Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame Induction Set

The Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame Board of Governors has announced the 2007 inductees for the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2007 at the Ramada Inn, 420 E 6th Street, Topeka, Kan. The public is invited to attend.

The inductees for 2007 are: Brig. Gen. Edward H. Gerhardt, 2nd Lt. John A. Huntsman, Command Sgt. Maj. Howard H. McCoy and Col Michael J. O'Toole.

This marks the 29th year for the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame induction. The 2007 inductees will make the 84-87th Kansas Guardsmen to be so honored. Guardsmen and women may be nominated and selected by their peers and associates for truly exceptional contributions to both the Kansas National Guard and the communities in which they live. Selection is made following a rigorous grading process by two committees and final approval by the Hall of Fame board of directors.

The Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame is located in the Museum of the Kansas National Guard, Building 301, at the main entrance to Forbes Field, Topeka, Kansas. It is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, except holidays.

Brig. Gen. Edward H. Gerhardt

Brig. Gen. Edward H. Gerhardt retired from the Kansas Army National Guard with more than 38 years of service. He was commissioned in 1963 as the Honor Graduate of the Kansas National Guard Officer Candidate Class 7. In succeeding years he served as commander of the Troop Command Brigade. From 1980-83 he served as Commandant of the Kansas Military Academy, Salina, Kan. Following over 15 years of command, he was assigned as Director of Plans, Operations, and Training for the Kansas Army National Guard. He retired in 1998. During his career, he served as president of both National Guard Association of Kansas and the STARBASE Board of Directors. As a part-time Guardsman and full-time administrator, he was a champion of the citizen-soldier. Gerhardt and his wife, Dorothy resides in Topeka. Between them, they have three children and two grandchildren.

2nd Lt. John A. Huntsman

2nd Lt. John A. Huntsman was a Medal of Honor recipient during the Philippians Insurrection. He arrived in Manila during November 1898, serving with the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry, which took part in the initial hostilities between Aguinaldo and the U.S. in February 1899. The 20th Kansas made one of the most celebrated river crossings of the war during a battle outside of Manila. Huntsman is believed to have received his Medal of Honor for this distinguished bravery and conspicuous gallantry in action against insurgents. He died in 1902.

Command Sgt. Maj. Howard H. McCoy

Command Sgt. Major McCoy was born Feb. 3, 1936, in Wichita, Kan. He enlisted in the Kansas Army National Guard on March 24, 1952, and was assigned as Assistant Squad Leader in the First Platoon of Company A, First Battle Group 137th Infantry. He concluded his distinguished 44 year career by retirement in 1996. As a civilian, he worked 40 plus years for Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita as a printer.

During this time he coached and mentored countless young men teaching them the skills of his trade. During his career he recognized the need for standard training and promotion of the best qualified personnel. The curriculum he developed was adopted and expanded for use at the State Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Salina, Kan. He has been called a true patriot and a model citizen-soldier by his superiors and subordinates. McCoy and his wife, Betty reside in Wichita. They have two daughters and two grandsons.

Col Michael J. O'Toole

The late Col Michael J. O'Toole, past commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing, is our final inductee for 2007. O'Toole was born in Hiawatha, Kan., on Jan. 1, 1952. He attended Topeka West High School for one year and graduated from Parsons High School in 1970. He enlisted in the Kansas Air National Guard in 1970 after graduation and began Basic Training in September of that year. Ultimately O'Toole commanded the Wing that he had enlisted for, the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard. While serving in the Air Guard he attended college at Washburn University and was a member of the ROTC program.

O'Toole was mobilized to serve during the Desert Shield/Desert Storm War and the Kosovo Campaign being one of the first air refueling crews in support of both Kosovo and the war with Iraq. As a citizen he served as a trustee for the Stormont-Vail Foundation, as a board member of the Topeka Chamber of Commerce and a member of "Go Topeka." He was a member of Leadership Topeka, Class of 2001 and Leadership Kansas, Class of 2003. He served the National Guard Association of Kansas as the second and first vice president and as the executive director of the National Guard Association of Kansas from 1985-1986. He started a "Wings" Leadership Program for fifth grade students at Pauline South Elementary School in Pauline, and was an active volunteer in the program. He also was a volunteer in the Kansas STARBASE program and gave orientation flights for the Wright Flight and Young Eagles, using his own airplane. He will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2007 following his father, Col. Donald J O'Toole, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. Pam O'Toole, his wife, resides in Topeka. They have two daughters and a son.

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