Niobrara County School District Hall of Fame Presents Class of 2025

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, STEVE BARIBEAU

The Unstoppable Spirit of Steve Baribeau - A Career of Service 

Steve was a well-rounded student at NCHS, graduating in 1966. He was a member of the choir, had key roles in two stage productions, won several state debate medals, and was a member of the National Honor Society. He was also a key member of the 1966 Tiger Football Team that won a co-District championship. Playing wingback and corner, he was a team captain and was voted MVP by his teammates. Steve was a member of the NCHS track squad placing second at District in the high hurdles and third at state as a member of the 880-yard Relay Team. He was a starter for the wrestling team all four years and was a team captain of the wrestling team which placed second in 1965 and won the State Championship in 1966, NCHS’s first ever State Championship in any sport. Baribeau was a state champion at 145 pounds in 1965 and 1966. He also won the Casper Invitational in 1965 and 1966 (All Classes). He was offered several collegiate scholarships for wrestling but opted instead to accept an appointment to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY.

At West Point, he competed on the Army wrestling team and in 1968, after a very successful dual season and placing second at the Coast Guard Academy Open Invitational, he was selected to wrestle in the 1968 NCAA Tournament. A shoulder injury in his junior year hampered Steve’s wrestling career.

After his 1970 graduation from West Point, Steve selected the Infantry Branch and was assigned to Fort Benning, Georgia where he attended and graduated from the Infantry Officer's Basic Course, the Airborne Course, and Ranger School. He was assigned as a Weapons Platoon Leader in A Company, 2/504, 82nd Infantry Division. While at Fort Bragg only a few months, his platoon won the 82nd Division weapons platoon competition. Steve also graduated from the rigorous jump master course. He then attended and graduated from Jungle Warfare School in Panama enroute to Vietnam where he was assigned as the Reconnaissance Platoon Leader for 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in Phu Bai. While serving in Vietnam, Steve was awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.

Following his tour in Vietnam, Steve attended and graduated from the Rotary Wing Aviation Course. He was then assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) in Fulda , Germany on the East-West German Border. As a Troop Commander and Intelligence Staff Of ficer (S2) in 1st Squadron, 11th ACR he was a key player in the development of integrated and comprehensive border defense plans (Mobile Defense) that were credited with preventing the Warsaw Pact from attacking NATO in the early seventies.

Also, during his time in the 11th ACR, he accumulated over 1200 hours of helicopter border surveillance hours along the Iron Curtain, the East-West German Border, eventually becoming the senior border pilot in the Regiment.

Steve’s next assignment was the Armor Advanced Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky followed by an assignment with 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. While there, his assignments included C Troop Commander and Squadron Operations Officer (S3). He also completed his first master’s degree with Webster University in Management  An avid runner, Steve was appointed by the Division Commander as the 82nd AB Division Marathon Team Captain. He completed 10 marathons; his best time was 2 hours and 50 minutes. Steve also accumulated over 75 military combat training jumps and was awarded the Master Parachutist Badge.

Steve was then selected for and graduated from the Command and General Staff Officers Course (CGSC) at Ft Leavenworth, KS, on the Commandant’s List. He was selected to attend the prestigious School for Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) where he received his second master ’s degree.

Steve was assigned as the 5th Corps Aviation Officer in Frankfurt Germany. While there, he fielded the first Apache Attack Helicopter and CH-47D Heavy Lift Battalions in Europe/NATO.

He was a key member of the V Corps warfighting staff and was the first Operations Officer (S-3) and Executive Officer (XO) of the newly formed 12th Aviation Brigade, a key force in V Corps and NATO’s Warfighting Defense Plans. Steve was awarded the Legion of Merit, given for exceptional service and achievement, with V Corps and the 12th Aviation Brigade. Steve was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel while in V Corps.

Steve was assigned back to Ft Leavenworth, KS. as the Senior Instructor and Author for the Tactics Course at the CGSC. Next, he was assigned as the Senior Command and Control Observer Controller for the Army ’s very successful Army Battle Command Training Program that trained Brigade, Division, and Corps warfighting commanders and their staff in high intensity warfighting leading up to the Gulf War. Steve was promoted to Full Colonel,
completed the Army War College, and was selected to attend the Inspector General (IG) Course in Washington, DC. He was assigned as the IG for the Ohio National Guard (Army and Air Force). Following a very productive IG tour Steve had bilateral hip replacements, the result of lingering hip injuries received while conducting airborne combat training with the 82nd Airborne Division.

