Each year, the Nodaway County Historical Society inducts a new member to its “Stairway of Stars.”
Here’s the list in alphabetical order, maintained by the Historical Society.
The Stairway of Stars recognizes notable people from Nodaway County who have achieved international or national success. Honorees come from the early days of county history into the present day. Learn more about our honorees and the vital work they have done by viewing the complete list of honorees below and by clicking on the biographies posted to the right. Check back regularly as more biographies will be added.
- Leo Baumli – Famous mule breeder near Breeder, whose mules included the mule Ruth on Gunsmoke.
- Charles & George Bellows – Parkdale Farm, famous for shorthorn cattle
- John Sliker Bilby – Owned a million acres in the US and Mexico and operated an empire out of home in Quitman.
- Robert M. Bohlken – Chairman of Northwest’s speech and theatre department during the 1979 fire that destroyed the school’s theatre (and building of a new theatre in 1984)
- Lester Alvin “Smiley” Burnette – Hollywood Walk of Fame Actor/Singer/Composer who wrote more than 400 songs and appeared in 171 movies.
- Sarah Caldwell
- Thomas W. Carneal
- Edwin Harris Colbert
- Edward V. Condon
- Joseph W. Cornelison
- Albert L. David – WWII Medal of Honor winner for bravery in capturing Nazi U-505
- Lafayette “Lafe” Dawson
- Herbert R. Dieterich
- Byron Archibald Dunn
- Opal E. Eckert
- Frank Felton
- John D. Hicks
- Don Hollingsworth
- Hollis Newcomb White Family
- Elizabeth E. Stewart Howell
- Horace A. “Jimmy” Jones
- Uel M. Lamkin
- Truman H. Landon
- Alma Nash
- Lynne Overman
- Robert Partridge
- Joe Powell
- Emma Holt Prather
- Hamline E. Robinson
- Nathaniel Sisson
- Lester Swaney
- Bill & Vince Tobin
- Jesse D. Taylor
- Garvin Williams