MMA Hall of Fame: John Josendale ’72

John Josendale spent seven years at Missouri Military Academy, arriving as a sixth-grader from St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1965. They were active years at MMA. John belonged to Bravo, Echo and Delta companies and participated in a full gamut of activities from sports to drill team to Glee Club. A three-sport varsity letterman, he played football, swam and ran track; in his senior year he was named outstanding lineman for the Colonels football team. Four years as a Fusileer put him on the national champion drill team, and he carried the MMA guidon at President Richard Nixon’s inaugural parade in 1969, marching with the MMA Color Guard and Academy Band. He graduated from MMA in 1972 at the rank of cadet private.

After 48 years as a leader in global manufacturing, John currently serves as mayor of St. Joseph, Missouri.  For these and many other accomplishments, he is inducted into the 2024 MMA Hall of Fame for Government and Community Service.

John earned his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Pepperdine University as he built a career in industrial manufacturing at WireCo WorldGroup. Working both domestically and abroad, he served the company as a senior executive in sales, business development and global management, helping to grow WireCo from a $100 million company to just under $1 billion.

Now in his first term as mayor of St. Joseph, he also serves on the Buchanan County Tourism Board, the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Board, the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Board and the St. Joseph Community Alliance Board. John’s community support also extends to  Children First School, Bishop LeBlond High School, the Pony Express Museum, Family Guidance Center, Gold Bank and the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art. His son John and nephew Peter both attended MMA. It is our honor to recognize his accomplishments with his induction into the MMA Hall of Fame.