Kemper Alumni Donate $50,000 to Support Missouri Military Academy

The Kemper Military School & College Alumni Association (KMSAA) has gifted Missouri Military Academy (MMA) with $25,000 to restore the steeple on Memorial Chapel at the private boys’ military school. In addition, they have donated $25,000 to the Academy a gift to the MMA Cadet Store Annex in the Canteen, bringing their gift total to $50,000.

Feature photo above: Kemper Military School & College Alumni Association representatives — including Secretary/Treasurer Mike Stepto, Vice President Dr. Mark Kirk, and President and MMA Board of Trustees member James Hallam — present a check to MMA President Brigadier General Richard V. Geraci, USA (Ret).

“Safeguarding the legacy of Missouri Military Academy — the last remaining military school in Missouri — is a responsibility we hold in the highest regard,” said Hallam.

The ties between MMA and Kemper stretch back more than 100 years. Although Kemper closed in 2002, alumni have kept its legacy alive through the Kemper Military School & College Museum in Boonville and sparked new ties with MMA. Hallam, who graduated from Kemper in 1988, serves on the MMA Board of Trustees and his son Hale graduated from MMA in 2024.

“It is a privilege for the Kemper Board of Directors and our fellow ‘Old Boys’ to contribute to this meaningful restoration,” said Hallam about the support for the steeple. “We trust that generations of cadets will find inspiration and solace within this sacred space and will continue to honor the historic bond between Kemper Military School and Missouri Military Academy.”

Financial support from the Kemper Military School & College Alumni Association answered the critical need for restoration of MMA's Memorial Chapel steeple.

Anchoring the north side of MMA’s campus, Memorial Chapel serves as the spiritual heart of the Academy and pays tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Time and weather have taken a toll on the chapel’s steeple, with the upper two tiers in critical need of restoration. KMSAA’s gift of $25,000 will fund repairs to the structure, including structural repairs, exterior restoration, water protection and custom fabrication to preserve its historic design. Mississippi steeplejack firm Inspired Heights completed the work in late summer 2025.

In recognition of Kemper’s support, the cadet store annex will be christened the Yellow Jacket Hive to honor the bond between Kemper and MMA. Kemper, whose mascot was the Yellow Jacket, closed in 2002 after 158 years. Memories of an intense football rivalry between KMS and MMA live on for the alumni of both schools, including bragging rights for the winner of the annual “gold football” game.

“May this contribution honor the shared traditions of leadership, service and excellence that unite our institutions,” Hallam said in announcing the gift. “We encourage every cadet to take pride in their academy, to engage deeply with its traditions, and to give back, ensuring the strength and spirit of Missouri Military Academy for future generations.”

Geraci says MMA is honored by the Kemper alumni’s investment in the Academy.

“Our cadets carry more than the MMA legacy forward,” Geraci said. “They uphold the legacy of Kemper and Wentworth Military Academy as well, preserving their traditions and prestige as they become men of character through our common military educational model, known for high standards, self-discipline, personal responsibility and accountability.”

Alumni and supporters of Missouri Military Academy, Kemper Military School & College, and Wentworth Military Academy, which closed in 2017, form the Tri-Military School Alliance. Together, they celebrate the proud history of these institutions while investing in the future of cadets. As Missouri’s only remaining military academy, MMA embraces the responsibility of carrying forward the traditions and values of all three schools.