Usually, the Army would discharge someone following bilateral artificial hip replacement; however, Steve was retained in service and given directorship of the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Program Integration Office for the Army Battle Command Systems (TPIO -ABCS).

For the next 4 years, he was instrumental in the initial development and successful digital integration of combat and combat support command and control systems across the entire US Army, individual soldier to Army level, and its interface with the other Services. This complete modernization of the Army ’s Command and control systems proved indispensable during the Gulf War and remains the architecture of Army command and control to this day.

For his service, Steve was awarded his second Legion of Merit.

In 1998 Steve retired as a Full Colonel. He accepted employment with Science Applications Corporation and for a year worked with the US Army National Simulations Center to integrate training simulations into the newly developed Army Battle Command and Control System which simplified combat simulations training.

Steve then accepted employment at Sprint Corporation in Kansas City, KS. Here he led hardware and software developmental teams working on cutting edge cellular communications programs. He then accepted the position as Sprint Senior Manager for all Sprint Offshore Communications Contracts with US Military Services. This involved providing communications systems to Army and Air Force contingents from England to Kyrgyzstan, largely focused on war torn Bosnia and the Middle East.

Steve retired from Sprint in 2006 and accepted work from several defense contractors as a subject matter expert /consultant from 2006-2015, focusing on retraining US Army and NATO commanders and staff in high to mid intensity warfare. Service to your country is the greatest reward one can pursue! Allons (forward)!

Family members:
Wife: Margaret (Margy) Rose Baribeau
Daughter: Stacy Shipley
Son: Kevin Baribeau
Mother: Vivian Baribeau (deceased)
Father: Robert Baribeau (deceased)
Brothers: Michael , Alan, Tom (all graduates of NCHS)
Sisters: Michele, Christine, Susan (deceased) (all graduates of NCHS)

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, RANDY CORLEY

The Voice of the Arena: Randy Corley’s Journey

In November 1951 Randy Corley was born in Miles city, Montana. His early years were spent in Helena, where he started school, but a few years later moved to Lusk, Wyoming. Lusk was a small place, the kind of town where everyone knows your name and your story. 

Graduating from NCHS in 1970, Randy exhibited the dedication and competitiveness that would be the foundation of his rise to the top. He wasn't just a kid in the back row. He was a football running back and defensive back, a wrestler, and a letterman who wore his jacket with pride. The Future Farmers of America claimed him too, and as a senior, he served as their historian, a nod to his knack for keeping stories straight. The Thespians welcomed him too, letting him play roles, little knowing it was the beginning of bigger things. But it was the speech team that truly lit him up. He served as president, and when he competed, he was known for winning contests getting an early start on a gift that would one day be used to echo across arenas. 

Randy loved the cowboy life and its history, especially the rough-and-tumble world of rodeo. It wasn’t just a sport to him. After high school, he apprenticed under Dennis George in Riverton, Wyoming, crafting saddles. He tended bar, poured drinks, and listened to the stories of strangers. Life was a patchwork of odd jobs until he landed at Ron  Bailey Broadcasting College in Seattle, where he began to forge his future using the power of words, and the sound of his voice.

His first announcing job was as a weatherman in Broken Bow, Nebraska, forecasting the next day’s weather and any upcoming cold fronts for a small radio station. But it was in North Platte that opportunity knocked when Bill Smith’s nightly rodeo needed an announcer.

Randy’s voice found its place among the dust and cheers. The late Hadley Barrett, a legend in rodeo announcing and Randy’s future father-in-law, heard him there and saw something special. Hadley urged Randy to get his PRCA Card and in 1980, Randy did just that, stepping into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association with a microphone and a dream. Four years later, in 1984, Randy’s voice carried him to the National Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, the last time it was held there.

He was the alternate announcer. When the NFR moved to Las Vegas in 1985, Randy was chosen to announce, his voice filling the Thomas & Mack Center, a sound that became synonymous with the sport’s biggest stage. He returned in 1986, then joined the television broadcast team from 1987 to 1991 , bringing the action to living rooms across the country. By the mid-’ 90s, he was back in the arena, announcing on and off, and from 2005 until his retirement in 2024, he was the voice of the NFR for 24 years total—a run that defined an era.

