The family would like to suggest that those wishing to give a memorial in her memory consider a memorial contribution to the Northwood Public Library.
Showing posts with label Teachers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teachers. Show all posts
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Wilma Helgeland Obituary
The family would like to suggest that those wishing to give a memorial in her memory consider a memorial contribution to the Northwood Public Library.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wilma Helgeland, 1921 - 2012
"One never knows for sure, does one?"
She was famous for that line, her standard answer each and every time someone came to her class and asked whether there would be a quiz on that day. Grammatically correct, the phrase just lifted out of her mouth and into the air. There may or may not have been a quiz planned, but she would never give indication, just like she never got rattled about anything.
I don't recall ever seeing her get angry or upset in any way. Each day when I walked into the classroom I expected to see the same wry smile and feel a congenial welcome to her class. She treated everyone the same, and the class was always under her control because students respected her, and learned from her.
I learned from her that some phrases were grammatically correct not because they "sounded right" but because there were rules that were to be followed. We diagrammed sentences, like it or not, and learned such annoying things as case, gender, number agreement, and other basics. She taught us about funny phrases like split infinitives, improper antecedents, dangling participles, parallel agreement, and the misuse of a preposition to end a sentence.
We learned when to use like or as, well or good, and many of those lessons are still in my head. Maybe she didn't teach us everything I've mentioned here, but she laid a groundwork that stayed with me over the years when I was studying and teaching English, later when I was writing papers here and there, and finally with this blog. One never knows how long those lessons might stay with a person, does one?
For all her technical expertise most of us will remember her most of all for her compassion and humanity.
Perhaps because she was at heart a friend as much as our teacher her life impacted us all greatly. In the last couple of months since my Dad has been in the nursing home I've had occasion to drop in to see her, though not as often as I'd like or should have. One day in October I came to see Dad and we wheeled into the guest lunchroom (for lack of a better name) and found she was there with Chuck and Ann, who were spending the week.
They invited us to join them at their table, and we did. Dad was not too far along recovering from an accident and was still pretty well dosed up with morphine so I don't know that he was fully capable of being a part of the conversation. Yet Wilma went out of her way to pull him in from time to time with a "Remember that, Curtis?" or similar questions that saw to it that he would be included.
She was like that. She noticed others and spoke to their needs, and Lord knows we eighth-graders had much that needed handling. It's an age when we might begin rebelling, among other ways by wearing long hair, or a ducktail in those days. I discovered butch wax applied to my hair allowed it to be slicked back on the side, much to my liking. In her own gentle way she reminded me there is more to my head than what I can see in a mirror by telling me it looked sharp, but take care of it back here as well - where she touched my hair with her fingers in the back of my head. She cared.
As we prepared for high school some of us were asked to write a short piece about what we saw ahead. Once I had finished mine and turned it in she very delicately walked me through some things that maybe should remain unsaid, each time by asking, "Are you sure you want to say this? Maybe we could take it out." Because she asked it the way she did, I was indeed sure that I did not want to say that. And my piece was certainly improved.
This woman may have been the only teacher who brought up race in my twelve years of school in Northwood, at least in a thoughtful manner. She once shared an experience while teaching in Manly. One of her students, a pretty girl she said, was black, although I'm sure she referred to her in the language of the time as colored. For Wilma I can't imagine that it made any difference what color she was, until the day she happened to see the girl in the bathroom with soap suds all over her face. "Wouldn't I be pretty if I were white," the girl had asked?
There wasn't much else that needed to be said about the incident, since just by the way she told the story Wilma had already spoken to the issue of race and belonging in our society, the difficulty of being "different", and the sadness of it all.
She had a way of doing that, of saying the right thing. She understood us all, a paradox of sorts when viewed against her favorite saying, because she was the one who did know for sure, wasn't she?
Most people have a teacher somewhere who influenced their lives. She was one of them. We were blessed to know her.
