Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2013 Linda (simon) kinseth Central Dewitt Hall of Fame Induction Class 2013

Inducted for Outstanding Contributions as an individual of Central High School

Biography Linda Simon twirled for the Central Marching Band from 1975-1977.  She was a 2X National Baton Twirling Association State Champion, placing 15th at the National competition.  She was a Line Twirler for the University of Iowa Marching Band in 1978 & 1979, and was the featured Golden Girl in 1980 & 1981, earning a scholarship and marching in the 1982 Rose Bowl. 1n 1982 she won the Miss Iowa title and competed in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, NJ.  She has a BA in Industrial Relations-Human Resources and is currently a Human Resource Assistant and Training Coordinator for Sun Mechanical Contracting, Inc. in Tucson, AZ.

Article from the Observer Long before she was named the University of Iowa’s “Golden Girl” or competed as Miss Iowa in the Miss America Pageant, Linda Simon was “DeWitt’s Darling.” Petite and vivacious with a sparkling smile and a personality to match, Simon, won the hearts of the entire community, who followed her successes in baton twirling competitions and watched her work with youngsters who were baton students at the Simonettes dance school her mother, Nathalie Simon, operated in DeWitt. She twice was a twirling and strutting champion at the state competition of the National Baton Twirling Association (NTBA) and placed 15th nationally at the NTBA contest her senior year. It was no surprise she was the featured twirler all three years (high school then was grades 9-12) with the 1975-1977 Saber marching band under the direction of Ed McMahon. “She was unbelievable,” McMahon says of the young woman who gave stellar performances at game after game. “She was sweet and unassuming,” the band man describes. “She never acted like the star even though she looked” the part, he adds. “She never asked for favors.”

The Observer (cont.) McMahon admits he did not teach her anything about twirling but she took naturally to working with the band. He was not a bit surprised when the University of Iowa chose her first as a line twirler for her freshman and sophomore years with the 1978-1979 Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band under the direction of Dr. Morgan Jones and then as the featured twirler (Golden Girl) for her junior and senior years. “I couldn’t imagine them choosing anyone else,” McMahon says. During her four years at the U of I, Simon performed with the marching band at home football games, pre-shows in the rec building, some away games and four homecoming parades. New Year’s Day 1982 found her marching with the band in the Tournament of Roses parade and performing during half time of the Rose Bowl game against the Washington Huskies. Her Golden Girl status earned her two years worth of scholarships to the university. While she still was a student at Iowa, studying industrial relations- human resources in the college of business, she won the title of Miss Clinton County 1981, and the following year, she was crowned Miss Iowa 1982. All DeWitt televisions were tuned to the Miss America Pageant in the fall of 1982, when she proudly represented her hometown and all of Iowa on the

The Observer (cont.) boardwalk in Atlantic City, N.J. Although she was not a finalist, she did earn a talent scholarship for her flawless performances. Simon’s success did not end with her graduation from Iowa. She is married to Marc Kinseth, and they live in Vail, Ariz., with their two children, Ryan, a student at the University of Arizona, and Hailey, a student at Cienega High School. She received master training certification from The National Center for Construction Education and Research in Gainesville, Fla., in 2010 and oversees the apprentice programs at Sun Mechanical Contracting Inc., where she is the human resource assistant and training coordinator. She continues to “pay it forward” as a community and school volunteer. “I’m very proud to be from DeWitt and always did my very best to represent the entire community at every competition and performance during my twirling years. “Becoming Miss Clinton County and Miss Iowa were amazing accomplishments for me, and I always will be grateful to my family, friends and the entire Central Schools community for all the support and encouragement I received,” she adds. “I never will forget marching and performing at the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game. I was waving my DeWitt flag of pride and appreciation that day.”

Induction speech Inducted for Outstanding Contributions as an Individual 1977, Linda Simon twirled under Hall of Fame director Ed McMahon for the Central Marching Band. That talent would enhance her future success for years to come. Linda was a member of Central’s National Honor Society and performed in our school musical. Her twirling gave her the opportunity to march with the high school in Florida at Disney World. She was a 2X National Baton Twirling Association State Twirling and Strutting Champion placing 15th at the NBTA National Competition. She was also involved in the NBTA Youth on Parade International Competition in South Bend, IN. She later became an instructor for the Simonettes under the direction of her mother Natalie. Her twirling experience paid dividends at the next level as well. At the University of Iowa, she became a Line Twirler for the University of Iowa Marching Band in 1978 & 1979, later earning a scholarship. In 1980 & 1981 she was selected as the featured Golden Girl for the Hawkeye Marching Band. That experience allowed her to march in the 1982 Tournament of Roses Parade and the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. She continued to teach baton for the Simonettes and at camps throughout the Midwest. In high school she was a representative on the Homecoming Court as a sophomore and senior and later entered the Miss Clinton County Pageant, which she won in the summer of 1981. The next summer she

Speech (Cont.) & video competed in, and won the Miss Iowa Pageant. Because of that, she was able to perform at various Iowa community functions, fairs and pageants throughout the State. That honor also allowed her to represent Iowa and compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, NJ. Besides national recognition, she received a scholarship award as a non-finalist talent winner. Most of us have watched the Miss America competition and rooted for our own State’s representative, I can only imagine the pride in our community that evening. She graduated with a BA in Industrial Relations – Human Resources from the University of Iowa College of Business and later received Master training in 2010. She is currently a Human Resource Assistant and Training Coordinator for Sun Mechanical Contracting, Inc. in Tucson, AZ. She is also involved in many volunteer activities and Booster Clubs in her community and local high school. Linda and her husband Marc live in Arizona where their daughter Hayley currently attends Cienega HS and son Ryan attends the Arizona State University. Please help me welcome the newest member of the Central High School Hall of Fame, 2013 inductee… Linda (Simon) Kinseth.