Emil F. "Sonny" Zetmeir, Board Chair

Sonny grew up in Kansas City, MO attending Kansas State University before serving in the Navy. He and his wife Sophia then moved to Parsons where they raised three daughters: Ellen, Joanie, and Amy.  Sonny currently is the president and owner of Grandview Products. He has been active in the community serving on the boards of LCC and SEK, Inc. and is currently chairman of the LCC capital campaign. His hobbies include guitar, golf and travel. Sonny agreed to serve on the PACF board because he was asked by two men he greatly admires, and to be a part of something he believes to be important for the area.

James "Jim" Smith, Vice Chair

Jim was raised on a farm near Gardner, KS. He is a CPA, receiving his degree from Emporia State, and partner at Stafford and Westervelt, working there since 1976. He and his wife Susie have five children, four boys and one girl, and nine grandchildren. Jim is active with his family and his membership in St. Patrick's Catholic church, its choir, and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoys gun collecting and puttering on his farm. He feels serving on the Foundation board offers the opportunity to give back to the community who has given so much to him and his family.

    Gary Wall

A native of Parsons, since 1966 Gary has been the director of Carson-Wall Funeral Home. He is a graduate of Parsons Junior College, Pittsburg State, and KU's Dept. of Mortuary Science. He and his wife, Shirley, have three grown children: Katherine, Emily, and Ned, and three grandchildren. Gary is active in the First Baptist Church, Parsons Rotary, Labette Health Foundation, LCC's capital campaign as well as  reading, family genealogy, and attending meetings! As one of the founding members of PACF, he is committed to seeing it grow and enhance the quality of life for future generations.

Senta Meister

Senta grew up in Williamsport, PA receiving a BA from Ursinus College and an MBA from Bloomsburg University. She is a CPA and works part time in Commercial Bank's Financial Services. Her husband, Brad, also grew up in PA. They moved to Parsons for Brad to practice General Orthopedics in a small rural town. They have two young children, Alex and Sidni. Senta is an active member of St. John's Episcopal Church, MOPS, and P.E.O. Sorority. Her hobbies are swimming, tennis and outdoor activities with her family. Joining the PACF board in 2008, she felt this was an opportunity to help make Parsons an even better place for young couples to raise a family.

Pat LaForge

A native Parsonian, Pat graduated from PHS and went on to KU to receive degrees in Civil Engineering and Business Administration. He is now president of LaForge & Budd Construction, and his wife, Lori, serves as the receptionist there. They have two children: Morgan and Adam. Pat is a member of St. Patrick's Parish and serves on the Boards of JOBS, Inc. and Commercial Bank. Included in his hobbies are work, golfing, water sports and learning. He joined the PACF board in 1998, and feels the foundation is an important asset to the community. He is honored to serve and offer his time, talents and resources a to be a part of the good things the Foundation does for the community.

James McCarty

Growing up and living now in the Mound Valley area, James went to Pittsburg State on a track scholarship where he earned a BA and MA in business. He currently operates McCarty's, The Office Store, as the 3rd generation, with his grandfather starting the business in 1959. His wife, Bethany, is the math department head at PHS. They have two young sons, Zachary and Russell. James enjoys the outdoors with his boys as well as continuing his track activities and bow and arrow deer hunting. He was a founding member of Parsons Young Professionals, Chairman of the Great Plains Development Authority, is on the LCC Foundation board, and an active Rotarian. He agreed to add the civic involvement of serving on the PACF board because he felt the Foundation affects the community in a positive way.

Kirk Wyckoff

Jane Dick, Secretary

Jane is a native Parsonian, graduating from PHS and LCC. She is president of Dick Enterprises, and works part time at the Stockyards Cafe. She and her husband, David, have three sons: Brian, Danny, and Kyle. She is involved with the Stella Wells Christmas baskets, Habitat for Humanity, and PHS activities. A member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, she has also served on the St. Patrick's School Council. As a lifelong resident of Parsons, Jane agreed to serve on the PACF board because she believes in its mission to improve the quality of life for the people of this area.

                                       Grant Steinle, Treasurer

Grant grew up in Parsons. He is the VP of Operations at Dwayne’s Photo. He obtained both his undergraduate BS degree in Computer Science and an MBA from KU.  He and his wife, Emily, have one daughter, Megan, who is in kindergarten at Garfield.  The Foundation and the finance committee at his church, Wesley United Methodist, are his primary community activities.  There’s not much time left for hobbies, but he does enjoy board games with friends. In 1993 Pete Hughes and Dick Combs persuaded him to join the Foundation board. Grant believes it’s important to try and give something back to the community as we all have a responsibility to help take care of each other.

Daniel Manners

Dan is also a native of Parsons, graduating from PHS and Pittsburg State with a degree in Business Administration. A fifth generation farmer/rancher, he is the owner of Manners Oil Company. He and his wife, Amy, have three children: Luke, Molly, and Sam as well as two grandchildren. Dan is active in youth baseball, St. Patrick's Catholic Church, the American Legion, and is a member of the Parsons Educational Foundation Board. His hobbies are golf and fishing. Dan joined the PACF board in 2008 to contribute to the efforts of the Foundation in making the Parsons area a great place to live.

Charles M. "Mike" Keal

Mike moved to Parsons at the age of 10 from Fort Scott, KS. He graduated from PHS and LCC and has taken classes at Pittsburg State. Currently he is employed by Beachner Companies as their HR Director. He and his wife, Florence, have three married sons: Travis, Aaron and Joshua, and 7 grandchildren. He is a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, and is active in many civic and sporting events. He enjoys golf and family activities. Joining the PACF board was highly recommended to Mike by other board members as an organization that significantly impacts the community, and Mike agreed to serve to contribute to that effort.

Marcia Gard

Marcia is a St. Paul native, and currently teaches at the Middle School there. She is a PSU graduate with a master's degree in education. Jeff Gard is her husband, and they have three children: Jordan, Allyson, and Jacob. Civic activities include the city recreation commission, 4-H leader, and is a member of the St. Francis Church, serving on its Altar Society Board. Hobbies include gardening, reading, walking, and attending her children's sporting events. She agreed to serve on the Foundation board to learn more about the process of charitable giving, to grow as a leader, and to be a more active citizen in her community.

Nancy Bolt

Nancy was born and raised in Parsons, attended LCC, and is currently the Asst. Vice-President at Commercial Bank. She has two grown children, Jennifer and Jamie, and two grandchildren. Spending time with her family and friends is her favorite activity, and she is also kept busy as the Financial Secretary for the First Baptist Church, on the PHS School Advisory Board, working with the Katy Days Horse Committee, and as a member of Chapter BS PEO. She feels it is an honor to serve on the Foundation board in order to give back to the community that has played such an important role in her and her family's lives..

Cheryl Lewis

Cheryl is a native of Oswego and co-owner of Realty, Inc. with her husband Steve. She graduated from Oswego High School and attended PSU. She and Steve have two children, Janna Nesbitt, and Ty Lewis, and five grandchildren. Besides following the grandkids in their school and sporting events, she enjoys horseback riding, creating gourd art, and golfing. She is active in the First Baptist Church, Oswego Historical Society and other civic groups. She views the PACF as the ultimate venue for giving back to a community and area that has given so much to her and her family. She once read there are three stages in life: "Learning, Earning and Returning." The Foundation is fortunate she feels she is blessed to be in the "returning" stage.