BOLIVAR, MO – Four Bolivar High School alumni will be inducted into the Bolivar High School Hall of Fame during the 2024 Homecoming festivities. The inductees for the Bolivar High School Hall of Fame are:
The late Derald Hood, Class of 1967
The late Mike Cloyd, Class of 1974
Thane Kifer, Class of 1975
Albert “Al” Skalicky, Class of 1976
The late Derald Hood, Class of 1967: During his high school years, Derald was a four-year member of the Bolivar “B” Club for his participation in track, basketball, and football. He also participated in the music department’s glee club and mixed chorus. Derald graduated from Bolivar High School in 1967.
Friends of Derald said he had a quiet manner and was a very highly regarded member of the Class of ‘67. “I had the privilege of sharing a locker with Derald all four years we were in high school,” said classmate Allen Hines. “He was always a friendly face when we met at our locker, and he always had a good word for everyone he came into contact with in the halls.”
Following graduation in 1967, Derald attended Southwest Missouri State College for three years. During his college years, he joined the Army Reserves. During his basic and advanced training, Derald bravely chose to leave the reserves and join the Army.
Derald was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, D Company, and was sent to Vietnam. His tour of duty in Vietnam began on November 12, 1970. On December 19, 1970, PFC Derald Joe Hood was killed after his unit, checking a mechanical ambush device, came under fire from hostile ground forces. Derald was killed by small arms fire during the firefight with the enemy. Derald was 21 years old.
Derald’s name is inscribed on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. His name is located on Panel 06w, Line 132. He is the only Polk County resident and Bolivar High School graduate listed as killed in action during the Vietnam War. Derald is buried in Payne Cemetery in Polk, Missouri.
The late Mike Cloyd, Class of 1974: Mike Cloyd was an exceptional athlete from an early age, and his abilities were enhanced by his prominent figure. He played baseball and basketball, but it was football where Mike truly excelled. During his playing career at Bolivar High School, Mike was recognized as a National All-American and was recognized in the 1973-1974 “Who’s Who in National High School Athletics” from America’s Vanguard of Athletic Recognition. He was also named to the All-Central Ozark Conference football team from 1971-1974, the All-Ozarks football team in 1973-1974, and the Missouri All-State team in 1973-1974. Mike attended Bolivar schools from Kindergarten through 12th grade and graduated in 1974.
After graduation, Mike attended Pittsburg State University on a full athletic scholarship to play football. Friends and family who went to watch him play couldn’t believe he could become even more of a physical specimen than he was in high school!
“Mike was a giant of a man, but not just when it came to football,” said Mike's friends in his nomination letter. “Mike was a gentle giant who was happiest when he was spending time with his family and coaching and encouraging young men. Mike began coaching Mighty Mite football in Bolivar, even before having children of his own. The Bolivar community is full of successful men who can attribute some of their success in life to their experience with Coach Mike Cloyd.”
Mike married his wife Diane and could frequently be seen attending their son Derek’s high school sporting events. He also was a girl dad, and although he wasn’t a fan of musical events, he never missed any of his daughter Brandy’s concerts. Unfortunately, out of his ten grandchildren, only the two oldest of them can remember when he was well enough to walk without assistance. His athletic abilities carried on to this generation as three of his grandsons and two of his granddaughters, Ethan, Evan, Ellie, Makynze, and Conor, have followed him in their love of sports, and they have all excelled in them. Evan is the only one of them who played football all four years of high school as a starter playing linebacker, just like his grandpa, and he earned many awards along the way. Ethan and Evan both went to D1 colleges on athletic scholarships. Conor and Ellie are still in high school, and hopefully, they will follow in his footsteps, too. Makynze turned her focus to her education through college and double majored in Criminal Justice and Psychology. Mike spent most of his working life at Tindle Mills in Springfield.
In the 1990s, Mike was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, but he met this challenge as he had always met previous life challenges, playing to win. Sadly, his battle ended on November 27th, 2015. Mike was 59 years old.
Mike was the son of Gary and Beverly Cloyd. He had two brothers, Dee and Brent, and one sister, Kathy.
Thane Kifer, Class of 1975: Thane Kifer graduated from Bolivar High School in 1975. He was the third generation Kifer who graduated from BHS after his father, Robert, and grandfather, Charles. Kifer attended Southwest Baptist College, where he met his wife, Suzanne, who he later married in 1980. Thane graduated summa cum laude in 1979 with a degree in Business Administration, then pursued his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Missouri, graduating in 1982.
