Southeastern Community College Alumni Association | Distinguished Alumnus Award 2018
Receiving an AA degree from SCC in 1965, a BS degree from Iowa Wesleyan University, and an MBA from Missouri State University provided Joe Tonkinson the entry point to perform in the very challenging stainless steel fabrication capital of the United States, Springfield, Missouri. This industry thrives on individuals who can innovate and bring new concepts and products to the marketplace. So, starting with the custom fabrication of pharmaceutical vessels for that industry, he transformed the design model to custom fabricate architectural stainless steel in other unique applications for the building/trades industry. Some of the many projects that benefited from Joe’s design model for custom fabricated polished stainless steel architecture include the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park in New York City, New York, the Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the Branson Landing Amphitheater, Branson, Missouri, and the Pappajohn Bio-Medical Discovery Building at the University of Iowa.
While at Southeastern Community College, he had the great honor to play basketball for the Blackhawks resulting in the team finishing 2nd in the nation in 1965. (Team members included Don Edwards, Roger Blalock, Gary Graham, Rick Loghry, Jim Roche, Milan Vorkapich, Virgil Watkins, and Sam Williams, with Manager Scott Tackleson, Assistant Coach Darrell Kolkman, and Head Coach Lloyd Haberichter.)
Giving back to the community is an important concept with the Tonkinson family going back several generations. His grandfather, J. C. Tonkinson was president of the school board that built the Yarmouth High School in 1922. For 25 years, his parents, Paul and Pauline Tonkinson were noted for providing the Yarmouth Christmas light display during the Christmas holidays to the delight of followers in a three state area. Continuing with this important concept of giving, he will be providing a gift from his estate to the SCC Foundation Legacy Society.
