Missouri Honors Seven Veterans in Capitol Ceremony
The Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame inducted seven veterans at a ceremony held Friday at the Missouri Capitol.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Military Jobs
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The Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame inducted seven veterans at a ceremony held Friday at the Missouri Capitol. The honorees were nominated by individuals in their lives and selected by the board of the charitable organization.
Why it matters
The induction recognizes veterans whose service spans military, judicial, higher education and public life across Missouri. The honorees include a former Air Force Judge Advocate General and a former state Commissioner of Higher Education.
Richard Harding served 34 years in the Air Force, and David Russell served 22 years in the Army, including two tours in Vietnam. Charles Kruse served 26 years in the Missouri Army National Guard, while the total number of inductees across all years was not provided.
The players
Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame
A charitable organization created in 2019 that honors Missouri veterans through nomination and board selection.
David Russell
A 22-year Army veteran with two Vietnam tours who served as Missouri's Commissioner of Higher Education for six years and later became the 18th president of Columbia College.
Richard Harding
A retired Air Force officer who served 34 years and was appointed the 16th Judge Advocate General.
The details
Honorees include Richard Harding, David Russell, Shaun Broker, Charles Kruse, Todd Nicely and Edward Ucinski, whose service ranged from Iraq and Afghanistan to World War II combat at Normandy. Todd Nicely lost all four of his limbs while serving in the Marine Corps in Afghanistan.
Timeline
The Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame was created in 2019.
The seven veterans were inducted at a ceremony held Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Missouri Capitol.
Military Legacy
The induction parallels the recognition Stan Musial received after enlisting in the Navy in 1945 and returning to play 18 more seasons before his death in 2013. The Missouri Hall of Fame extends that model of honoring service members whose careers continued into civilian life.
Missouri residents can nominate veterans for future induction into the Hall of Fame by contacting the charitable organization. The recognition highlights career paths that carry military service into public service, education and the judiciary.
The takeaway
Veterans' service often continues into civilian leadership roles, from courtrooms to university presidencies. Residents interested in honoring a veteran can nominate them through the Missouri Veterans Hall of Fame.
Further reading
Explore more on Military Jobs for context on veteran career paths in Missouri.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Jefferson City News Tribune.
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