Branson Newsmakers

Steve Shepherd, men’s basketball coach at College of the Ozarks, received the Silent Hero Outstanding Citizen Award at the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four Banquet on March 11. Shepherd is the ninth recipient of the Silent Hero Award, a subsidiary of the Missourian Award. The award, which is not confined to athletics, is given to persons who contribute to their community but are not otherwise recognized for their contributions. Shepherd was recognized for his achievements and contributions to basketball programs in the Springfield area and at C of O.

He coached high school basketball for 12 years at Marionville, Aurora and at Springfield Parkview High School and was an as assistant coach at Evangel University.

Health Care

Branson surgeon Dr. Donald K. Wonder was acknowledged as one of 24 Life Members of the Fellows Leadership Society of the American College of Surgeons during the 92nd annual Clinical Congress in Chicago. The society is the college’s distinguished donor recognition organization. Wonder became a fellow of the American College of Surgeons in 1987.

Dr. Michael Bays was accepted into the Integrative Medicine Fellowship at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine. An ear, nose and throat specialist for Skaggs Outpatient Center, Bays is in the school’s two-year, distance-learning program dedicated to teaching physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners integrative medicine including alternative medicine modalities and methods of healing.

Insurance

Meghan Connell was named to the Missouri Restaurant Association Springfield/Branson Chapter Board of Directors. Connell has worked for Connell Insurance of Hollister for five years as a commercial insurance consultant, focusing on insurance for the hospitality industry. Connell fills the position vacated by Connell Insurance President Tim Connell, who served on the board for 20 years.