Belleville East
Lancer Wall of Fame
Albert Boyles Bio
Albert Boyles was born in the small town of Tamaroa in southern Illinois. He earned a B.A. and M.A. in Mathematics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. After teaching high school math for one year in Chistopher, Illinois, Al went on to serve two years in the United States Army. He came to Belleville in 1962 and taught math at Belleville Township High School from 1962 to 1965. When Belleville Township High School East opened in 1966, Mr. Boyles joined the faculty there, later becoming the Chairman of the Mathematics Department in 1968—a position he held until he retired in 1991. Under his leadership, the department flourished and became known as one of the best in the area.
As the math department chairman, Mr. Boyles increased the number of sections of honors accelerated classes and introduced new courses involving technology and computer mathematics. He also helped start the peer tutoring program in math, a program that still exists today. Mr. Boyles always pushed his students to meet their potential and demanded excellence from each of them. Besides working with his students in the classroom, Al Boyles has a passion for math competitions and contests. His students competed in various contests throughout the region, including Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Washington University, Fontbonne University, and Mac Murray College. They also competed in the American High School Math Exam and the Illinois Math League. When the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics instituted the statewide mathematics contests, Belleville East finished fifth in state four years in a row. Two of his freshman teams went on to become state champions in the written competition, a feat not matched by any school from the southern part of the state. One of his favorite accomplishments was when the Belleville East math team finished in first place in the prestigious Washington University math competition with over 30 schools represented. No matter where the math competitions were held, the math team from Belleville East was always a consistent champion at all levels, and their team members took home numerous trophies and awards. Mr. Boyles also enjoyed the privilege of working with and coaching the Belleville East Scholar Quiz team. His team went on the finish in first place in the entire St. Louis area.
During his teaching career, Mr. Boyles was selected by the National Science Foundation to participate in summer institutes to enhance his knowledge of mathematics and instructional methods to utilize in the classroom. He attended the University of Arizona, the University of Southern California, and the University of Nevada. He used this knowledge gained not only to help his students but also to assist his colleagues in the math department in their presentations and teaching.
Mr. Boyles was recognized as an influential member of his Belleville community. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, President of the High Mount Board of Education, President of the Kiwanis Club, and an adjunct faculty member of Belleville Area College for over 25 years. He was also a member and officer of the American Federation of Teachers Local 434 Union, as well as a member of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Al Boyles married his wife Shirley in 1956. They have three children, all of whom graduated from Belleville West. All of his children presently reside in the Belleville area. His son Brent owns a computer business (Compu-Type) and a restaurant (Michael’s) at the Lake of the Ozarks. Jeff Boyles has followed in his father’s footsteps and teaches mathematics at Belleville West. Al’s daughter Amy is an executive director with Southwestern Bell in St. Louis. After a battle with cancer, Al died on January 22, 1997. His students and colleagues will certainly never forget him. They will always fondly remember “Big Al”, both as a mathematics teacher and as a friend. He made a significant impact on many of their lives, both in an out of the classroom.
Paul Gombers, Ph.D. Bio
Paul Gompers began his career as a Lancer in the fall of 1978. He joined the track and cross-country teams in his freshmen year. Over the next four years, Paul became one of the area’s best runners and the captain of East’s cross-country team. Not only did he participate in athletics, but he was also a member of concert band, debate, math team, Model U.N., and JETS. He finished first in his class and was the valedictorian in 1982.
Paul went to Harvard University where he continued to excel in athletics and academics. During his sophomore year, he set a school record in the 10,000-meter run at the Penn Relays. His Harvard track coach agreed that Paul could run in the World Junior Marathon in Huntsville, Alabama, on December 4, 1983. In this marathon, he set the record of 2 hours 15 minutes 36 seconds. He later set the record at Harvard for the 5,000-meter run. He was an All-American in 1985 and 1986 and also an academic All-American first team. In 1987 Paul received his B.A. summa cum laude in biology from Harvard University.
In 1988 Paul was an alternate for the Olympic team in the marathon. He also qualified for the 1992 Olympic trials and has competed as a professional runner on the international track circuit running in Europe, Asia, and New Zealand.
A year was spent working as a research biochemist for Bayer Chemical AG. Next, Paul attended Oxford University on a Marshall Fellowship where he received an M.Sc. in economics. He received his Ph.D. in Business Economics at Harvard University in 1993. For two years Gompers was an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago where he created a new course entitled ‘Entrepreneurial Finance and Management.’
Paul is now a Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, he is Director of Research, and he teaches in the MBA program. He specializes in research on financial issues related to start-ups, high growth, and newly public companies. Gompers is a co-founder of Spur Capital Partners, a venture capital firm, which has an emphasis on technology investment opportunities. He is a co-author of three textbooks, he has written numerous articles, and he is a business consultant.
Professor Gompers lives in Massachusetts with his wife Jodi and their three children. He no longer runs competitively; however, he is currently busy this term with teaching and administrative endeavors. Paul would like to be thought of as a Harvard Professor, marathon record-setter, and entrepreneur.
