Craig “Red” Meyer moved to a farm northeast of Red Cloud in 1969 and joined the 2nd Grade class at the Red Cloud Elementary School. Red participated in many activities during his school years including baseball, basketball, FFA, football, musicals, golf, wrestling and was a graduate of the Red Cloud High School Warrior class of 1980. After working for a few years, he moved to Kearney Nebraska in 1988 to attend Kearney State College and graduated from UNK in May of 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice & Sociology. That same year he met his future bride Pam Parr at the Red Cloud Street Car Days. The couple moved to Overland Park Kansas and were married in 1995. In late 2001, just shortly after 9/11, they moved their family to Lincoln, Nebraska where Red began his 20-year career with Sysco Foodservices. After a brief retirement in late 2021, he is now currently employed with Glenn Valley Foods / Gary’s QuickSteak in Omaha as a Regional Sales Manager traveling the Midwest & Northwest. Red and Pam still reside in Lincoln.
What is your favorite thing about Red Cloud?
I love the people and friendships that I have established over the years. My wife Pam and I both have family in Red Cloud and surrounding communities and visit quite frequently. I still call it Home!
You’ve been involved with the Red Cloud High School Alumni Association since 2010. Why do you feel it’s important to keep Alumni Weekend going? Is there anything you wish people knew about the work that the RCHS Alumni Association does?
In 2005 I was our 25-year class representative and was the Master of Ceremonies a couple of times before officially joining the Alumni Association Committee in 2010. My wife Pam Parr (RCHS 1984) and I share responsibilities of President, Secretary & Treasurer.
Today, we are part of the committee that produces the Red Cloud High School Alumni Association Banquet each year on the Saturday evening of Memorial Weekend. For the past 13 years, we have had the pleasure of working with Patti Hansen Yaussi (RCHS 1970) who manages publicity with the Alumni Database and is the administrator of our official Facebook account of the Red Cloud High School Alumni Association. Our current Scholarship Committee of Bonnie Wulf Sibert (RCHS 1970), Mary Pope Brumbaugh (RCHS 1969), & Lana Tietjen (RCHS 1970) work hard reviewing applications and awarding up to $3000 in scholarships each year to graduating RCHS seniors. Since 2010, we have given over $23,000 in scholarships from generous contributions of our RCHS alumni. Also, a shout out and thank you to our past Scholarship Committee members Don & Teri Theobald (RCHS 1977) who managed scholarships for fifteen years and retired three years ago.
Being involved with our RCHS Alumni Association and planning our annual banquet is important but most importantly is that our 1600 active Alumni members continue to stay involved by attending the banquets and/or helping with our cause of providing scholarships to our current RCHS seniors, or volunteering. Alumni members talk about how much they enjoy the banquet and are committed to attending each year. The Saturday banquet begins at 5 pm with registration and cocktails, dinner at 6:30, and ends around 8pm, which provides time to gather for private parties at local establishments. Also, it is a generous boost to the local economy with the fun activities surrounding the Alumni / Memorial weekend!
Since 2010, the Red Cloud Alumni Association has given over $23,000 in scholarships from generous contributions of our RCHS alumni!
What are your favorite places to visit when you come home to Red Cloud?
The Red Cloud Golf Club, the Republican River and being in the countryside, the rolling hills south of the river including the Willa Cather Memorial Prairie, and the Red Cloud Opera House where we have attended concerts.
What services and/or experiences do you wish Red Cloud had when you come visit?
We are fortunate that we still have family in Red Cloud and always have a place to stay but that is still an issue for others. Besides the Green Acres Hotel, there are several Bed & Breakfasts, and everyone is looking forward to the new Hotel Garber, a 28-room boutique hotel being constructed in downtown Red Cloud that will help with that challenge.
Being involved with our RCHS Alumni Association and planning our annual banquet is important but most importantly is that our 1600 active Alumni members continue to stay involved by attending the banquets and/or helping with our cause of providing scholarships to our current RCHS seniors, or volunteering.
Do you have a favorite memory or story about Red Cloud that you’d like to share?
One of my favorite memories is playing Golf on the RCHS 1980 State Championship Golf Team with Bob Fish as our coach. We returned to Red Cloud and shared the news with Harry Obitz who chipped in $100 for our dinner at the Palace. In 2015, we had a team reunion with Coach Fish by playing nine holes at the Red Cloud Golf Club and dinner afterward at his home.