No one has been named PRCA Announcer of the Year more than Randy Corley. Twelve times—1984, 1990 to 1996, 1998, 2003, 2011 , and 2015— the title was his, a record that stands alone. He announced rodeos from the Carolinas to the Pacific, from Canada to Mexico, each one a new crowd, a new story. The Calgary Stampede heard him for nine years, the Pendleton Roundup for seven. San Antonio trusted him for 29 years, Bremerton for 41 , Puyallup for 42. He called the Coors Beer Rodeo Showdown six times, the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeo three.

At his peak, he worked 30 rodeos a year, his voice a steady hand guiding the chaos of bucking broncs and spinning bulls. In 2005, Randy shared the NFR spotlight with his daughter, Amanda, the first father- daughter announcer-timer duo in the event’s history. It was a moment of pride, not just for him but for the family he’d built with his wife, Michelle Barrett. Four children, five grandchildren, and a great-grandchild filled his life off the mic.

When the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame called in 2017, it was the culmination of a life’s work. “ This is quite an honor,” Randy said, in Colorado Springs, “ Nothing can be any better than reaching this pinnacle, other than taking care of every rodeo I work.” He meant it. From the smallest arenas in places like Hill City, Kansas, to the bright lights of Las Vegas, every rodeo mattered. Even after the induction, he wasn’t done. The day after the ceremony, he was on his way to Prescott, Arizona, to announce another show.

Randy Corley’s story isn’t just about a voice, though his is one of the greatest in rodeo history. It’s about a boy from Lusk who carried his challenges like stones in his pocket, turning them over until they were smooth, until they became the foundation of a life that shaped an entire sport. He doesn’t just announce rodeos— he gives them a heartbeat.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, MARK LOHR

The Quiet Heart of Lusk - Mark Lohr

Mark Lohr was born in 1947 and raised in Lusk and on the family ranch near Kirtley, Wyoming, a place steeped in the legacy of his grandfather, Len Christian and parents Ted and Garnet Christian Lohr.

Mark Lohr, a 1966 graduate of NCHS, was known for his wide-ranging talents ( singing, piano and oratory excellence) community spirit and love of golf. He left an indelible mark on Niobrara County. During his time at Lusk High School, Mark was active in nearly every school activity, shining in musical theater, including standout performance as the lead in The King and I. A gifted pianist from a young age, he never passed a piano without stopping to play.

Mark was a dedicated team player and could be found behind the scenes, serving as manager of the football and basketball teams for all four years of high school. His passion for sports extended to journalism— his offer to write sports articles for the local newspaper and was quickly accepted and he contributed regular articles for four
years without pay. Mark graduated as the Class of 1966 Valedictorian.

He then attended the University of Wyoming, where he earned his English degree and took many classes to further improve his musical abilities. He was a member of the University’s College Bowl Team ( a Jeopardy style team for outstanding students), representing Wyoming and Lusk with distinction on national television. After graduating with
honors, he attended Cincinnati Bible College and Platte Valley Bible College where he helped form the gospel group Higher Friends with Mark Roseberry and Del Hamon.

On his return to Lusk, Mark served as a pastor at both the Church of Christ and the Congregational Church. He served ten years on the Town Council and two terms as Mayor. During this time, he continued with an early passion— writing sports coverage for the local paper for 40 years.
While he never earned an All- Conference or All-State title himself, generations of athletes were honored through his detailed and consistent reporting and stat- keeping. He preserved decades of Niobrara
County sports history with unmatched accuracy.

Mark ’s leadership extended to the Lusk Golf Course, where he organized popular summer tournaments that drew participants from far and wide. An annual tournament now bears his name as a tribute to the work and pride he took in community service.

An extraordinary musician, Mark could play virtually any genre—classical, jazz, gospel,ragtime, rock, and more—and generously shared this gift with Lusk. He brought nationally renowned gospel groups to town, officiated and performed at countless weddings and funerals, and
offered comfort through music and ministry.

