In honor of the 100th year anniversary of learning at Northtown, these are alumni throughout the years, the year they attended and where they are now.
Roldofo “Rudy” Reyes
Marine veteran, actor, non-profit owner, and COD MWII character, Rudy Reyes went to Northtown class of 1990. During his years at Northtown they renovated the stadium to what it is now an constructed the track field next to Noreclay. In 89 Football won conference champions and Women’s Tennis won 3rd in state.
Outside of Northtown, Reyes learned martial arts at 18 and at 26 enlisted in the United States Marine Corps (USMC). After earning 12 medals/commendations and leading over 50 patrols behind enemy lines and saving countless lives, Reyes founded Force Blue. A veteran non-profit that pairs marine scientists with former special operators to rebuild and restore coral reefs. After founding Force Blue, Reyes made his appearance in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II on October 28th, 2022. Operator Enzo Reyes was modeled and based after Rudy Reyes and his service in the military.
Mark Patton
Gay icon, ex professional actor and art store owner Mark Patton went to Northtown Class of 1974. During his time at Northtown orchestra and band took the spotlight. Band and orchestra had many concerts through the year, the big one being Christmas concert, “Bach’s Magnificot” Marching Band also made their mark performing at Arrowhead Stadium during Pat Bickle’s fund-raising game.
Outside of Northtown, Patton was in 11 films and 3 television series throughout his life and fought through a lot of adversity. In 1982 Patton played Joe Qualley in the “Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean” Broadway play, a pre-transition teen transgender woman. But Patton was disallowed by the industry to do an interview with LGBT-interest magazine The Advocate. In 1985 Patton made his biggest appearance in Nightmare on Elm Street 2. Patton played Jesse Walsh marking the first male protagonist of the series. Patton and his character Jesse Walsh gained a following in the LGBTQ community for representation in a mainstream film. Later Patton said he gave up his career in acting after being cast in a CBS series, he would have played a gay character when, “They began to ask me if I would be comfortable playing a gay character and telling people I was straight if they began to question my sexuality. -I walked away from Hollywood and decided to move on to a place where it was totally acceptable to be gay.” After almost dying to pneumonia, thrush and tuberculosis Patton moved to Mexico where he met and married Hector Morales Mondragon. Where he and his husband opened and currently operate an art store in Puerto Vallarta.
Trent Skaggs
Former member of the Missouri House of Representatives, Trent Skaggs went to Northtown class of 1991. In his time at Northtown, he was part of multiple activities throughout the school. He was a member of the student council and even won Mr. NKC his senior year. One big thing Northtown did for Skaggs was help prepare him for his future.
“…Forensics and debate really were helpful in me being able to speak and not be nervous about speaking in front of audiences, and I spent time in the Missouri legislature, and so all of that helped and translated,” said Skaggs. Outside of Northtown, Skaggs was a Missouri Representative assuming office in 2002 and leaving in 2010. During his time in office, he sponsored bills that focused on the wellbeing of the community. Now, he’s a CEO of a company that owns rural hospitals.
Skaggs’ advice for Northtown students is to “Never give up, just keep working the problem.”
