2024 Inductees

H. H. Barlow. Hiseville High School – 1973

H.H. Barlow III is a 1968 graduate of Hiseville High School. In 1973 he married Katherine Clifford. He and his wife have four children, Gini Lin, Brad, John Paul and Joshua and they are grandparents of sixteen grandchildren.

H.H. earned a BS in Animal Science from the University of Kentucky. While attending UK, H.H. was involved in many organizations such as Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Delta National Agriculture Honor Society, Omicron Delta Kappa National Honor Society, UK Dairy Judging Team, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity and Alpha Zeta Agriculture Academic Fraternity.

Currently H.H. is the sole owner and operator of a 200 acre farm and is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Dairy Development Council.

Over the years H.H. has had several agriculture related positions. These positions include:territory manager for Burkmann Feeds,livestock feed sales manager for Pan American Mills, livestock specialist sales agent for Central Soya Feed Company, farm consultant for Purina Mills and Kentucky Tobacco Sales Official Scale Manager.

For the past 30 years H.H. has worked with farmers across South Central and Western Kentucky and Northern Tennessee as an active feed sales representative helping them with their dairy, livestock and cropping enterprises.

Through this work H.H. has gained a wealth of knowledge in all aspects of dairy and agriculture production. H.H. was the first dairy farmer to be appointed to the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board in 2004. He started and led the initiative and chaired the committee to create the Kentucky Dairy Development Council.

From 2005 to 2008, he actively recruited commercial dairies from California, Texas, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio and New York to locate new operations in Kentucky for the purpose of moving from a surplus to deficit milk production area in order to create economic development in rural Kentucky.

He has been active in state and national political affairs relating to agriculture pursuits. H.H. has held various roles in civic and agricultural positions. Some of these include: member of the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association Board of Directors, member of UK College of Agriculture Council of Research Education and Teacher Advisory Board, member of Board for International Food and Agricultural Development appointed by President Bush in 2008, chairman of Founding Committee of Kentucky Dairy Development Council, member of Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and many other agriculture related organizations.

In addition he has been Hiseville PTA President,and President of the State Federation of Federal Land Bank Association of Kentucky. Since 1973, H.H. has been actively involved with 4-H as a leader and is a member of the 4-H County Extension Board. He is an active member of the Immanuel Baptist Church currently serving as a member of the finance committee.

Emily Button. Barren County High School – 1994

Dr. Emily Button is a 1994 graduate of Barren County High School. She is the daughter of Jerry and Donnie Wyatt, the spouse of the late Brady Button and the proud parent of two children, Landree and Laken.

After graduating high school, Emily earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1999 from Northern Kentucky University. She continued her education Western Kentucky University earning a Masters of Science in Nursing in 2003 and Doctor of Nursing Practical (DNP) in 2017.

Currently Emily is the Director of Nursing at Lindsey Wilson College’s Baccalaureate of Nursing Program. In this position she is responsible for the daily operations of the pre-licensure BSN program. In addition she is responsible for curriculum development and monitoring faculty recruitment, supervision and evaluation.

Prior to this current position, Emily was a certified family nurse practitioner for the past 20 years.

Emily is a member of several professional organizations including: Sigma Theta Tau National Honors Society of Nursing, Kentucky Nurses Association, American Nurses Association, Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.

This level of involvement is reflective of their high school activities which included class officer positions during her sophomore, junior and senior years. In addition she was an active member of BETA, the Pep Club, Prom Committee and Future Homemakers of America (FHA) and held decision-making positions in those organizations.

Emily is an active member and volunteer for her church. Since 2018 she has assisted her daughter with starting the nonprofit organization 37SPFA (Sun Protection for All). This organization promotes skin cancer and melanoma awareness. This movement began in honor of her late husband, Brady, who lost his battle with melanoma in 2021. Since 2018 the organization has raised over $8000 for melanoma research.

Emily has earned many awards/recognitions throughout her professional life. Awards include 2017 WKU Sigma Theta Tau Research Scholarship , 2011 Lindsey Wilson College Advisor of the Year, 2003 Master of Science Student Award and American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.

Emily is also very proud to be a member of the Barren County Biomed and Health Science Program advisory board.

