The Distinguished Alumni Class of 2026 was honored during a ceremony at Geneseo High School’s DePauw Theatre on Monday, March 9.
The eight-member class includes Joshua Anderson (Class of 1998), Thomas N. Anderson (Class of 1998), Susan (Lodge) Backs (Class of 1963), Brad Gericke (Class of 1984), the late Warren Hadley (Class of 1956), Scott Rokis (Class of 1998), Tony Vandemore (Class of 1995), and Ray Wirth (Class of 1953). Pictured above are Backs (seated), and left to right, Gericke, Wirth, Thomas N. Anderson, and Rokis.
“Being named as a Distinguished Alumni is more than just a recognition; it’s a statement about the legacy and impact of a Geneseo education,” said Travis Mackey, one of eight Distinguished Alumni board members. “This year's class spans decades and diverse fields, from decorated military service and global business to conservation and entrepreneurship. Throughout their lives, these individuals have embodied the commitment to excellence and service that we hope to instill in every student.”
The Distinguished Alumni award was created in 2019 and is bestowed to alumni who have reached a pinnacle of their career and brought credit to themselves and the Geneseo school district through distinguished accomplishments. Other board members include Linda VanDerLeest, Mary Orton, Todd Sieben, Katie Kutsunis, Bethany Winkelman, Steve Kastorff, and Angie Snook.
Above: Members of this year’s Distinguished Alumni class are joined by previous honorees. First row (left to right): Thomas Anderson, Susan Backs, Drew Nash. Second row: Molly Hamer, Brad Gericke, Ted McAvoy, Ray Wirth, Todd Sieben, Sue Rezin, Scott Rokis
Learn more about this year’s class:
Joshua Anderson, a 1998 graduate of Geneseo High School, served 20 years in the United States Army, retiring in 2018 with the rank of Master Sergeant. Enlisting shortly after graduation, he built a career defined by leadership, discipline, and dedication to his fellow soldiers. During his service, Anderson held assignments in both conventional and special operations units, including the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He deployed overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, serving in demanding environments that required resilience, teamwork, and strong leadership. In the final stage of his career, Anderson mentored future Army officers as an ROTC instructor at Florida A&M University. After retiring from the Army, he returned to Geneseo with his wife, Isabel, and their three children, continuing his lifelong connection to the community.
Thomas N. Anderson, a 1998 graduate of Geneseo High School, built a distinguished career defined by leadership, service, and dedication to others. A standout student-athlete, he graduated fifth in his class while serving as captain of the football, wrestling, and track teams and president of Key Club. He continued his path of excellence at the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating 12th in the Class of 2002 and competing as a Division I wrestler. Commissioned as an Infantry officer, Anderson served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2022 as a Lieutenant Colonel. His career included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and assignments around the world. He later mentored future officers as Director of the ROTC Program at the University of Guam. Today, Anderson remains active in the Geneseo community while focusing on his family—his wife, Crystal, and their four children.
Susan (Lodge) Backs, a 1963 graduate of Geneseo High School, built a distinguished 23-year career in the United States Army as a military nurse and leader. After initially seeking to join the Air Force, she instead entered the Army, a decision that led to a lifetime of service. Determined to serve where she was most needed, Backs successfully requested reassignment and was soon deployed to Vietnam. There, she worked under intense conditions, including service in a POW hospital, demonstrating resilience and dedication to patient care. Throughout her Army career, she served across two continents in a variety of medical roles, including surgery, newborn care, and the operating room. After retiring from the military as a lieutenant colonel, Backs continued her nursing career in Kansas before eventually retiring, leaving a legacy of compassion, determination, and service.
Brad Gericke, a 1984 graduate of Geneseo High School, served with distinction in the United States Army, retiring with the rank of Major General after a career marked by strategic leadership and innovation. Known as a forward-thinking leader, he played a key role in shaping modern military strategy within Joint and Army commands. Gericke earned a doctorate from Vanderbilt University and graduated from the National War College, combining academic insight with extensive operational experience. As the Army’s longest-tenured Senior Strategist and Chief of Plans, he helped develop and implement more than fifteen major strategies and plans, including the National Military Strategy and the Army Campaign Plan. At the Pentagon, he advised senior leaders and helped design global operational planning frameworks. In retirement, Gericke continues contributing to national security discussions as a mentor and distinguished fellow.
Warren Hadley, a 1956 graduate of Geneseo High School, was raised on the family farm between Geneseo and Cambridge, Illinois, where he developed a strong work ethic and lifelong dedication to agriculture. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Iowa State University in 1961, he briefly traveled the country as a field secretary for Delta Chi Fraternity. In 1962, he married Catherine Kemp, and in 1963 he returned home to continue the family farming operation in Henry County, raising crops and feeding more than 2,000 head of cattle annually. A forward-thinking cattle producer, Warren also served in leadership roles with agricultural organizations and local businesses. Deeply committed to his community, he supported education through service on the Geneseo Board of Education and the Black Hawk College Board, leaving a lasting impact on agriculture, education, and the Geneseo community.
Scott Rokis, a 1998 graduate of Geneseo High School, built an unconventional career defined by creativity, adventure, and reinvention. After earning a degree in management information systems from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, he joined General Electric through its Information Technology Leadership Program and spent 13 years in corporate leadership roles across the United States and internationally. During that time, Rokis discovered photography while working in Australia, developing a passion that gradually reshaped his career path. In 2016, he left the corporate world to pursue photography full-time. Today, Rokis is a freelance photographer specializing in endurance sports and commercial storytelling, traveling throughout the western United States in a self-converted van. His work has taken him to nearly every U.S. state and more than 35 countries, capturing meaningful stories of athletes, communities, and life on the road.
Tony Vandemore, a 1995 graduate of Geneseo High School, has built a career rooted in entrepreneurship, conservation, and a lifelong passion for waterfowling. After briefly playing professional baseball in the minor leagues and attending Truman State University, he worked in the commercial insurance industry while operating a small snow goose hunting outfit on the side. That venture eventually grew into Habitat Flats, now recognized as one of the premier waterfowl hunting operations in the country. Vandemore and his partners manage and farm thousands of acres with a focus on creating high-quality habitat for waterfowl through careful crop planning, wetland management, and conservation practices. Known for his dedication to stewardship and continual improvement, Vandemore credits his family, faith, partners, and team for the operation’s success as he continues expanding opportunities for hunters and conservationists alike.
Ray Wirth, a 1953 graduate of Geneseo High School, is the founder of Wirth Plumbing & Heating and built a lasting legacy of craftsmanship, family leadership, and community trust in Geneseo. After establishing the company in 1965, Wirth helped shape the region’s heating and cooling industry while adapting to decades of technological change. A pivotal moment came when he partnered with Lennox, a relationship that has endured for more than 50 years and earned the business recognition as a longtime Premier Dealer in Illinois. Throughout its growth, Wirth Plumbing & Heating has remained rooted in downtown Geneseo, serving customers across the surrounding region. Still family-centered and employing dozens of local residents, the company reflects Wirth’s commitment to quality service, strong relationships, and the community he has supported for generations.
View previous Distinguished Alumni honorees and learn more about the Distinguished Alumni Class of 2026: