The University of Iowa Eight Over 80 Award


Anita Hockett 54GN

Anita Hockett (54GN) was an unstoppable hero in health care. A nurse manager most of her career, she opted out of retirement and into helping others.

Soon after leaving her hospital position in 1995, she assisted in opening Volunteers in Medicine (VIM), a free medical clinic near St. Charles, Missouri. In 1996, Hockett was appointed clinical director and remained in that role until her passing on April 13, 2025.

Hockett's career path began at age 7, when she assisted the doctor in caring for her baby sister who had contracted pneumonia. She became a registered nurse after graduating from Iowa, pausing briefly to focus on her children.

Following decades in pediatric and orthopedic departments, Hockett helped grow VIM to an unpaid staff of 49 nurses and doctors. Through their efforts, VIM has provided medical and mental health care to thousands of low income and uninsured adults.

Her achievements and leadership have been recognized frequently. She received the 2009 Lifetime Distinguished Service Humanitarian Award from the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce and a 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award at the Dove Awards for Women of Achievement in St. Charles County. In 2013, St. Andrews Senior Services named her an Ageless Remarkable St. Louisan. She also received the University of Iowa Distinguished Service Award in 2011.

In 2004, she and her husband, Frank (59BSE), established the Anita and Franklin Hockett College of Nursing Scholarship for Master of Science in nursing students. The couple also created the Franklin D. and Anita L. Hockett Engineering Scholarship in 2011. Hockett's kind, giving nature was always admired and appreciated.

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IOWA CITY, Iowa ? The University of Iowa Department of Athletics announced recently a $500,000 gift to the University of Iowa men?s and women?s golf programs from Iowa letterman Brad Heinrichs. ?Iowa helped prepare me to become a successful businessman,? said Heinrichs. ?Whether the team was winning tournaments or not, I was treated as a valuable member of the team. It is a privilege and I am excited to give back to Iowa. I hope this gift inspires other letterwinners to give back to support the Hawkeyes. The $500,000 gift will be used to renovate the varsity golf outdoor practice area at the Hoak Family Golf Complex. The redesigned space will provide two large, multipurpose greens that are large enough for both men?s and women?s teams to use at one time, and it present student-athletes with a variety of short-game situations. The outdoor practice space will be named the Mike and Mary McCarty Outdoor Golf Practice Area. Mike and Mary McCarty are the late parents of former Hawkeyes Chad (1994-96) and Sean (1992-95). ?This gift is also a way for me to honor Mike and Mary McCarty, who were big supporters of Iowa Golf,? says Heinrichs. Heinrichs, a native of Warrensburg, Missouri, was on the Iowa men?s golf team for four years (1992-96) and was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. ?We are extremely thankful for the generous gift from Brad Heinrichs,? said Gary Barta, the Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair. ?As a former Hawkeye student-athlete, Brad understands the importance of having elite training facilities in which to train and from which to recruit. This gift provides another key component to our golf practice facility and is very much appreciated by me, coaches Tyler Stith and Megan Menzel, and our student-athletes.?

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