Benton, KY - The Marshall County School District, in conjunction with the MCHS Class of 1985, is proud to announce the inductees who will comprise the 2025 class of the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame: Joe Creason, Joe Tom Haltom, Aughtum Smith Howard, Mike Miller, Bill Morgan, Vernon Rudolph, and Chrishell Stause.
The Marshall County Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame was formed as a means to recognize and celebrate the vast history of successful alumni produced over the past 150+ years from Marshall County Schools, and to encourage current students with examples of what they can achieve after leaving this school system. Inductees for the 2025 class were selected by a committee comprised of alumni of the MCHS Class of 1985, community members, and district officials.
A reception to honor these inductees will take place Saturday, January 25th in the MCHS Cafeteria beginning at 4:30 pm. The public is invited to attend. The inductees will also be recognized at approximately 7 pm that evening between games of the basketball double header vs. McCracken County in Reed Conder Gymnasium.
CLASS OF 2025 INDUCTEES:
Joe Creason
Joe Cross Creason is an alumnus of Benton High School, graduating with the class of 1936. He is known for his saying that Benton is “the only town in Kentucky where I was born.” After graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1940, he became the editor of the Benton Tribune-Democrat and Murray Ledger & Times before accepting a position as a sport reporter, feature writer, and columnist for The Courier-Journal in 1941. His popular column, “Joe Creason’s Kentucky,” began in 1963 and documented the lives of everyday Kentuckians. He authored two books in addition to his newspaper column. He was the 1969-70 president of the UK Alumni Association, a 1981 inductee into the UK School of Journalism & Telecommunications Hall of Fame where a lecture series in his name precedes the annual induction ceremony, and a 2020 inductee into the UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni.
Joe Tom Haltom
Joe Tom Haltom is an alumnus of Benton High School, graduating with the class of 1944. After graduation he served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. He was the owner of Haltom Construction and later co-owner of Quality Construction. He was a long-time board member and former chairman at the Bank of Marshall County. He served two terms as Marshall County Sheriff. He and his wife, Anita, were co-founders of the Marshall County Exceptional Center and served as a long-time board member there. In his philanthropy to the community, he has made significant donations to support the pool at HH Lovett Park, Meals on Wheels, the Marshall County Exceptional Center, the Marshall County Hospital, and the Marshall County Children’s Art Center. He left a portion of his estate in trust to be distributed annually to non- profits in the county.
Aughtum Smith Howard
Dr. Aughtum Luciel Smith Howard was born in Almo and is an alumnus of Calvert City High School, graduating with the class of 1923. She continued her education at Georgetown College, graduating in 1926. She returned to Marshall County where she taught at both Birmingham and Calvert City high schools. She then attended the University of Kentucky completing a masters degree and ultimately a doctorate degree in mathematics in 1942. She was the first woman to receive a doctorate degree in mathematics from UK. Dr. Howard was a professor at Kentucky Wesleyan College during World War II where she was instrumental in developing the pre-engineering program. She next joined the faculty at Eastern Kentucky State College (now EKU) in 1958 where she taught until her retirement in 1972. A mathematics scholarship was established in her honor at EKU. Dr. Aughtum Smith Howard truly was a pioneer for women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Mike Miller
Mike Miller grew up in Hardin and is an alumnus of South Marshall High School, graduating with the class of 1963. He worked as a deejay at WCBL in the 1960’s. He served in the US Army from 1966-1968. Mike was elected as County Judge/Executive of Marshall County in 1973 as the youngest in the Commonwealth of Kentucky at the time. When he left office, he had been the longest serving Judge/Executive in the history of Kentucky (41 years). According to the Kentucky Association of Counties, Miller started an ambulance service, created nine fire protection taxing districts, upgraded the county road department and built buildings to house the Marshall County Detention Center, sheriff’s office and judicial center. Miller was the president of the Kentucky Association of Counties for two years in the early 1980s and was president of the Kentucky County Judge/Executive Association later in the decade, according to the Kentucky Association of Counties.
Bill Morgan
Brigadier General Billy Brandon Morgan (USAF, Ret.) attended Benton Elementary and Benton High School, graduating in 1947. He attended Freed-Hardeman College for a year, then finished his degree in Business at Murray State University. In 1951, he enlisted in the Air Force then soon completed Officer Training School. He served as a pilot and pilot instructor in Germany and France during the Korean War and after, he and his bride, Irene, were stationed in Lubbock, TX. He served there as an associate professor of Air Science and was Commandant of Cadets at Texas Tech, where he also earned his master’s degree in government. After leaving active duty in late 1960, Bill moved back to Benton to join the insurance company of Morgan, Trevathan, and Gunn. He remained in the USAF Reserves as well and flew missions to and from Vietnam. During Bill’s 35-year career in the Air Force, he served in various positions throughout the state and nation, receiving several distinguished military honors. As a businessman, Bill has served in many community leadership positions, which have benefited both Marshall County and its school system. Bill is very proud of his Marshall County roots and at 95 years of age, he strives to continue to help promote our area and its citizens.
Vernon Rudolph
Vernon Carver Rudolph grew up in the Heights community between Fairdealing and Aurora. He is an alumnus of Aurora High School, graduating with the class of 1934. When he graduated high school, he went to Paducah with his uncle who had bought a doughnut shop and recipe for yeast raised donuts from a French chef. In 1937, he moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and opened his own shop in historic Old Salem on July 13, 1937. In the 1940’s, he sold franchises and then founded the Krispy Kreme Corporation in 1947 becoming Chairman and President. In the 1960’s, Vernon worked to standardize the look of Krispy Kreme stores. Krispy Kreme has grown to have over one thousand franchises in over thirty-nine countries.
Chrishell Stause
Terrina Chrishell Stause is an alumnus of Marshall County High School, graduating in 1999. She furthered her education at Murray State University receiving a degree in theatre in 2003. She debuted on television portraying ‘Amanda Dillon Martin’ on the ABC soap opera ‘All My Children’ in May 2005 and played the character for over six years. She also appeared on the NBC soap opera ‘Days of Our Lives’ portraying ‘Jordan Ridgeway for two years. She has had several other film and television appearances. In addition to her acting career, Chrishell is also a real estate agent. Her work is showcased on the Netflix show ‘Selling Sunset’ dealing with the listing of luxury homes in Los Angeles. She competed in season 29 of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and was eliminated in 8 th place. In 2022, she received an MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Reality Star. Chrishell is currently appearing on season 3 of ‘Traitors’ on the Peacock network.
Nominations are always open—if you or someone you know would like to nominate a Marshall County alumnus to the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, please visit our district website at marshall.kyschools.us and click on “Distinguished Alumni” at the top of the page. Nominations can be submitted digitally, or the printable nomination form can be completed and mailed to our office at 86 High School Road, Benton, KY 42025.
An account has also been created in the following account to allow those that wish to contribute to the Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame. The donations may be eligible to be considered a charitable contribution for tax purposes:
Check made payable to Marshall County Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Mailed to: Marshall County Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame 86 High School Road Benton, KY 42025