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Through the years, many of the boys have returned to the farm to visit with Pallas and reflect on their time together. They have credited Pallas with the positive impact and trajectory on their lives and the influence he had on them. Kelly Armbrust is one of those former boys, now grown. He came to the program as a 13-year-old and would stay till he graduated high school. He worked elsewhere for a while, but then joined the home in a position with the recreation center, then he joined Pallas in the farm division and is now following in Pallas’ footsteps as the farm manager. “Out of my 39 years at the home, Kelly was there for 25 years, either as a student or co-worker. It’s very humbling and I’m so pleased that he is my successor,” said Pallas. Armbrust arrived at the home after being disowned by his father. He had nowhere to spend Thanksgiving, so he was sent to the farm division for Thanksgiving in 1982 and from that weekend, Pallas would be the central person in his life. “I was a city kid, but I loved that weekend on the farm. Mike became my father figure. Every boy wanted to be on his crew. His work ethic was so impressive. He worked hard, yet he played hard. The way he worked made me want to work harder,” said Armbrust. He added that he ran a tight ship all the time, but especially at the shows. Armbrust said that Pallas taught them many lessons and skills for life, but also instilled in them how to treat people. When asked how he would describe Pallas in a few words. He was quick to reply, “Mentor. Father. Friend. Hero. He is a heck of a guy and a heck of
role model. I have really big shoes to fill here.” Outside of his work with youth, Pallas has been a member of the Ponca Hills Volunteer Fire Department for 28 years and enjoys hunting and spending time with his family, which in addition to the four daughters, includes three grandsons and a granddaughter, with one more granddaughter on the way. Using show cattle and livestock shows, as well as his own work ethic and positive character, Pallas changed the
world for hundreds of young boys, most of who are now men.
FROM THE HEARTS OF HIS DAUGHTERS
Amber Pallas-Brunt He instilled hard work in us and the boys. He has no tolerance for lazy. One thing that immediately comes to mind when I think about him is that he’s’ very loyal and expresses it in the way he serves people. He’s always done everything for everybody. He has a beautiful relationship with my husband and all his sons-in-law. Our family still jokes about how he talked
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