Fittingly, the three members of the 2023 Pirate Hall of Fame Class spent much of their accomplished careers with overlapping timelines and duties.
Platte County honored longtime teacher, wrestling coach and activities director Phil Dorman, vocal music director Joyce Hisel and director of bands Dr. Jay Jones together during an induction ceremony Tuesday night at the brand new Pirate Fieldhouse. All completed tenures of at least two decades with the district, leaving lasting legacies through the time dedicated to building their programs.
“The excellence of your programs were constant motivation for me to be a better teacher,” Hisel made sure to point out in her speech.
Dorman came to Platte County from Pleasant Hill in 1994 as an optimistic first-time head wrestling coach and social studies teacher. He went on to build one of the state’s most consistent programs, winning 11 conference, nine district and seven state championships during his 19 seasons in charge.
This included three consecutive Class 1A-2A/1 state titles from 2000-2002 then three straight in Class 2 from 2005-2007 and another at that level in 2010. The Pirates also placed top four in state in 1997, 1999, 2003 and 2015.
Dorman never left, also serving a lengthy stint as Platte County activities director until his retirement in 2020 in addition to spending time as a head golf coach, assistant football coach and assistant baseball coach.
“The orange and black gets in your blood,” he said. “It became my home.”
The hallmark of Dorman’s Platte County teams became developing individual state champions — 31 in total — medalists and state qualifiers that included both seasoned and talented youth wrestlers along with those that entered the program with much less experience.
“It was never about me; it’s still not about me, in my opinion,” he said. “We couldn’t have done what we did without those athletes and the dedication that they put into it. … I’m honored by this; I’m humbled by this. I really appreciate it.”
Hisel taught 29 years total, 20 at Platte County. Her first “Concert Choir” when she arrived included just two students.
“My dream job was not without challenges. How do you sing eight-part music with two students?” she quipped.
Hisel slowly built all aspects of the vocal music classes and programs, eventually taking Platte County to unprecedented heights. In addition to a strong Concert Choir and the creation of the “Sound Express” show choir, the Pirates routinely achieved distinction for soloists and groups — large and small — at the district and state level.
Platte County’s vocalists received numerous opportunities to perform at local, regional and national venues, including New York’s famous Carnegie Hall. However, the smaller moments meant just as much to Hisel.
“Teaching choral music here at Platte County became my passion. I was blessed to teach dedicated, talented students. I strove to give them confidence, success, the opportunity to be part of something greater than themselves,” said Hisel, who also spent time as All-Northwest District and All-State Choir Coordinator and still provides lessons to local students during her retirement. “Thank you to my students. Words cannot describe the joy I felt directing you. I was so proud of you; I am so proud of you and the music we made together. We may not remember every word or note, but we will remember the way the music made us feel and the bond we share.”
After spending time at Albany and Stewartsville high schools in rural northwest Missouri, Jones brought a grand vision to Platte County then constructed that into reality over 23 years. He built the Pirates from 60 members to nearly 200 today, winning 11 grand championships along the way and becoming one of the most respected instrumental music programs in the state.
Jones credits the success to five key factors:
- Students who work hard
- Dedicated parents
- Support of the administration
- A community that supports education
- Colleagues who buy into the vision
“We have all five of those components here at Platte County, and we have them in abundance,” Jones said.
In addition to his teaching and directing duties, Jones also served in numerous leadership positions — president of the North Central Missouri Bandmaster’s Association, member of the Missouri Bandmasters Association Board of Directors, president and vice president of the Northwest District of Missouri Music Educators Association band and president of the Platte County Chapter of Missouri State Teachers Association. He retired following the 2022 school year and turned Platte County’s bands over to Dr. Matt Bonsignore, who taught alongside him for 22 years.
This allowed for a seamless transition of a program continuing to grow.
“I am extremely fortunate, and I think I’m one of the few band directors in the state of Missouri who can say that he had as his co-pilot to run this program for 22 years of my 23 in Matt Bonsignore,” Jones said. “That’s unheard of. Normally, you get an assistant; you train them, and they go on to bigger and better things. Matt stuck by me for 22 years so that we could build this program, so what you have today is just as much a reflection of him as it is me.”
The Platte County Booster Club started the Pirate Hall of Fame in 1999 to recognize
outstanding contributions and achievements of people to the betterment and success of the Platte County R-3 School District. Each year, nominations are accepted, and a committee selects the new inductees.