Thane and Suzanne returned to Bolivar after graduation, where he began working as an associate attorney with Douglas Lynch law firm. In 1983, Thane went to Citizens State Bank of Polk County seeking a loan. The bank president, seeing how Thane could put his legal skills to good use in the banking industry, instead offered Thane a job and a loan. Thane became interested in real estate development and, in his spare time, established Stonebridge Estates in Bolivar. From there, Thane worked in banking in Bolivar until 1998, when he was promoted to Bank President of Mid-Missouri Bank in El Dorado Springs for six years until his return to Bolivar in 2004 to become the President of Farmer’s State Bank. Thane's banking career was wide and varied at big and small banks. Among other tasks, he started a trust department from scratch, as general counsel, led a task force to stop a wayward president's multimillion-dollar illegal nominee borrowing scheme, stood against Posse Comitatus "paper terrorists" thwarting their interruption of a bank process, and led yet another bank out of its regulatory cease and desist order to profitability. "In banking, I think I have about seen and done it all!" Thane says.
Once back in Bolivar, Thane continued his passion for real estate development by building the Vineyard Square shopping center and subdivision adjacent to Walmart. As an Alderman for the City of Bolivar from 2014-2021, Thane understood the community’s need for certain amenities for the town to grow. Reacting to that need, Thane built the Best Western Plus in Bolivar and formed a group to build the Flat Creek Restaurant, bringing two “Springfield-quality” amenities to his hometown. Also reacting to community needs, Thane donated approximately 10 acres to Bolivar for a park on Buffalo Road.
Thane left his daily career in banking in 2021 but continues to serve the banking industry, having been appointed to the State Banking Board by Governor Mike Parson in 2020. Today, Thane and his wife reside just outside the city limits on the same farm that his great-grandfather bought in 1905 and continue the cattle operation that has been in the family for generations. Thane continues to enjoy developing real estate in Bolivar and surrounding areas and also enjoys spending time with his family: his wife Suzanne, his two sons Drew and Troy, and his three grandkids Cora, James, and Owen.
Albert “Al” Skalicky, Class of 1976: When Al was in high school, he was involved in the two things that were closest to his heart – agriculture and baseball. He was a member of the Bolivar FFA Chapter for four years. He served as Chapter Reporter for one year and Chapter President his junior year. He also earned the State FFA Degree, which is the highest award a state association can award to its membership. Al played baseball for two years, being awarded the All COC 1st baseman both years, All-District 1st baseman his senior year, and 1st team All-State 1st baseman his junior year. He was a member of the 1975 baseball team, the last Bolivar baseball team to advance to the Final Four.
After graduation in 1976, he turned to agriculture as a career. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education and his Master of Science Degree in Education from the University of Missouri – Columbia. He later earned a Specialist’s Degree in Educational Administration from Missouri State University.
Al’s first job was teaching high school agriculture at Fredericktown High School for the 1981-82 school year. After just one year in Fredericktown, he had an opportunity to return to Bolivar to teach agriculture. Al began his Bolivar teaching career in the fall of 1982 and remained at Bolivar until his retirement in the spring of 2013. As an instructor and FFA advisor, he helped supervise student projects, resulting in numerous students receiving the State FFA Degree and the American FFA Degree. He also coached several state qualifying contest teams. He was an advisor to two State Officers (one of which was the State Secretary), two Area FFA Presidents, and many others who served as Area Officers. Also, in 1997, the Area FFA association began awarding the Most Active Area FFA Chapter. The Bolivar Chapter won that award every year from 1997 to 2013. Professionally, during Al’s time at Bolivar, he served the Area and District Ag Teacher’s Association as secretary, vice-president, and president. He also received the Honorary State FFA Degree and the MU College of Agriculture Outstanding Advisor Award.
While teaching at Bolivar, Al also helped coordinate the Bolivar High School Senior Trip for 15 years, a tradition that began in the 1950s. “The most meaningful moment of each trip was when our class officers placed a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” said Al. “My heart was always bursting with pride. It was extra special that both of my sons had the opportunity to participate in the wreath ceremony. We always tried to schedule the ceremony on a Sunday morning. I always felt, with the reverence at Arlington Cemetery, that you were as close as possible to being in church while not being there.”
While at Bolivar, he continued his love of athletics by working at the football admission gate for 35 years and working at the scorer’s table for Boys/Girls Basketball for 40 years, a job he continues to this day. “When working at the scorer’s table, you have the best seat in the house. You are a part of the game. Your palms sweat. You feel the excitement, the emotions, the tension – especially if you accidentally put the score up for the wrong team!” added Al.
After his retirement in 2013, Al began driving buses for athletic and activities teams. “It has allowed me to watch and appreciate teams and sports that I didn’t have much involvement with while teaching. I still love watching the kids compete.” Al said.
Al has been married to Gail for over 40 years. They met at Bolivar High School, where Gail taught Physical Education/Health. Their “first date” was chaperoning a student pep bus to a high school football game. Gail and Al have two sons – Chris and Jonathan, both Bolivar graduates of whom they are very proud.
Since retirement, Al has operated a small beef farm with his brother and is a realtor for Peterson Century 21 Real Estate. Al is also a member of the Bolivar Rotary Club.
Al is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He has served on the Pastoral Council, Building Committee, Security Committee, and Fundraising Committee. He is also a Church Lector. In 2002, Al and his wife were honored as outstanding Parish members.