A year of loss

2009 was a year of loss

Following is a list of several area and local community leaders and former or current business owners who died in 2009.

Jan. 11: Maurice Albertson, 90, Fort Collins, Colo. Co-founder of the Peace Corps, Albertson was a Hays native and former professor of civil engineering at Colorado State University; son of Fred Albertson, professor of agriculture at Fort Hays State University, after whom Albertson Hall was named.

Jan. 25: J.D. Williams, 72, Hays. Former owner of Hays Travel and founder of Tiger Club, FHSU's booster club.

April 7: Irv Karlin, 84, Hays. One of the founders of Prudential Loan and Investment and served on the founding committee member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

April 16: Norman Jeter, 96, Hays. Well-respected attorney, former Ellis County Attorney and chair of the Ellis County Democratic party.

April 16: Larry Vaughan, 57, Russell. City police chief, on police force for nearly 30 years.

April 24: Lee Matteson, 108, Phillipsburg. World War II veteran and former owner of Matteson Motors, Phillipsburg.

April 30: Bill Jellison, 82, Hays. Former FHSU vice president of student affairs.

May 2: Francis Schippers, 68, Victoria. Ellis County historian and founder of Hays Oktoberfest.

June 16: Lyle Lewis, 50, Alton. Firefighter who died in the line of duty.

July 2: Robert Brown, 71, Athens, Ohio. Retired FHSU associate professor of music, former director of High Plains Band Camp

July 8: Waldo McBurney, 106, Quinter. Bee keeper, Senior Olympic athlete, author of "My First 100 Years."

Aug. 18: Tom Harvey, 83, Hays. Retired entomologist at Fort Hays Experiment Station.

Aug . 23: Ora Switzer, 106, Nicodemus. Musician and matriarch of small all-black town in Graham County.

Sept. 19: Duane Engel, 69, La Crosse. Publisher of Rush County News.

Oct. 10: Jeff Weigel, 44, Hays. Movie reviewer for The Hays Daily News.

Oct. 16: Delbert Marshall, 72, Hays. Retired FHSU professor of chemistry and long-time supporter of the Hays Humane Society.

Oct. 20: Lucille Befort, 92, Hays. Original owner of Al's Chickenette restaurant, which opened in 1949.

Oct. 31: Dick Heil, 68, Hays. Retired FHSU professor of political science.

Nov. 14: Wayne Billinger, 54, Hays. Former Hays mayor, local musician/photographer.

Dec. 9: Jerry Choate, 68, Hays. Retired Fort Hays professor of biological sciences and director of Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

Dec. 29: Kenneth Cooksey, 59, Quinter. Owner-operator of Cooksey Appliance and TV and longtime civic leader.