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| At the 50th Reunion of the Class of '62 with Serena Sheilds, Chuck Hendrickson, and Lee Leidal |
I don't recall ever seeing her get angry or upset in any way. Each day when I walked into the classroom I expected to see the same wry smile and feel a congenial welcome to her class. She treated everyone the same, and the class was always under her control because students respected her, and learned from her.
I learned from her that some phrases were grammatically correct not because they "sounded right" but because there were rules that were to be followed. We diagrammed sentences, like it or not, and learned such annoying things as case, gender, number agreement, and other basics. She taught us about funny phrases like split infinitives, improper antecedents, dangling participles, parallel agreement, and the misuse of a preposition to end a sentence.
We learned when to use like or as, well or good, and many of those lessons are still in my head. Maybe she didn't teach us everything I've mentioned here, but she laid a groundwork that stayed with me over the years when I was studying and teaching English, later when I was writing papers here and there, and finally with this blog. One never knows how long those lessons might stay with a person, does one?
For all her technical expertise most of us will remember her most of all for her compassion and humanity.
Perhaps because she was at heart a friend as much as our teacher her life impacted us all greatly. In the last couple of months since my Dad has been in the nursing home I've had occasion to drop in to see her, though not as often as I'd like or should have. One day in October I came to see Dad and we wheeled into the guest lunchroom (for lack of a better name) and found she was there with Chuck and Ann, who were spending the week.
They invited us to join them at their table, and we did. Dad was not too far along recovering from an accident and was still pretty well dosed up with morphine so I don't know that he was fully capable of being a part of the conversation. Yet Wilma went out of her way to pull him in from time to time with a "Remember that, Curtis?" or similar questions that saw to it that he would be included.
She was like that. She noticed others and spoke to their needs, and Lord knows we eighth-graders had much that needed handling. It's an age when we might begin rebelling, among other ways by wearing long hair, or a ducktail in those days. I discovered butch wax applied to my hair allowed it to be slicked back on the side, much to my liking. In her own gentle way she reminded me there is more to my head than what I can see in a mirror by telling me it looked sharp, but take care of it back here as well - where she touched my hair with her fingers in the back of my head. She cared.
As we prepared for high school some of us were asked to write a short piece about what we saw ahead. Once I had finished mine and turned it in she very delicately walked me through some things that maybe should remain unsaid, each time by asking, "Are you sure you want to say this? Maybe we could take it out." Because she asked it the way she did, I was indeed sure that I did not want to say that. And my piece was certainly improved.
This woman may have been the only teacher who brought up race in my twelve years of school in Northwood, at least in a thoughtful manner. She once shared an experience while teaching in Manly. One of her students, a pretty girl she said, was black, although I'm sure she referred to her in the language of the time as colored. For Wilma I can't imagine that it made any difference what color she was, until the day she happened to see the girl in the bathroom with soap suds all over her face. "Wouldn't I be pretty if I were white," the girl had asked?
There wasn't much else that needed to be said about the incident, since just by the way she told the story Wilma had already spoken to the issue of race and belonging in our society, the difficulty of being "different", and the sadness of it all.
She had a way of doing that, of saying the right thing. She understood us all, a paradox of sorts when viewed against her favorite saying, because she was the one who did know for sure, wasn't she?
Most people have a teacher somewhere who influenced their lives. She was one of them. We were blessed to know her.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
A Thanksgiving for Francis
Sometimes you are thankful for people in your life, and for many NKHS grads, Francis was one of those people, so it's appropriate that today be another story about this unique character. As mentioned previously, he was the topic of conversation at a recent lunch meeting, where Chuck Hendrickson told several stories of his relationship with him.
Janis volunteered to type up those memories for us, which is suitable since she took typing from Francis, and later typed up papers for him when he was in Grad School in Colorado. The mission was clearly "old school" typing: onion skin original, no errors, with duplicate copies. Word was yet to be invented. Uffda. Still, Janis says, "I must have passed his class if he thought I was capable of doing the typing for him." Here's the story told by Chuck:
Janis volunteered to type up those memories for us, which is suitable since she took typing from Francis, and later typed up papers for him when he was in Grad School in Colorado. The mission was clearly "old school" typing: onion skin original, no errors, with duplicate copies. Word was yet to be invented. Uffda. Still, Janis says, "I must have passed his class if he thought I was capable of doing the typing for him." Here's the story told by Chuck:
Francis Boggess was a character. People either liked him, or they didn’t –
pretty sure there was no middle ground.
