Van Horn Hall of Honor Inductees

Congratulations to Hector Barreto, James Bodenhamer and Charlie Shields, who have been inducted into the Van Horn High School Hall of Honor. These proud Van Horn graduates were recognized for their contributions to our community and our country. All three spoke at an induction ceremony where they encouraged students to take advantage of every opportunity at Van Horn High School. The Hall of Honor recognizes the accomplishments of Van Horn graduates and includes 38 members.

Hector Barreto serves as the chairman of The Latino Coalition, one of America’s largest and leading Latino advocacy groups. Barreto served five years as Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration. He is the owner of several Southern California businesses and serves on numerous national boards, including the United States Chamber of Commerce and Kansas City’s World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.

James Bodenhamer graduated from Van Horn in 1964 and was the first Falcon to attend and graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Bodenhamer had a distinguished career with Phillips Petroleum Company from 1973 through 2001, retiring as its Business Manager-Worldwide Polypropylene. He remains active in community service in the greater Houston area and also maintains his West Point ties by serving as a mentor for the Cadet Class of 2018.

Charlie Shields is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Truman Medical Centers. Shields spent 20 years in the Missouri General Assembly, serving as President Pro-Tem of the Missouri Senate from 2009 to 2011. He currently serves as president on the State Board of Education.