Do you have a favorite TV show?
Clint Eastwood & Duke [John Wayne] westerns for sure. The older episodes of NCIS have always been a favorite. Currently, my favorites are the multiple series created by Taylor Sheridan, including Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, 1883, Tulsa King & 1923.
If you could have a superpower what would it be and why?
Be Kind. And I want to share this Indian quote “Ahalani cha” – (Live in harmony with the Sun, please live in harmony with each other).
Do you have any hobbies or interests you’d like to share?
I love to Golf and especially spending time at the Red Cloud Golf Club with family and friends. I really enjoy the quiet of Hunting in the woods and can sit in a Blind or Tree Stand for hours. Sharing walks with Pam and grilling Philly’s!
Do you have any pets?
No pets. Although, our son Cole recently adopted a dog from Austin Pets Alive. She is a four your old Staffordshire mix named Koi and we enjoy our visits with her.
What would your high school classmates say about you if we asked?
That is a loaded question and opinions will vary. Many of my classmates are close friends! We had around twenty attend our 40-year class reunion and after party for a fun evening.
What are you most proud of?
We have two wonderful children Tess and Cole. Both are in graduate school and will be earning their degrees in May 2023. Tess attends Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and will receive a Master’s of Speech Language Pathology. Cole attends the LBJ School at the University of Texas in Austin and will receive a Master’s of Public Affairs. We are excited to see where the future leads them.
Do you have a mantra or mission statement you live by?
Work hard and play hard! You get out of life what you put into it and be thankful for what you have.
What historical figure or celebrity would you most like to have dinner with? Why?
Arnold Palmer “The King” popularized golf around the world. Arnie was known as a common man with a modest upbringing. He signed autographs, shook hands, and looked you in the eye. I get emotional thinking about him!
You give back to your hometown—both through your involvement in the RCHS Alumni Association and in your support of other Red Cloud projects and organizations. Why do you think it is important to give back to your hometown?
I am very prideful about being from Red Cloud and how that helped mold who I am today. As an RCHS Alumni, it is our way to give back to the community, by supporting local business, donating financially, or volunteering our time! I am still hoping more classmates will begin attending the Alumni banquet on a regular basis and volunteer on the Alumni committee!
What is your favorite song and/or recording artist?
New country artist Larry Fleet – Where I Find God. Vince Gill, George Strait, Alan Jackson, Chris Stapleton, & Eric Church are all current artists that I enjoy. Elvis, Tom Jones, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Merle Haggard & Willy Nelson are artists that I grew up with.
I am very prideful about being from Red Cloud and how that helped mold who I am today. As an RCHS Alumni, it is our way to give back to the community, by supporting local business, donating financially, or volunteering our time!
What is your dream vacation?
We are thankful to have had many family vacations in the United States the last few years, especially with our adventurous kids helping coordinate them. A dream vacation that I am still planning on is Alaska by Land and Sea. We had to cancel in 2020 due to Covid. It was supposed to be a surprise for Pam to celebrate our 25th Anniversary so maybe it will be for our 30th!
It is exciting to see the continued growth, renovations, and added resources offered [in Red Cloud]. It is great to see younger families staying, returning, or relocating here.
Who has been the biggest influence in your life? Explain why.
Family members include Pam, Tess, & Cole and in particular my brother Wayne. He influenced my life more than ever, a quadriplegic for 37 years from injuries he sustained from a car accident while in the service. His determination and outlook on life were instrumental with how I approach mine. I will always be grateful for friends and mentors--including Bob Fish, Bill Elliott, Howard Beitler & Dean Zalman--that I worked with during and after High School.
What would you like to see happen in Red Cloud in the next 5-10 years?
It is exciting to see the continued growth, renovations, and added resources offered. It is great to see younger families staying, returning, or relocating here. Many own a business or have leadership roles with various organizations and projects. That involvement is what it will take for the community to survive.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Be thankful and Go Warriors!
Credits:
Craig "Red" Meyer * Patti Yaussi * Nebraska Tourism Commission * Cheyenne Knehans * Lisa Mahin * Katie Ord Photography * National Willa Cather Center