Wall of Honor Ceremony Thursday, November 6
Lebanon will honor six people at the Lebanon Area Chamber of Commerce’s Wall of Honor Community Achievement Award ceremony on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Kenneth E. Cowan Civic Center. The inductees are Donnie Raef, Eugene Bradley, Mike Edwards, Sam Allen, Sam Lower, and Stanley Ketchel.
Founded in 2001, The Wall of Honor recognizes people tied to Laclede County who have made exceptional contributions or lived exceptional stories.
Donnie Raef
Donnie Raef is a lifelong farmer, businessman and a keeper of our community's memory. He has served on the Wall of Honor Committee, the Laclede County Genealogical Society, and First Congregational United Church of Christ. The surprise meant a lot to him.
"It is very gratifying. It is something that makes me feel good and I am excited about it. I am very humbled and honored.”
He has lived in Lebanon 80 years and never lost his love for local history. “History is my hobby and I get carried away. History is like a big puzzle. The more you work at it the more it comes together.” He added a challenge for all of us “Most people have forgotten about the great folks on the Wall of Honor. Their history is important in Laclede County.”
Mike Edwards
Mike Edwards has spent 56 years in broadcasting. “Through service to the public via the radio station, I found my place in service to the community,” he said. He has “served on hundreds of committees and boards,” not for recognition, but to meet real needs. “While I may be getting recognition, the recognition should be shared with all the citizens that have stepped up and worked with me to accomplish goals and complete projects.” He is hopeful about the next generation.
“I see many Wall of Honor members in the making.” He also shared gratitude at home. “I have to thank my wonderful wife, Joyce, and my three daughters, Emily, Abby, and Sara, who have been understanding and patient with me for all the time that was taken away from family.”
Sam Allen
Sam Allen is a U.S. Army veteran who helped develop the Kenneth E. Cowan Civic Center, helped bring Ozark Technical Community College to Lebanon, and helped raise $3.5 million for the Lebanon-Laclede County Library without tax dollars.
“There is no greater honor than when you are honored by the people of the town that you grew up in. I feel very blessed,” he said.
Sam Lower
Sam Lower spent 34 years teaching agriculture and leading FFA in Lebanon and across Laclede County, then another 10 years with MU Extension and Heritage Bank. “I am humbled to be included in the Wall of Honor. I am especially grateful to be going in with this 2025 group. To be inducted with this crew is a real honor. I have always said teaching agriculture and working with the FFA for 34 years in the Lebanon and Laclede County community is the best job I could have possibly hoped for.
"Developing and improving our Laclede County youth programs for 44 years has been a great honor.”
Eugene Bradley
Eugene Bradley served two terms as mayor, helped found the local Rotary Club, and built a reputation as a steady businessman who lived a life of service. His legacy is the kind that lasts because it is rooted in doing the work, showing up for neighbors, and leaving things better than he found them.
Stanley Ketchel
Stanley Ketchel, “The Michigan Assassin,” became world middleweight champion at 22 and the first two-time champion. After fighting Jack Johnson, he moved to Conway before he was murdered in 1910. He appears in Ernest Hemingway’s story “The Light of the World.” Howe said his national impact and local ties make his inclusion fitting.
Thursday, our community gathers to honor six great men, our neighbors. We’ve seen them at Rotary, the Annual Fairs, School events, and Church. They didn’t chase credit. They showed up, they taught, they coached, they organized, they told our story, and they helped build the places we gather. The Wall of Honor is our way of saying we noticed. To their families, thank you for sharing them with us. As a community, let's choose to follow their lead. We here at Lebanon Now want to say thank you for the inspiration, Donnie, Eugene, Mike, Sam Allen, Sam Lower, and Stanley.
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