Mark Lohr's life was defined by humility, humor, and a deep sense of compassion. He instinctively knew when someone was hurting and always found a way to offer support. His commitment for Lusk ’s youth was boundless. He saw the kids who needed help—a place to stay, a trip they
couldn’t afford, or just someone to listen—and he stepped in, quietly covering costs or offering support, never asking for
recognition. To Mark, it was just what you did.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, RON NELSON

More Than a Coach: The Legacy of Ron Nelson in Lusk

In the spring of 1949, Ron Nelson was born just down the road from Lusk Wyoming in Gering, Nebraska. The only boy in a family of three sisters, including his twin, Ron grew up in a home shaped by love and loss— his father died when he was seven, leaving his mother to raise the family through grit and grace. 

Gering’s schools saw Ron through his youth, where he sprinted as part of the track team and played on the football team. He graduated from Gering High School in 1967 and enrolled at Chadron State College that fall.

Ron’s high school sweetheart, Holly, also attended Chadron. Both graduated in 1970, with education degrees and a shared dream of teaching. They interviewed for jobs in Gering, their hometown, but for some reason they did not accept right away. When they returned to Chadron and began to pack, thinking they would take those Gering jobs, Dr. Burkhardt, a college mentor, mentioned an opportunity in Lusk, Wyoming. Niobrara County needed an elementary teacher and an industrial arts teacher, and the pay was better than the Gering offer. Ron and Holly drove to Lusk, interviewed, and accepted the jobs on the spot. In the fall of 1970, they began their teaching careers in Niobrara County, stepping into a community that would become their home for decades. Holly taught for 45 years, Ron for 52, their combined 97 years a testament to their devotion to Lusk ’s children.

Ron’s early years in Lusk were a whirlwind of classrooms and coaching. He taught industrial arts, guiding students to become skilled welders and craftsmen. Many carried those skills into successful careers. In the classroom, he was Mr. Nelson, a steady presence whose lessons went beyond technique, shaping lives with patience and purpose. On the field, he was Coach Nelson, starting with football and wrestling adding track throwing in 1988. Ron coached both middle school and high school athletes, building programs that turned raw talent into champions. Under his guidance, Niobrara County athletes claimed 26 state titles in discus and shot put and 66 individual wrestling titles. From 1999 to 2002 , his wrestling teams won four consecutive state team championships.

Ron’s impact on Lusk ’s youth is immeasurable. He saw potential where others might not, mentoring countless students and athletes with a quiet belief in their ability to rise. His influence extended beyond trophies— many of his welding students became professionals,
their careers a testament to his teaching. Even after retiring from the classroom in 2022  Ron couldn’t step away from coaching. At 76, he still coaches track and wrestling, his voice a familiar echo in the gym and on the fields at Niobrara County High School, urging kids to throw farther, hold tighter & harder, and believe in themselves.

For 25 years, Ron has served on the Legend of Rawhide Board (the organization behind our iconic pageant) and has spent the last seven years as its president. The pageant thrives under his leadership.

Additionally, Ron has served 25 years on the Niobrara County Fair Board, including multiple terms as chairman and has helped shape the fair into a cornerstone of local pride. He has spearheaded projects like the wooden wagon planter boxes ( a two-year collaboration with the Main Street Vitalization Committee and the Niobrara Chamber of Commerce). These boxes were crafted by his wood tech students and were placed on Main Street and at the Niobrara Community Hospital in 2017. For 14 years, he served as a volunteer fireman. Ron’s commitment to Lusk runs deep.

Ron and Holly raised two children, Dean and Kit, and their family has grown to include four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They’ve also been a guiding force in the life of Doug Lytle, a testament to their open hearts. Ron’s life is a study in resilience— losing his father young, building a career from scratch, and pouring himself into a town that wasn’t his by birth but became his by choice. His work with Lusk ’s youth, whether in the classroom, on the mat, or at the fairgrounds, reflects a man who believes in people and benefits of hard work.

Ron Nelson’s story is Lusk ’s story. He’s the coach who turned kids into champions, the teacher who built careers, the volunteer who strengthened a community. His induction into the Hall of Fame isn’t just an honor— it’s a recognition of what makes Niobrara County strong, a commitment --- one student, one throw, one fire call at a time.