Dr. Bassam A. Hadi Bio
Bassam Hadi was born on October 28, 1967, in Beirut, Lebanon. His father immigrated to the United States while he was an infant and was an anesthesiologist practicing at Belleville Memorial Hospital for 31 years.
Bassam initially attended Whiteside Elementary School before going to Belleville Township High School East. At Belleville East, he was an active member of the varsity basketball team, tennis team, math team, physics team, and student council. He graduated in 1985 with a 4.9 GPA, with his only B coming in his senior English class.
He went on to attend the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana from 1985 to 1990. He majored as a pre-med in the field of physics with a minor in mathematics. He graduated from the College of Engineering in December 1990. During his tenure at the University of Illinois, he was an active member of the Alpha Omega fraternity and was also a teaching assistant in Chemistry, the only undergrad so appointed. He was accepted and went on the St. Louis University Medical School graduating in 1994. He completed his general surgery internship in 1995 also at St. Louis University Hospital. From there he attended the University of Louisville Neurosurgery program from 1995 to 2000, serving as chief resident from 1998 to 2000. He was the first resident to finish his residency in 6 years instead of the standard 7. He accepted a position as the attending neurosurgeon with the status of instructor from 2000 to 2001. He was then accepted, and completed, a spine fellowship at the prestigious University of Alabama-Birmingham from 2001 to 2002. There he trained under Mark Hadley, a preeminent spine surgeon with expertise in cervical spine and also the president of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons at that time.
Since then Dr. Hadi has accepted a position as Medical Director at the St. John’s Spine Center in Springfield, MO. He currently performs approximately 350 procedures a year in complex spine and brain surgeries. He also serves as an active member of the community. He is on the Parenting Life Skills board and also a Guardian Angel for families in need. His wife, Laila Hadi, is an attorney and president-elect of the Ballet Board of Springfield, MO. They are strong supporters of the arts and goodwill charities. Dr. Hadi is also an advisor of Shepherds Venture Capital Group in San Diego, California, with an emphasis on biotechnology companies. Dr. Hadi is the father of four children.
With the well-grounded principles of family, friendship, and loyalty as his base, Dr. Hadi continues to aim high in life.
Brigadier General Mark A. Graham Bio
During his time at Belleville East, it was apparent that Mark Graham was destined to accomplish great things. He was active in athletics, student council, the theatre, the yearbook, and numerous other extra-curricular activities. In several of these activities, he was in leadership positions. For example, he was elected as president of the student council. His popularity was further demonstrated when he was selected as a Loyalty Week escort. With his intelligence, work ethic, and personality, everyone recognized he would follow a path of success. Upon graduation from East, Mark enrolled at Murray State University.
Brigadier General Mark A. Graham was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery on 22 December 1977 at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. Following the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, General Graham was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 2d Field Artillery, 8th Infantry Division, Baumholder, Germany. During this assignment, he served as a FIST Chief, Fire Direction Officer, Battery Executive Officer, and Battalion Special Weapons Officer.
After the Field Artillery Officer Advanced Course in July 1981, he commanded the C-Battery, Staff, and Faculty Battalion, followed by the Battalion Executive Office at Fort Sill. He was then assigned to III Corps Artillery where he commanded A-Battery, 2d Battalion, 18th Field Artillery, 212th FA Brigade, and later served as the battalion S-3.
General Graham was assigned as a Field Artillery Branch Assignment Officer and Strength Manager at Total Army Personnel Command (PERSCOM) from July 1986 to July 1989. Following this assignment, he graduated from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) in June 1990. He then served as the GI, VII Corps Artillery, Ausburg, Germany where he deployed to participate in Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Upon returning from the Gulf War, he returned to Baumholder to serve as the S-3, 2d Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, and then as the 1st Armored Division Artillery S-3.
In July 1993, General Graham returned to Fort Sill as the Chief of the Field Artillery Proponency Officer (FAPO) followed by Commander, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery (Copperheads), 75th FA Brigade from June 1994-1996. He then returned to PERSCOM where he served as the Chief of Artillery Branch, 1996-1997, and remained in Washington, D.C. to attend the National War College from 1997-1998.
General Graham was selected as the first active-duty brigade-level commander to command a National Guard brigade in peacetime in Los Angeles, California. He served as Commander of, the 40th Infantry Division Artillery, California Army National Guard, from August 1998 to July 2000. After his tour in California, he served as Commander, of the 3d Battlefield Coordination Detachment (BCD), in Osan, Korea, from July 2000 to April 2002. Following his joint tour with the BCD, he served as the Executive Officer to the Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/US Forces Korea, Seoul, Korea, May 2002-June 2003. From July 2003 to September 2004, General Graham served as Chief of Staff, at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Center and Fort Sill. From September 2004 to July 2005, he served as the Assistant Commandant at the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, and Deputy Commanding General at the U.S. Army Field Artillery Center and Fort Sill. During this duty, he was promoted to Brigadier General in February 2005.
His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (second award), Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (sixth award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (fifth award), the Army Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and others.
General Graham is married to the former Carol Shroat of Frankfurt, Kentucky. They have three children: Jeff (Deceased), Kevin (Deceased), and Melanie (21).