In combination with Platte County High School’s “Winter Athletic/Activities Signing Ceremony” on January 23, the Platte County School District inducted three members to its Pirate Hall of Fame: Molley (Scanlon) Burns, Gena Puckett, and Barrett Martens. Retired PCR-3 teacher and coach, and class of 2016-17 Hall of Fame member, Jan Patterson, introduced each new inductee, as the Pirate Hall of Fame coordinator.
Molley (Scanlon) Burns: Molley is a 2010 graduate of Platte County High School with a decorated volleyball career. She ended her high school career with 1,733 assists, and was a 3-year All-Conference, All-District, All-Region, and All-State award winner. Her senior year she was selected to play in the MO-KAN All Star game and has held several school volleyball records. She was awarded a scholarship to play at Cowley County Community College. In 2010, she led her team to 3rd place in the National Junior College Championships, and in 2011, she led her team to 1st place being crowned the National Junior College Champions. Molley was also chosen as the Most Valuable Player for the tournament. During Molley’s collegiate years she came back to help at camps and clinics, helping younger players learn to play and love the sport. She coached for 3 years at the collegiate level, and is now starting her 4th season as a club coach. Molley is married to Kendall Burns (also a PCR-3 Alum), she is a working professional, and mother of 3, living in the KC area. She continues to give back to the game that she loves, but also to the community where she lives.
Barrett Martens: Barrett, a 2002 graduate of Platte County High School, has been a dedicated golfer since the age of 7. In 2001, Barrett was the MEC Conference Champion, named to the Kansas City Star All-Metro Team, honored by the St. Joseph News Press as the Golfer of the year, and was the Class 3A Missouri State Champion. Upon graduating, Barrett was a 4-year letter winner and had 3 straight All-State seasons. Barrett earned a golf scholarship to the University of Kansas, and during his tenure had 7 rounds under par. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sports management, and became a PGA golf professional at Loch Lloyd Golf Club in Belton from 2007-13, then at Glen Echo Country Club in St. Louis from 2013-15. Barrett has helped to provide education and opportunities to thousands of people of all ages to acquire life skills and values through the game of golf. Barrett and his wife Lisa live in California and have 2 daughters. He was unable to attend the induction ceremony due to attending the 71st annual PGA Show in Orlando, Florida. Accepting on his behalf was Barrett’s brother, Reed Martens. Coach Phil Dorman, Barrett’s high school golf coach shared, “Barrett was very dedicated to the sport of golf from an early age and it paid off with the success he had in high school and college. Golf continues to be a part of his life, in his job as a professional golfer and national sales representative for Nexbelt. I am very proud of the man, husband, and father that he has become.”
Gena Puckett: Gena Puckett retired from PCR-3 in 2021 after serving 23 years with the District as a math teacher and Student Council sponsor. As PCHS’s Student Council sponsor, Gena was pivotal in planning and hosting the Missouri Association of Student Council State Convention at PCHS in 2016. The event involved hosting more than 150 combined high school and middle schools with more than 1,000 students and 200 advisors. This 3-day event required significant coordination, in addition to decorating the entire school, planning meals, and evening entertainment. A fellow staff member said, “Gena provided the glue that helped to bond the PCHS Student Council members together over the course of this event.” Under Gena’s leadership as Student Council sponsor, Gena helped to plan over 20 years of Homecoming events for the Platte County Students, growing the parade entries alone from 20 to almost 40 community entries. In 2016, Gena was voted the High School Student Council Advisor of the Year by her peers in the Northwest District.
The Hall of Fame program was started by the PCHS Booster Club in 1999 as a way to recognize special volunteers, former teachers/employees, or anyone who has contributed significantly to the enhancement of the Platte County R-3 School District. Hall of Fame nominations are accepted year round, and the Hall of Fame inducts new members usually in the first quarter of the year. Click here for a list of all members, as well as to access nomination forms.
Mr. Gabe Middleton, PCR-3’s Activities Director also recognized six seniors who will be continuing their athletic or activities careers following graduation from PCHS:
- Brayden Carter, Baseball, Fort Scott
- Kendall Johnson, Volleyball, Illinois Springfield
- Taylea Luedke, Dance Team, Missouri Western
- Tatianna Murray, Volleyball, Kansas City Kansas
- Community College
- Gavin Nichols, Tennis, Nebraska Wesleyan
- Emma Reed, Softball, Park University