He had a quirky personality and a funny, dry and sarcastic sense of
humor. I coached against him for a
number of years while we both were head girls’ basketball coaches…he at
Northwood and I at Lake Mills. He knew
the game well and I respected his coaching abilities.
He was excitable and dramatic and showed his
exasperation when a play didn't go as planned by kicking the back of the
bleacher as hard as he could with the heel of his shoe. After one particular game I noticed that he’d
actually split the bleacher board and wondered how he got off the floor without
limping.
Francis always had a funny story to tell – usually with a
straight face, but I knew the punch line was coming because his lips would
begin curling up, as if trying to stifle a smile. After he retired from education he returned
to Estherville, his hometown.
I ran into
him years later and asked what he was up to.
He answered that he was working part time filling bags at a seed corn
plant. It was summer and Francis told me
that during an exceptionally hot period his working conditions became unbearable. To help him stay cooler, he stripped down to
his skivvies and continued to scoop corn into bags. As I recall, he was working for a
relative…probably a good thing since working in one’s undies probably wouldn't be tolerated by just any employer! As I
said…Francis was a character.
I always enjoyed my interactions with Francis. Others may not have the same opinion, but I
know he made me laugh – that’s worth a lot!
Rest in peace, Francis!
Chuck Hendrickson
With a tip of an Irish hat to Francis, Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Monday, November 19, 2012
For whom the "bell" tolls . . .
I feel sort of out of the loop because I was never a student of Frances Boggess but, as a parent of his students, I thoroughly enjoyed and admired him and respected his views and opinions...he truly was one of a kind. Our girls have great memories of “Mr. Boggess times”.
I forgot to tell you one of David’s best stories about 7th grade typing class.
Mr. Boggess was at the front of the classroom talking to the class and there was a resounding “DING” from out of nowhere.
Stone silence!
Someone had touched a typewriter....worse yet, the telltale “Tab” key.
No one breathed.
“ALRIGHT! EVERYBODY... HANDS ON YOUR HEADS”
Every student promptly clasped his/her hands together on top of the head and Mr. Boggess set out on his search and destroy patrol to find the guilty carriage that was teetering far on the left side of the typewriter. Dave, sitting in the very back of the room, found tremendous humor in the situation and was trying so hard not to laugh that his eyes were watering. Mr. Boggess noticed Dave’s reaction and did one of his “trying very hard not to crack a smile” faces.
Dave was laughing so hard as he was telling the story that I don’t believe he ever made it to the end and I don’t know what happened to the student who had to claim to errant carriage thereby admitting to touching the typewriter.
Did any of you ever have to do the hands on heads thing?
According to Ann, It’s much funnier when Dave tells (the story) because, being by far the tallest kid in the class, he was always seated in the back of the room....a great vantage point for keeping an eye on Mr. Boggess and seeing the reaction of all of the very scared and shaking little 7th grade girls.
Ann also reports her daughter Tanna apparently had a great personal relationship with Boggess, whom she called "Lucy" for reasons unreported, and even sang a duet with him: "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille!"
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
I apologize - too late
We heard it first from Chuck Helgeland. But he's too late to the bookstore because Tony Danza has come out with a book titled I Apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had. Just thought you should know.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
A Frog Not Forgotten
In one of those weird conversations that pops up at a class reunion, Jo Olson told me about a biology assignment she once had, and last week emailed me the full story.
Please note, Jo, the labeled parts of the female frog shown here. Just in case you get the assignment again.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Doris Johnson, 1919 - 2012
What I do recall is that on one occasion she marked me down in Deportment, and it was the only time my mother ever defended me in front of a teacher. Since my other teachers had not marked me down, she asked Doris why I had gotten a lower grade from her. The answer she gave was something to the effect that I just deserved it.
