Steve Maxey Supports Trenton From Afar

By Julie Hill Lehr
Contributor

Though he no longer lives in town, Steve Maxey is among a handful of former Trentonians who continue to give back to the community.

In 2014, Maxey and his wife, Shirley, retired and moved to the Kansas City area to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Although Maxey decided to move, he could not completely cut ties with his hometown. He wanted to continue his work with the Foundation Trust for Trenton High School Board of Directors.

Maxey was invited to join the Foundation Trust board in 1991 and was proud to become part of the organization.

“At that time, there were only five members, and I was the kid,” Maxey said.

He remembers some of the first projects he worked on for the foundation.

“Among our projects in those early years was acquiring stage curtains for the former Trenton High School, a chair lift for the school, assisting in providing air conditioning for classrooms throughout the system and spearheading a project to construct the Blocks for Growth concession stand and restrooms on the north side of C.F. Russell Stadium,” Maxey said.

Today, Maxey is the board’s longest-serving member. Other members include Kevin Bailey, Dr. John Holcomb, Ed McCarty, James Hughes, Dr. NiCole Neal, Dr. Beverly Hooker, Katie Kinney, Cara McClellan, Philip Ray, Debbie Guffey, Doug Tye and Teresa Steinhoff.

“This organization is so important to me, and we have a phenomenal board in place,” Maxey said.

One of the board’s newer responsibilities is overseeing the THS Alumni Association. Maxey and other board members organize the association’s continuing projects, culminating each September with all-school alumni activities held over Labor Day weekend.

“With the wonderful support of the board, I do my best to prepare the annual alumni newsletter, serve as the scholarship coordinator awarding over $25,000 annually to THS graduates with the tremendous support of caring donors and spearhead much of the weekend’s activities,” Maxey said.

The activities vary from year to year and typically include a home football game, Friday night mixer, Sunday brunch, alumni tennis, alumni open house, car and cycle show and class-specific gatherings.

Trenton’s alumni activities began in 1948 and have continued for nearly eight decades. The success of the alumni weekend depends on dedicated volunteers.

“We need to be so very proud of our Foundation Trust and Alumni Association, as not many school districts can boast of that success,” Maxey said.

Decades of THS alumni have volunteered to lead the activities and coordinate class-specific gatherings. One of the Alumni Association’s most important responsibilities is keeping track of THS graduates so they can be informed about the annual weekend.

“Today, we have a terrific database that Dr. Holcomb, Teresa Steinhoff and I work on almost daily, trying to keep addresses up to date, marital names current and track the loss of alumni,” Maxey said.

Maxey said THS Alumni Weekend is facing challenges as longtime volunteers and alumni are lost.

“The loss of so many dedicated alums is leaving a void,” Maxey said. “There is no doubt about it that it takes 25 or more years for grads to realize the importance of classmates, teachers and others who have impacted their young lives.”

Maxey said many people may not realize the financial impact the Foundation Trust and Alumni Association have had on the Trenton R-IX School District.

“Thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars have supported the school district with special projects and the needs of the district when budget dollars could not support the needs,” Maxey said. “I challenge everyone to get involved and give back to the Trenton R-IX School District, just as I plan to continue to do.”

Maxey’s dedication to Trenton began long before he joined the Foundation Trust. A 1966 graduate of Trenton High School, he was active in the Student Council, Speech Club, Mixed Chorus, TAWANA staff, senior play and Latin Club. He was also named to the Senior Hall of Fame.

As a senior, Maxey won the school and county Voice of Democracy contests and finished as runner-up in the district competition.

Maxey remained active while attending Trenton Junior College, now North Central Missouri College. He was co-editor of the Saga yearbook and participated in Student Council, TJC Singers, College Players and the college play. He also served as Pep Club president and was a cheerleader during his freshman year.

Maxey began giving back to the community while attending college. As a part-time employee of Trenton Trust Company, he organized special events through which the bank promoted Trenton, including lobby and window decorations and customer-appreciation events.

After graduating from TJC in 1968, Maxey transferred to Platte Business College in St. Joseph. He was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War but was unable to serve because he did not pass the physical examination. He later continued his education at Graceland University but did not complete a four-year degree.

Maxey married Shirley Spencer, whom he had known through their involvement in Grundy County 4-H before her family moved to Trenton. Their first date was THS homecoming during Maxey’s senior year. The couple attended TJC and worked together before getting married.

They have two sons, Scott and Todd, both THS graduates. Their daughters-in-law are Mary and Sarah. Maxey and his wife also have five grandchildren.

Throughout his career, Maxey pursued positions that allowed him to advance professionally while supporting his family. His only position that took him away from Trenton was in the sales department at the Lodge of the Four Seasons.

Among his jobs in Trenton was what he described as his dream position: director of development, marketing and public relations at North Central Missouri College. He also served as executive director of the NCMC Foundation.

Earlier in his career, Maxey was an assistant vice president and director of public relations, marketing and the MESA program for Mercantile Bank of Trenton.

Today, he serves as director of sales for Hy-Vee Arena, formerly Kemper Arena, in Kansas City. When he moved to Kansas City, Maxey planned to retire, but the arena’s owners invited him to work as a contractor. He later became a part-time employee before advancing to his current position.

A major part of his job is directing the Twelve Courts of Christmas, which Maxey said has become the country’s largest high school holiday basketball shootout. Now in its sixth year, the event includes more than 150 teams from over a dozen states and its first international participant.

“This event is massive and one that I am so proud of,” Maxey said.

He was well-positioned for the job after playing an instrumental role in establishing High School Holiday Hoops on the NCMC campus.

“It was and is a terrific marketing tool for the college, and I am proud of its success,” Maxey said.

Maxey is also known in Trenton for his extensive volunteer service.

“I have been blessed to have employers who recognized the importance of being involved in the community, and that has made me happy,” he said.

Maxey served as president of the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He directed the Missouri Day Festival for more than a dozen years and helped bring the marching festival to Trenton.

He was a member of the first Grundy County Health Department Board of Directors and served as a member and officer of the Sunnyview Nursing Home Board of Directors.

His board service also included the Wright Memorial Hospital Foundation, Grundy County Senior Center, Walden of Trenton Senior Housing, Riverside Country Club, Missouri Community College Association and Missouri Community Action Agency. He also served as president of both the Trenton Jaycees and Rotary Club.

Maxey may be best known as the founding director of the Miss Trenton Area Scholarship Pageant.

“Through that involvement, we grew that pageant to national recognition and annually presented one of the local preliminaries in the Midwest,” Maxey said.

He also served as director of field operations for the Miss Missouri Pageant and business manager for Miss Missouri.

Maxey’s recognitions include being named Trenton’s Outstanding Young Man and Missouri’s Outstanding Young Civic Leader. He was also named a Distinguished Alumnus of North Central Missouri College and was inducted into the NCMC Athletic Hall of Fame.

His other honors include serving as grand marshal of the Missouri Day Festival and being named a Paul Harris Fellow. He received the Trenton Area Chamber of Commerce Above and Beyond Award, the Missouri Community College Association Administrative Professional Leadership Award and recognition as one of the Missouri Jaycees’ Ten Outstanding Young Missourians.

Gov. Mel Carnahan also appointed Maxey to the first Missouri Community Service Commission.

To say Maxey has led a busy life would be an understatement. Although he no longer lives in Trenton, he has dedicated much of his life to making the community a better place.