Olathe High School Class of 1977

(Jan. 31, 1959 —         )

Jeff started his commitment to leadership and sports during high school. He was captain of the football team, All Conference and a top-11 football player in Kansas. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Kansas State University (which he attended on a full-ride football scholarship), Jeff became a teacher and the head football coach at Olathe East High School. Prior to becoming a councilmember for the city of Shawnee, Kan., he was member and chairperson of the Shawnee Board of Zoning Appeals. Jeff was elected to the city council as a Ward II councilmember from April 1993 to 1998 and Ward III councilmember from April 2000 to 2004. During this tenure, he served as chairperson of the Public Works and Safety Committee in 1995-1996 and council president from 1997 to 1998. He was sworn into office as mayor of Shawnee in April 2004, and re-elected in 2008. Jeff is active in the Knights of Columbus and is a past Grand Knight. He received the “Knight of the Year” honor, and also was named “Outstanding Young Citizen of the Year” by the Shawnee Jaycees group.