When the folks came home and told me that, I didn't tell them - Doris was right. But hey, I never tipped over desks or blew anything up, so how bad could I have been?
I also have to give her credit for being committed to accuracy in language and loving her subject matter. She wanted us to learn, for sure. For her full obituary, click here.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Coach LaVerne Rohlfsen 1928 - 2002
Coach Rohlfsen was our introduction to high school athletics. He was a tough-nosed guy reflecting his Marine training, was proud of his players, and was sensitive to community needs. The true Marine didn't like long hair, and he once backed me up against the brick wall behind the band room after football practice with that steely stare and allowed as how I should get a shorter haircut - like his. I would've had to turn half-bald, of course, but that was another story.
His offense of choice was the Single Wing, a formation long since out of style, though in the late 60s a fellow named John Aldrich used it at the Malcolm Price Lab School, also known as SCI High, and was very successful with it because competing teams never played against any other team that used the offense. It was an offense built on "trickeration" with multiple hand-offs or fakes in the backfield so a defense often had no clue where the ball was going. If you've never seen that before it's confusing.
When Rohlfsen moved on Buddy Mounts brought in his own concepts based on the T formation and the single wing was gone. But it was fun to find and read about the Single Wing at a website called Football Babble. You probably need to be an athletic director at an NCAA Division II college - like Larry Holstad - to have any familiarity with it otherwise. Anyway, here's the obituary on Rohlfsen.
Laverne Orville Rohlfsen, 74, Grafton, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.
Laverne was born on Oct. 25, 1928, to Orville and Clara (Beermann) Rohlfsen in Cherokee, IA. He attended country school for his first three years of schooling, then Lutheran Parochial School, Germantown, IA through the eighth grade. He attended high school in Paulina, graduating in 1947. He enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, in 1947. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951, and played football at Camp Pendleton, CA, making the base team. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1953. Laverne returned to college, at what is now the University of Northern Iowa, and graduated in 1954. While there he received three football letters.
His first teaching job was in Rockwell City, where he coached and taught from 1954 - 1956.
He married Mary E. Purdie on May 29, 1955, in Rockwell City. They moved to Northwood where he was a teacher and coach from 1956 to 1960. He sold insurance for two years. They moved to Grafton in 1962 where he was a junior high school teacher and coach from 1962 to 1989. He retired in 1989. Laverne sold multi-peril crop insurance for 20 years.
His offense of choice was the Single Wing, a formation long since out of style, though in the late 60s a fellow named John Aldrich used it at the Malcolm Price Lab School, also known as SCI High, and was very successful with it because competing teams never played against any other team that used the offense. It was an offense built on "trickeration" with multiple hand-offs or fakes in the backfield so a defense often had no clue where the ball was going. If you've never seen that before it's confusing.
When Rohlfsen moved on Buddy Mounts brought in his own concepts based on the T formation and the single wing was gone. But it was fun to find and read about the Single Wing at a website called Football Babble. You probably need to be an athletic director at an NCAA Division II college - like Larry Holstad - to have any familiarity with it otherwise. Anyway, here's the obituary on Rohlfsen.
Laverne Orville Rohlfsen, 74, Grafton, died Friday, Dec. 13, 2002 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.
Laverne was born on Oct. 25, 1928, to Orville and Clara (Beermann) Rohlfsen in Cherokee, IA. He attended country school for his first three years of schooling, then Lutheran Parochial School, Germantown, IA through the eighth grade. He attended high school in Paulina, graduating in 1947. He enrolled in Iowa State Teachers College, Cedar Falls, in 1947. He was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1951, and played football at Camp Pendleton, CA, making the base team. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in 1953. Laverne returned to college, at what is now the University of Northern Iowa, and graduated in 1954. While there he received three football letters.
His first teaching job was in Rockwell City, where he coached and taught from 1954 - 1956.