When asked what lessons she has learned since graduation, Emily wrote that she has learned to never take anyone or anything for granted. Life can change for the good or bad in the blink of an eye. She went on to say that she has learned to be thankful for the many blessings God has bestowed on her and to treat others the way you want to be treated. This idea is reflected in her hobbies and interests in life. Emily stays busy with her children and counts them among her greatest accomplishments which also includes marrying her late husband and achieving a Doctorate in Nursing Functioning.

Glenn Flanders. LaRue County High School – 1963

Glenn Flanders has a long history of service with Barren County schools and considers his time as an educator, coach, administrator, and mentor his calling.

A graduate of Larue County High School in 1963, he attended Western Kentucky University (WKU) where he completed a Bachelor of Science in Education and teacher certification in 1967. He later earned a Master of Arts in Education, and Rank 1, from WKU, as well as Secondary Principal, Elementary Principal, and Superintendent Certifications.

His teaching career began 1967 at Leitchfield High School where he taught science. He then accepted a teaching and football coach position with the new Apollo High School in Owensboro, Kentucky. Barren County proved to be his home, however, when he moved to Park City School in 1970, teaching high school science and coaching football, basketball, and track.

When Barren County High School opened in 1973, Flanders joined the faculty and coaching staff, and in 1978 he was named BCHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director. After immersing himself in the educational and athletic pursuits of Barren County High School students and athletes, Flanders accepted a new role at Austin Tracy Elementary where he served as principal from 1985-1989. During that time, he was honored with the Regional PTA Principal of the Year.

He was later named BCHS Principal and then Associate Superintendent of Barren County Schools. In 1996, Flanders resumed his role as Barren County High School Principal, a position he held until he retirement in 2001.

Not one to stay still for long, he accepted many requests to help the school system when needed, including taking on a bus route and driving various sports teams to and from games and matches. He also taught hundreds of young people through the driver’s education program and as a substitute teacher following his retirement.

Flanders is a Kentucky Colonel and a member of Kentucky Association of School Administrators, Kentucky Education Association, Kentucky High School Coaches Association, Barren County Cattlemen’s Association, Barren County Alumni Association, and the Glasgow/Barren County Retired Teachers Association where he has served as president. He is also an active member of Temple Hill Baptist Church, serving as Sunday School Superintendent and Choir Director for many years. Additional service includes Chairman of the Lincoln Trail Steer Show & Sale and Barren County FFA volunteer.

With over 40 years in the public school system, Flanders has been a teacher, coach, athletic director, associate superintendent, and principal. He fondly remembers the times he spent with kids, from pep rallies and singing the fight song to riding roller coasters at Beta Conventions and school trips.

“My absolute favorite memories are of seeing students succeed,” Flanders stated “. . . especially those times when a kid who was underestimated proved everyone wrong. It’s always about the kids. Regardless of whatever is going on, the focus must always be on what’s best for the kids.”

Derron Steenbergen. Barren County High School – 1988

Derron Steenbergen is a 1988 graduate of Barren County High School. He is the son of Bobby and Gayle Steenbergen. He is married to fellow alumni member Krista Shartzer Steenbergen and they have three children, Logan , Lyn Dawsyn and Landry. After graduation from high School, Derron attended Western Kentucky University earning his degree in 1994. Derron attends Broadway United Methodist Church.

He has served on the boards of several organizations across South Central Kentucky including Junior Achievement, The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, WKU Hilltopper Athletic Foundation and the Glasgow-Barren County Chamber of Commerce.

He has spent time on the board of the Barren County Education Foundation, serving as President, and the Barren County Alumni Association. Derron is a lifetime member of the WKU Alumni Association and the Barren County Alumni Association. He is also a past chairman of the Kentucky Broadcasters Association.

He spends his free time fishing and growing his business. Derron has spent the majority of his career in the broadcasting industry. He began as a local salesperson who also broadcast Barren County High School sports on the radio.

He grew in his role with Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation spending the past several years as Chief Revenue Officer. Derron was also the Executive Director of the Big Red Radio Network, the sports network for Western Kentucky University. He helped grow the network to the second largest collegiate sports network in Kentucky.

After spending many years hiring, training and leading sales people, Derron launched his own company in 2014. He founded the Swagger Institute, a company specializing in live event and virtual training including motivational speaking, sales and leadership training, non-profit fundraising and business consulting.

