Newton Alumni honors professor, Iowa footballer, historian, retired principal

Four individuals will be inducted to the Newton High School Alumni Association’s Hall of Fame this year, including: Mike Dorrell of the Class of 1994, Nick Easley of the Class of 2015, Larry Hurto of the Class of 1970 and retired Newton principal Gary Kirchhoff. Inductees will be recognized during Alumni Weekend.

Newton Alumni Weekend will be held June 13-14.

In high school, Dorrell participated in swimming, cross-country and soccer. He was also a concert master for orchestra and a member of the National Honor Society. He studied at Simpson College and was accepted into the PhD program in biomedical research at the Scripps Research Institute in California.

Currently, he is a full tenured professor of biology at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, for which he was recognized with excellence awards in 2018 and 2022. He has had several patents approved as a result of his research, and his work has been published in many scientific journals.

According to his professor bio on Point Loma Nazarene University’s website, his research interests include identifying novel methods of treating cancer that reduce treatment side effects and studying potential causes and treatments for degenerative eye diseases. Students are actively involved in cancer research.

Dorrell is also director of an outreach program that organizes a 10-week curriculum for high school students. Those who nominated him to the NHS Alumni Hall of Fame said he is “an outstanding example of an NHS science student graduate who is currently involved in an amazingly productive career.”

Hawkeye football fans know Easley well, but they might not know that in addition to playing on the high school football team he also played basketball. He received second team all-state honors as a wide receiver and holds school records for touchdown receptions in a game, in a season and in his career.

After graduation he attended Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs and played receiver on the school’s football team, which made two consecutive bowl game appearances. He eventually joined the University of Iowa, where he had a standout performance at the 2019 Outback Bowl and was named MVP.

Easley also signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent.

Hurto is local historian blessed with a wealth of knowledge about Newton history. In high school, he participated in drama, National Forensic League, boys glee club and chamber choir, and he was student representative for Kiwanis. He attended the University of South Dakota and majored in history.

Nominators said Hurto not only researches and writes about Newton’s history, he “lovingly and willingly shares his knowledge by giving talks to various organizations and will also happily answer any questions during informal gatherings.” He currently chairs the Newton Historic Preservation Society.

Newton Main Street recognized him as volunteer of the year in 2018. He is also involved with the Jasper County Historical Museum and has compiled and edited four books on the history of Newton and Jasper County area. He is very active in the sister city organization OPEN.

Kirchhoff served as a principal of Newton High School. He worked directly with teachers and architects to construct additions at the high school. One of his former employees said it was “a joy to work with him” and that he strove to “make the Newton Community School District a leader in public education.”

Kirchhoff installed one of the first high school Apple computer labs nationwide in Newton High School. During his time as principal, Newton was one of the first to have internet connection at all schools. He also served on accreditation teams for high schools and colleges, and he has been involved with Dollars For Scholars.

In 2017, he was chosen as the grand marshal for the Homecoming Parade. He also worked with the Iowa Department of Education as a consultant in the Bureau for Planning, Research and Evaluation. He was also temporarily head of the department.