Born and raised in Alton, Missouri, Ray grew up in humble beginnings during a time when hard work and family were central to daily life. “He was born at home and grew up with oil lamps and wood stoves — no electricity,” Jodi shared. “They farmed, raised hogs and sheep, sold corn, milo, milk, and…

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Devin Larzelere grew up in the small, rural town of Lily, Wisconsin, in a close-knit family. He was the middle child, with three older brothers and three younger sisters. As a young boy, he enjoyed playing basketball and football, as well as spending time in the woods. His upbringing was also influenced by military service,…

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Daniel Smith was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of eight children in a family of four boys and four girls. Being the baby of the family, he admits with a laugh that he was a “mama’s boy.” Growing up, Smith enjoyed playing sports, including baseball, football, and basketball, and worked various odd…

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Each summer, the Lake Forest Country Club in Lake St. Louis becomes more than a place for golf and recreation—it transforms into a hub of generosity and remembrance during the annual Frankie G Charity Classic and Pickleball Tournament. What began as two separate charitable events—the Lake Forest Charity Classic and the Frankie G Memorial—has grown…

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Robert Stephenson was born in Chicago on June 14, 1925, as the third of four children in his family, with two older brothers and a younger sister. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Moline, Illinois. There, his father purchased a house, but they lost it during the Great Depression. The family…

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The 2025 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships, held April 26 through May 3 at East Naples Community Park in Naples, Florida, once again lived up to its reputation as “The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World®.” This year’s event set new records with 3,400 players participating from all 50 states and more than 40 countries,…

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JT Stewart was born in Turkey, Texas, in 1933, but he grew up in the small town of Levelland. in the Texas Panhandle. Due to his red hair, he was nicknamed “Red” throughout his life. Stewart’s childhood was characterized by hard work and perseverance while living on a cotton farm located seven miles outside of…

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Last month, in honor of Veterans Day, Veterans Care Coordination (VCC) proudly contributed to Dogs for Our Brave (DFOB) through the company’s Serving Others fund — an employee-driven program where team members can donate a portion of their paycheck to support meaningful causes.   Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Dogs for Our Brave was founded…

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Born in 1942 as the son of an Italian immigrant, Balletto grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His father was from Sicily, and his mother was from Ohio. After graduating from John Adams High School, he became interested in cars. He started building and racing cars on the track at Dragway 42 in Ohio. He described…

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Hayes was born and raised in a small farming town in Iowa as the youngest of four children, with two older sisters and one older brother. He spent his childhood playing in the fields and has fond memories of getting lost in the woods for hours while hunting with his dog. Helping out in his…

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