has volunteered as a Board member with numerous organizations within the state of KY. Craig previously
served as Legislative Aide to Council member Susan Lamb and is currently Community Outreach Liaison in the office of Mayor Linda Gorton. He is the city government's point person for veterans affairs, school outreach, neighborhood associations and manages the mayor's social media and assists the Director of Communications with writing speeches, organizing media interviews and other public relations work.
Dean Edward Stoops is on the Board of Directors.He retired as Army Chief Warrant Officer 5. Dean was appointed Chief of Staff for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs on 6/11/2018. Prior to this Dean was the State Command Chief Warrant Officer for the Kentucky Army National Guard.
Dean is the son of a U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran and grandson of two U.S. Army Air Corps WWII veterans. Dean earned an Associate of Arts degree in Criminal Justice at EKU. Dean has served 40 plus years in the U.S. military. Dean is married and has two children.
Eric Shrader is on the Board of Directors. He served in the Marine Corps, from June 1966 through December 1969, as a small unit leader and lives in Breckinridge County, KY. He earned the Bronze Star in Vietnam during 1968-1969.
Eric is a life member and former officer of the Marine Corps League, a member of Military Order of Purple Heart, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. He also coordinated the first Vietnam Veterans Recognition Day in Louisville, KY. He has served as Chief Range Safety Officer, Training Counselor and Instructor for the NRA, as well as a CPR instructor. He was a volunteer Solicitor for Friends of NRA and the American Heart Association. Eric has also served as a smoking cessation instructor and a hospice volunteer. His published articles, primarily about WWII veterans, have fostered patriotism and recognition of veterans.
KVHOF Board of Directors
Gary Griesser is Executive Director and a life long resident of Burlington, Kentucky. He is a product of the Boone County, Kentucky School system, graduating from Boone County High School in 1962. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Georgetown College in Georgetown, Kentucky and a Masters Degree in Guidance Counseling from Georgetown College. He holds a second Masters Degree in School Administration from the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
He spent most of his vocational career working in the Boone County School System. He has held positions of: Guidance Counselor, Assistant Principal, Elementary Principal, Supervisor of Instruction, Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent and Acting Superintendent. He completed his educational career as Associate Commissioner for District Support Services with the Kentucky Department of Education in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Gary began a new career as a motivational speaker in 1994. He has traveled to 47 states making over 1,700 presentations to various state and national conventions. He has spoken and sung in over 1200 churches. He is an active member and a Paul Harris Fellow with the Florence, Kentucky, Rotary Club of Rotary International and a member of the Northern Kentucky West Camp of Gideon's International. He is also on the Board of Directors of Heritage Bank
Brandon Bailey is on the Board of Directors and is a 1993 graduate of Boone County High School. Brandon hit the Yellow Footprints at United States Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, SC on November 10, 1998.
Gunnery Sergeant Charles Brandon Bailey served 14 years in the Marine Corps before Medically Retiring due to wounds received in Afghanistan when his Humvee was struck by an IED. He has been a part of Combat, Peacekeeping missions and Humanitarian missions all over the globe. Brandon's personal awards include the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat valor, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Humanitarian award and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, NATO medal including several unit awards.
Brandon holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Park University in Parkville, MO. After 14 years in the United States Marine Corps Brandon retired from the 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, NC. He currently resides in Florence, KY and has a beautiful three year old daughter, Delilah.
Jerry McCandless is on the Board of Directors and also Founder & Principal at Evergreen AES Environmental Services. Jerry served in the United States Marine Corps in Korea. Jerry feels his time in the Marines and Korea was "life changing". As a result, while
an ardent entrepreneur he also uses the resources of his business to both fund and be involved with Veterans organizations, orphans and children world wide. Jerry and his wife Kendrick began a not for profit foundation in 1990 which focuses on orphans in Romania. They maintain two children's homes there with a staff of 25 and a place for over 65 children to call home. Jerry also serves on the Lindsey Wilson College board of trustees.
Charles(Chuck) Korzenborn is on the Board of Directors and also serves as Sheriff of Kenton County Kentucky. Chuck and his wife Ruth have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Sheriff Korzenborn served in the US Army and attended the University of Kentucky Northern Extension Center.
Prior to running for office he owned and ran the family business- Korzenborn Garage and Service Station in Ft. Mitchell, KY. Sheriff Korzenborn has earned many certifications and awards from many offices including graduating from the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Program in Quantico, VA. He enjoys history, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
Brigadier General Benjamin Adams III is on the Board of Directors. He served as the 5th Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs and through 40 years of service in the U.S. Army, Gen. Adams served with honor and distinction, culminating all his positions. General Adams received his commission through the Reserve
Officer Training Corps program at the University of Mississippi in 1978.He earned a Masters of Strategic Studies from the US Army War College.After serving on federal active duty, General Adams joined the Kentucky Army National Guard.He is married with 4 grown children and 3 grandchildren.
Donald Kiely, JR. He is on the Board of Directors. He lives in Villa Hills, KY, joined the Naval Reserves in 1956. He served aboard division ships as the Helmsman for the Sea and Anchor detail.
As an employee of Cincinnati Bell, Don oversaw the 911 network operations and Public Safety Answering services in NKY.
In 2018 he received the NKY Police Chief's Presidents Award. For 35 years Don has been involved in community service, serving in the St. Pius Athletic Association, chairing the Newport Rotary's annual Night at the Races. He is currently a member of his HOA board, having been President and Vice President. Don also joined the Covington Catholic Gold Outing Committee which manages funds used for athletic programs at the school and for students who need financial assistance.
Dr. Charles Tirone has been on the Kenton Co Board of Health for over 10 years. Dr. Tirone has worked his way up to president of the KY Podiatric Medical Association which entailed making decisions for over 200 other practitioners in the state, concerning practice standards. He was nominated to the KY Board of Podiatry by governor Ernie Fletcher where he was charged with defending the interest of the patients within the state.
Howard Hunt III retired in September 2008 as the Asst. Adjutant General for Air KY National Guard. He is a 1974 graduate of Texas Christian University Reserve Officer Training Corps program. While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, he commanded two different combat units.Howard is currently serving as the Boyle County Judge Executive. He has served in many departments in the state of Kentucky. He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Military Order of World Wars and a Vietnam era veteran. He lives on his Boyle Co family farm with his wife of 41 years, Aprile and they have two adult children and seven grandchildren.