Forever Rockwood: June 26, 2025

"Forever Rockwood" is a series in which the Rockwood School District features alumni from Eureka, Lafayette, Marquette and Rockwood Summit high schools who make a lasting impact on their communities.

Read some of their stories below. If you have a "Forever Rockwood" candidate in mind, please send information about them to commdept@rsdmo.org.

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Stephen Johnson and Col. Kurt McDowell (Lafayette Class of 1998)

Stephen Johnson and Kurt McDowell attended Rockwood schools for their entire K-12 experience, both of them advancing through Ellisville Elementary and Crestview Middle before graduating from Lafayette. The best friends forged a bond as members of the Lancers wrestling team, and the two remain close to this day.

Here, in their own words, is how they feel Rockwood has positively affected their lives.

Stephen Johnson, entrepreneur

After graduating with an engineering degree from the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Johnson became a successful entrepreneur and currently manages a multi-million dollar portfolio of privately held income-producing assets in multiple states. His Rockwood education provided a strong foundation, and his professional success has allowed him to spend a lot of time with his family. He currently lives in St Petersburg, Florida, and is able to pick up his daughters, Michaela and Madison, from school every day in the family golf cart. Johnson has been happily married to the former Sarah Krebs, also a Lafayette graduate, for 16 years.

"My favorite memories begin with a kindergarten teacher dressing up as Clifford the Big Red Dog, instilling laughter and excitement amongst friends. In science class at Crestview, we dissected frogs and built boxes to view the eclipse, creating a lasting desire to understand how things work. In high school, the feeling of leading our Lafayette Lancers to multiple wrestling victories and working with coaches who would only allow excellence and a strong belief in self would instill confidence I still carry with me to this day. 

"My Rockwood education instilled confidence while provided a strong foundation in time management and leadership. My last two years of high school were the most rewarding, while  leading the Lafayette Lancer wrestling team and simultaneously traveling across the United States to compete in West Coast Swing dancing. Graduating as a Missouri state-qualifying Wrestler and placing second in the nation as a competitive swing dancer are proud moments and began the forever search for the ultimate sport. Since, I have enjoyed triathlon, krav maga, scuba diving, hunting and riding Harleys thousands of miles through the mountains, to list a few."

Kurt McDowell, colonel, United States Army

McDowell earned a promotion to colonel in April, signifying more than 20 years of dedicated active duty service, exemplary leadership, and unwavering commitment to our nation after being commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2002. He is the proud son of Gloria McDowell, who is from St. Genevieve, and the late Eugene McDowell, who was from Herculaneum. Col. McDowell and his wife, Joungsun, have three children: Solomon (13), Noah (11) and Asher (9).

"My Rockwood education provided a strong foundation for my life and career. Most importantly, I learned how to write an essay with a thesis statement and supporting evidence — a skill that has been invaluable.

"Rockwood not only prepared me for my own success but also gave me the opportunity to share those experiences with friends from high school. Recently, I invited some close friends from Lafayette — Stephen Johnson, Dan Backowski and Robert Faulkner — to attend the United States Army War College's National Security Seminar. It was a great experience to share with them, and it's wonderful to see how Rockwood alumni have contributed to society and achieved success in their lives.

"Some of my favorite memories and things that have stuck with me include:

• Mrs. Sadler, my sixth-grade teacher, who was incredibly understanding and motivating. I learned a great deal from her.
• Debating politics in ninth-grade history with Mr. Keen, who encouraged lively discussions.
• My time in Junior ROTC with Master Sergeant David Cuggier and Colonel Mike Berencs.
• Running cross country for two years and wrestling for four years.
• Playing roller hockey after school every day in middle school.
• Even getting into a little bit of trouble — though never too much!"

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Braden Leuthauser (Eureka Class of 2017), science teacher, Eureka High

"I had some of the most inspirational, caring and supportive teachers and coaches that were there for me throughout high school. I want to thank Carolyn Baremore, Keith Baremore, Bryan Clar, Kara Mueller and Karen Happel for their inspiration to become a teacher myself and come home to teach at EHS.

"Two favorite memories of mine were cadet teaching at LaSalle Springs Middle with Mrs. Dolan and Fairway Elementary with Mrs. Molengraft and getting to compete in Mr. EHS as Mr. HOSA!"