ALUMNI HALL OF FAME, AL TAYLOR

The Law and the Land: Al Taylor ’s Wyoming Legacy

Early life: Born November 2 , 1928, in Lusk, Wyoming, William Alfred Taylor— known as Al— grew up with brothers Donald Lee and Jim, sons of Don and Ethel Taylor. His grandfather homesteaded near Kirtley, and he was always proud of his family’s pioneering spirit and grit. Raised in Niobrara County during the Depression, he worked alongside his family in many ventures— grocery store, gas stations, road construction, and the garden ( which was large and fed family, neighbors and strangers in need). He forged lifelong bonds with the people of this community and was shaped by their resilience and common sense. He credited them and their lessons in character for his success. Al graduated from Lusk High School in 1946 after an amazing but typical ( small town’s teach participation in all things) high school career: a four-year letterman in football and basketball, singer in choruses, actor in plays, writer for the Spotlight ( the school newspaper), and senior class vice president.

Education and Early Career

Al briefly attended Yankton College in South Dakota before earning a teaching degree from the University of Wyoming in 1951. After teaching in Lusk and serving in the U. S. Army during the Korean War, he returned to Laramie to pursue law at the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1959. He married Jane Y. Lyons in 1958, and they raised three daughters— Alison, Kari, and Lisa.

Law Practice

Returning to Lusk in 1959, Al established a law practice that became a cornerstone of the community. As county attorney and city attorney, he handled criminal and civil cases with a balance of justice and compassion. He was a true small-town lawyer, helping people with estates, domestic issues, property disputes, civil disagreements, and taking care of criminal matters. As a prosecutor, Al was known for his judgment and discretion, going to trial and pursuing penalties where necessary and finding alternate punishments and rehabilitation where appropriate. He quietly changed the course of many lives. He was a solo practitioner until, after many years, Dennis Meier graduated law school and joined his practice, eventually becoming a partner. In 1975, he sold his building to Dennis and moved to Cheyenne to become the first Executive Director of the Wyoming Bar Association.

Community Service

Al enjoyed public service and believed it was an obligation of citizenship. Among other endeavors, he was a member of the Lions, Masons (Scottish Rite), Elks, and local emergency management team. He championed infrastructure projects and, along with his friend Dick Pfister, a highway commissioner, worked to get pine trees planted in the highway right- of- ways leading to Lusk and supported the Lady Bird Rest Area. Al was an influential advocate for the Women’s Center ’s location in Lusk, a supporter of the hospital, and a community champion. His practical generosity— rooted in his family’s ethos— made him a beloved figure, always ready to listen and act for the people of Lusk and the community good.

Judicial Career

Al was appointed by Governor Edgar J. Herschler to the Eighth Judicial District Court in 1980. He presided over Converse, Platte, Goshen, and Niobrara Counties with fairness and intellect. In 1993, Governor Mike Sullivan named him to the Wyoming Supreme Court, where he served as chief justice from 1997 to 1998. Known for clear, principled rulings, Al’s judicial tenure reflected his deep understanding of Wyoming’s people and values. Even as a judge, he returned often to Lusk, drawn to its unique strength and camaraderie.

Retirement and Legacy

Retiring to Green Valley, Arizona, Al and Jane enjoyed golf and cards, his wit and smile lighting up fairways. He died on June 18, 2010, and is buried in Lusk, the town that shaped him. Jane remains in Green Valley; Alison and Mark Sheesley live in Worland; Kari and Andy Gray live near Orin Junction; and Lisa and Bob Lange reside in Midland, Texas. He has nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Al Taylor— lawyer, judge, and son of Lusk— lived with compassion and service, leaving Niobrara County stronger. His Hall of Fame induction honors a life of steady, selfless leadership.

Footnotes

The Thompson Homestead, where Al’s mother Ethel was raised, bordered the Christian homestead. Ethel and Garnet Christian Lohr were lifelong friends and Mark Lohr from childhood on could often be found visiting at Al’s office or home. Al’s dear friend and long- serving secretary was Betty Berry, the mother of Randy Corley, and Al took paternal delight in Randy’s success. Ron Nelson taught all three of Al’s daughters in high school, and Al and Jane Taylor were the class chaperones on Steve Baribeau’s senior trip. What a testament to the friendships and interrelationships of the wonderful people of Niobrara County.

Images & Attachments

Related/Linked Records