Alumni Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Leon Ralph Kassab was a well-known businessman and community leader. Born in 1924 to Syrian immigrants, he attended Joplin Schools, graduating from JHS in 1942. He also attended the former Joplin Junior College and Iowa State University before joining the Army Air Corps during World War II. He later graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and then returned to help his father manage the family business, Kassab clothing store on Joplin’s Main Street.

Kassab believed strongly in historical preservation, and worked his whole adult life to preserve and reuse Joplin’s historic buildings. He served on numerous local boards, including the Joplin Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Joplin Association and Twin Hills Golf and Country Club Board of Directors. He received numerous awards for his community work.

Scott Vorhees, local personal injury attorney and community leader, is a 1993 graduate of Joplin High School. He also graduated from the Honors Program at Missouri Southern State University and the Police Academy before attending law school at the University of Michigan.

Vorhees is managing partner of the Johnson, Vorhees and Martucci law firm where he specializes in serious injury and wrongful death cases. Named one of the Top 100 Trial Attorneys every year since 2011, he is a member of numerous law groups and local benevolent organizations where he has continuously worked to help improve the lives of the unfortunate in our community.

Vorhees also enjoys competing in running and weight-lifting contests and holds numerous state and national records.

Ernest Henri (Hank) Taucher and Alfred (Fred) Horst Taucher graduated from Joplin High School in 1951. The brothers spent their early years in Berlin, being raised in the Jewish faith. As World War II escalated, their lives significantly changed. After losing their parents at the ages of 13 and 12, the brothers immigrated to America and settled in Joplin, Missouri with family.

Hank had a highly successful career in the Army, in which his duties took him around the world. His career followed the traditional climb up the ladder of rank, from corporal to sergeant, warrant officer, first lieutenant, captain, and finally major. He experienced many duties and tours, including active leadership in Vietnam. During his final role, he served as an aide to the Supreme Allied Commander of the U.S. Army for seven years at the Pentagon. 

While serving in the Army, Fred began is lifelong interest in technology by learning to enter reports on IBM machines with punched cards as a means of reporting casualties during the war. After serving in the military, Fred moved to Washington to devote his life to building a business in technology. In 1968, Fred became the president and majority stock holder of Corporate Management Incorporated. Years later in 1985, he established a separate company, Corporate Computer Inc., that helped develop solutions for different clients with newly emerging products and services in the field of computers.

Peggy Cooper Fuller was raised in Virginia and attended the University of Virginia before moving to New York City to work in the hotel industry. She met her husband in NYC, which eventually led to relocating to Joplin to run their business, Allied Devices. Peggy also worked at the Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Missouri Bank, where she was the Vice President of Marketing until her retirement.

Peggy was instrumental in developing Bright Futures Joplin, serving as a founding member on the board for many years. She also assumed leadership roles in many other community initiatives and organizations, that include One Joplin, Connect to Culture, Spiva Center for the Arts, The Friends of St. Avips, and the Buddy Program for Joplin students.

Because of her dedication and leadership within the Joplin community, Peggy received the Outstanding Citizen of the Year from the Chamber of Commerce in 2015. The following year, she received the Bright Futures Joplin Community Champion Award for her outstanding service and dedication to meeting the needs of children in Joplin Schools.