The pandemic caused short-term stress for a business that was largely built for in-person events. However it also provided the vision for what was to come. Derron began an extensive national outreach virtual training program. With events and conventions canceling across the country, he began offering guidance, motivation and inspiration virtually. This ultimately birthed an event called “Rising Above.” Rising Above is a sales and management media summit, 100% delivered virtually across the world. It has become the premier virtual event in the broadcast industry. Rising Above 5, Climbing Together, was held this past January. It annually attracts thousands from across the country and abroad.

While virtual training had certainly arrived and was here to stay, the pandemic also led to high levels of virtual fatigue. In short, everyone had gotten very tired of one hour long webinars. It was getting more and more difficult to keep the attention of the workforce. Again, this provided Derron another opportunity to pivot. This led to the formation of the Ten Minute Trainer Network which is an app based platform similar to Netflix, Disney Plus and Youtube.

From the inception of the Swagger Institute, Derron has traveled over 100,000 miles to deliver his upbeat, inspiration message. While speaking in 43 states and with clients in 47 states, Derron has trained over 25,000 people.

Derron spends his time in the community working with several nonprofit organizations and his pride in Glasgow and Barren County is always evident.

Derron stated that lessons learned in high school is to be who you are. Most of us spend so much time stewing, worrying and being mad about things that just don’t matter.

Derron lists his greatest accomplishment in life is being a Dad. He states that parenthood is hard, but it is the most gratifying role he has ever experienced. Getting the opportunity to earn the trust and love of his daughters supersedes anything else in his life. Derron’s advice is to believe in yourself. Allow no one to convince you of your limitations. Surround yourself with people who believe in you, who build you up and who genuinely desire to see you rise.

Richard Wood. Barren County High School – 1988

Richard is a 1988 graduate of Barren County High School. After graduation he continued his education as part of the US Army. He completed the US Army Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Non-Commissioned Course, Advanced Non-Commissioned Course, First Sergeant Academy, Advanced Field Artillery and the Technical Data System.

Richard entered Army Basic Training at Fort Benning, Georgia in June of 1988 as a 13C, Infantry Mortarman. After completion of Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training he was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 29th Infantry Regiment at Fort Benning helping to train new incoming soldiers in Advanced Individual Training.

In December of 1989, he was transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 5th Battalion 20th Infantry at Camp Casey, South Korea, where he served as a squad leader of a 4.2 inch heavy mechanized mortar vehicle and a fire direction computer operator.

In May of 1991, he was then transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion 6th Infantry at Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he also performed duties as squad leader of a 4.2 inch heavy mechanized mortar vehicle.

Richard left active duty service in 1992, after obtaining the rank of Sergeant, and returned home and entered the Kentucky Army National Guard serving with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery, Multiple Launch Rocket System, in Glasgow, Kentucky.

In 1998, Richard was transferred to Battery B, 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery, Multiple Launch Rocket System in Campbellsville, Kentucky, as the battery’s Chief Fire Direction Non-Commissioned Officer. While serving with Battery B, the unit was actively trained at Fort Dix, New Jersey and then deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, serving as the Platoon Sergeant for 2nd Platoon of Company B, assigned to the 917th Military Police Company. From 2005 to 2006 his platoon conducted numerous convoy escorts and patrols along some of Iraq’s deadliest roadways.

Returning home he continued as Battery B’s Chief Fire Direction Non-Commissioned Officer. He was then promoted and assigned Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, First Sergeant in 2008.

While serving as the batter’s first sergeant the battery performed support duties in Louisiana after Hurricane Gustav in 2008 and during the ice storm in the western part of Kentucky in 2009.

In June of 2012, after a rewarding military career, Richard retired from the Kentucky Army National Guard. During Richard’s military service with both the Army and the Kentucky Army National Guard, he was awarded the United States of America Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M-device, the National Defence Service Medal, the OverSeas Ribbon, the Meritorious Unit Commendation the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Driver’s Badge, the Korean Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Combat Action Badge.

Currently, Richard is employed by the Pride Land Surveying Inc. as a licensed professional land surveyor.

When asked what lessons he has learned since high school, he stated that it doesn’t matter how hard you work during your life, if you don’t have a great family support then you are doing it all for nothing. His advice for recent graduates would be to enjoy life while you can. Don’t be too quick to jump right in and not notice the people and places that surround you. Try to be a mentor to someone. You don’t know whose life you might make a difference in.