The Labette Community College (LCC) Foundation and Alumni Association announced the Gary and Shirley Wall family as the 2025 recipients of the Cardinal Generational Family recognition. This honor pays tribute to families with deep, multigenerational ties to the institution.
The Wall family will be introduced during halftime of the men’s basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 8. The public is invited to attend this special event and join in honoring the Walls’ legacy at LCC. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 4 p.m.
The Cardinal Generational Family tradition highlights the legacy of families who have shaped and supported LCC across generations. Each honoree family is celebrated at a home athletic event, receiving an award in front of the crowd. Their family portrait is then displayed in the Gallery of Cardinal Generational Families, located in the Zetmeir Family Athletic Complex. Past recipients, invited guests and the public are encouraged to join the festivities.
“We are honored to recognize the Wall Family for their outstanding contributions to LCC and the community,” said Lindi Forbes, executive director of the LCC Foundation and Alumni Association. “Labette Community College has been a cornerstone of education in Southeast Kansas for over 100 years and the Wall family has been part of it nearly the whole time. Their multigenerational commitment to education and service truly embodies the spirit of the Cardinal Generational Family recognition.”
The Walls’ connection to LCC is a story of dedication, education and community service.
Gary Wall, born and raised in Parsons, graduated from Parsons Junior College (now LCC) in 1959. He later earned his degree in marketing from Pittsburg State University and a certificate in mortuary science from the University of Kansas. Gary’s career flourished as co-founder of Burris-Wall Funeral Home, now known as Carson-Wall Funeral Home, which has expanded to serve multiple communities.
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Gary and his wife, Shirley Selanders Wall, married in 1970 and have continued to invest in education and community causes. Shirley taught kindergarten in Parsons and has shared her passion for family and learning with their children and grandchildren.
The Walls’ three children – Katherine Eitel, Emily Brown and Ned Wall – have all attended LCC and pursued higher education, achieving personal and professional success. Their family legacy includes multiple generations of LCC students, such as Gary’s father, Robert Wall, uncle, Ned Wall, who played basketball and football at the college, and his aunt, Hazel Wall. Both Gary’s sisters, Linda Wall Rich and Nancy Wall Gard, and some of their children and grandchildren also attended LCC. Leading the newest generation is Gary and Shirley’s grandson, Brady Brown, who graduated from LCC just last year and his brother, Cade, who completed several classes at LCC while in high school.
Gary and Shirley have long been champions of LCC. They are routine donors to the annual Auction for Scholarships, attendees of special events and active supporters of the college’s growth. Gary has served two terms on the LCC Foundation and Alumni Board of Directors and provided leadership during LCC’s two recent capital campaigns by serving on the steering committees. In 2015 LCC presented Gary with the Cardinal Citation Award in recognition of his lifetime of outstanding service to the college and his community. Their son, Ned, continues this legacy as an officer of the LCC Athletic Booster Club and he was a member of the Athletic Capital Campaign steering committee.
“The LCC Athletic Department is extremely grateful for the Wall family’s ongoing generosity and unwavering commitment to our students,” said Aaron Keal, LCC athletic director. “Gary and Ned have dedicated countless hours and provided substantial financial support to ensure our student-athletes have access to exceptional opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities, and top-quality equipment.”
