The Platte County Democratic Central Committee is sponsoring its first Hall of Fame Dinner on Saturday, June 9, 2007, at the Kansas City International Airport Hilton, 8801 NW 112^th Street, Kansas City, Missouri.

The event will begin at 5:30 PM with a cash bar and a silent auction. 

Dinner will be served at 7:00 PM, followed by a live auction. 

Three distinguished, long-time active participants in Platte County Democratic politics

will be honored and inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The first three recipients of this award are James W. (Jim) Farley, Doris Gerner and Andrew J. Higgins.

Jim Farley was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and educated in the Farley public schools and the Park Hill public schools.  He attended Park College then transferred to the University of Missouri where he received his B.S. in Business Administration and then his law degree in 1952.  Jim began the practice of law in Platte County in 1952.  Jim married Sue Markwell in 1981 and has three children (one deceased), three stepchildren and seven grandchildren.  He has been active in the Democratic Party in Platte County for over 55 years.  In 1954, he served as treasurer of the Missouri Young Democrats; and in 1955, he served as president.  He served as a committeeman on the Platte County Democratic Central Committee for 38 years, two of which he served as treasurer and from 1960 to 1968, he served as chairman.  He served on the Missouri Democratic State Committee for 10 years and as chairman of the 34^th Democratic Senatorial District Committee from 1978 to 1982.  For twelve years, he was a member of the 6^th District Democratic Congressional Committee.  Additionally, he was a delegate to five Democratic National Conventions and a delegate to six Democratic State Conventions.  He served an unexpired term as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives in 1956.  In 1961, he served as co-chair of the Missouri Senatorial Redistricting Committee.  He was honored with the Litton Memorial Award in 1991.  Jim has been an active participant in numerous state and local Democratic campaigns since 1952, including serving as county chairman for Jerry Litton in 1972, 1974 and 1976.  He has written several books on the civil war and has had many of his photography books published.

 

 

Doris Gerner was born in Jamaica, Iowa, and attended public school there.  She came to Park College in 1946 and in 1952 she received her degree in political science from Park College.  Doris (McClatchey) married Jim Gerner at Park College Chapel in 1951.  They raised three sons and a daughter.  Doris has been active in Platte County for over 50 years.  She began her service with the Park Hill PTA and was elected to the Park Hill School Board from 1972 to 1978.  She was elected to serve on the Platte County Democratic Central Committee as a committeewoman from 1992 to 2003.  She has been a member of the League of Women Voters since 1963, serving in many positions on the board.  She is currently one of eight elected directors.  She has been an active member of the Platte County Federated Women’s Democratic Club.  She is a charter member of the Platte County Eleemosynary Society and a charter member of the Platte County Historical and Genealogical Society for which she served as president from 1995 to 1997.  In addition, Doris worked in the Platte County treasurer’s office for two years (1980-82) and then was elected to the position of Platte County Clerk where she served for twelve years until her retirement in 1994.  Doris, a grandmother now, continues to live on part of the family farm that is now surrounded by homes and Park Hill schools.  Doris’ vast knowledge of issues and governmental policies has been an asset to the many boards and committees on which she has served.  Many consider her a mentor, a role she performs graciously.

 

 

Andrew J. Higgins was born in Platte City and educated in the Platte City public schools.  He received his A.B. from Central College in 1943, his LL.B. from Washington University in 1948 and his LLD (honorary) from Central Methodist College in 1982.  He served on active duty with the Navy for three years.  He married Laura Jo-An Brown of St. Louis in 1948; they have two daughters and one granddaughter.  He was admitted to the bar in 1948 and practiced law in Platte City.  He served three terms as prosecuting attorney of Platte County and one term as mayor of Platte City.  He served as chairman of the Platte County Democratic Central Committee from 1957 to l960.  He was appointed judge of Judicial Circuit No. 6, and then elected in November of 1960 to fill the unexpired term to end in January of 1965.  In June 1964, he resigned to accept an appointment as commissioner of the Missouri Supreme Court.  He served as commissioner of the Missouri Supreme Court until July of 1979 when he was appointed judge of the Missouri Supreme Court.  He was retained in office at the General Election in November of 1980 for a term expiring in 1992 and served as Chief Justice from July 1985 to July 1987.  In 1992 he was honored by the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association with the Andrew Higgins Excellence in Juvenile Justice Award.  He recently was honored by Washington University in St. Louis with the Distinguished Alumni award.