He married Mary E. Purdie on May 29, 1955, in Rockwell City. They moved to Northwood where he was a teacher and coach from 1956 to 1960. He sold insurance for two years. They moved to Grafton in 1962 where he was a junior high school teacher and coach from 1962 to 1989. He retired in 1989. Laverne sold multi-peril crop insurance for 20 years.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Coach Buddy Mounts Today
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| From the Yearbook - Taken in the Chem Lab |
A follow up to the Coach Mounts posts is that I visited him about a year ago. He resides in San Antonio, Texas is actually retired from teaching and coaching (because of hip replacements and not because it was his choice) and is raising 2 different types of dogs. He had 5 sons of which one played in the NFL and 4 have been in coaching also. If you recall the oldest of the 2 when he came to Northwood was Ricky and I believe he still lives in Des Moines. Randy was the next boy and I can’t remember but it seems like they had a third son before they left but I do not recall his name. Also if you remember he had a brother that came to live with him for a year, Skip. He had some problems but he shared with me that he eventually went into the service and served our country , received numerous honors and passed away a few years ago. He mentioned a number of times that he probably didn’t treat us very well but reflected good things about his days with us. Just thought I would throw that out there. It was certainly interesting times back then.
Indeed the times were interesting. The comment from Coach Mounts that he probably didn't treat us very well might be in reference, at least in part, to the time that we lost to Forest City and he thought we should go home after the game since we lost, and NOT go to the party he correctly suspected was scheduled at Ann Bergen's house. Read more . . .
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Faculty - On Balance - They Were Good
Many of these folks are no longer with us, but many are. As information has been available, their obituaries have been posted to the blog, and we welcome additional photos that you may have available. Please forward them to nkhs62@gmail.com
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Old News from the Anchor
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| Miss Mantz - correcting papers, as typical. |
January 14, 1987 - two teachers at Northwood-Kensett schools have resigned effective at the end of the current school year. Eileen Mantz, who teachers computer science and mathematics, and Diane Groon, who teaches German and English, have resigned their contracts. Both resignations were accepted by the board of education.
An obituary for Eileen Mantz was published in the Northwood Anchor in 2001.
January 11, 1962 - patrons of the Carpenter Consolidated School district favor reorganization with the St Ansgar - Grafton District, according to a recent ballot. Out of 270 ballots mailed, some 196 ballots were returned and St Ansgar had 104 votes and Northwood-Kensett, 92, for a small margin of victory for St Ansgar.
Beginning of the end for the NK School District?
January 14, 1937 - Moving his office equipment to Britt by truck early this week, Dr. C. T. Bergen has taken up his active practice t that city with Dr. B. F. Denny, old established physician and surgeon of Britt, with whom he has formed a partnership. Dr. Bergen was located in Northwood over three years.
The blogmaster will need confirmation from someone that this is the same Dr. Bergen whose daughter Ann graduated with the class of '62, apparently after a move back to Northwood. According to class history, Ann became a classmate in fifth grade.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Jon Swenson Obituary
Jon was a 1954 graduate of Lake Mills HS and 1958 Iowa State Teachers College (now Univ. of Northern IA). He received a master’s degree from Northern Colorado University and a doctorate of education from the University of Sarasota, Florida. Post doctorate work was completed with the University of Minnesota-Humphrey Institute, Boston, George Mason and Notre Dame universities. He participated in three Endowment for the Humanities programs at Dartmouth, Harvard and the Catholic University of America.
His teaching/school administration experiences included high schools in Northwood and Dubuque, IA, DOD American schools in Germany and the Philippines and 20 years as the principal of Stillwater High School. He retired in 1995 after 20 years as the school principal. His many years of service were capped by his receiving four prestigious awards: Principal of the Year (1989) from the MN High School Press Association, MN Alliance for the Arts School Administrator award (1991), the Twin Cities Suburban Conference Fine Arts Leadership award (1995) and District 834/School Business Partnership award for significant contributions in the leadership of building the SAHS campus (1994).
For a full obituary, click this link. To read stories about Jon already on this blog, type his name into the "Search This Blog" box on the info menu on the right.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Only on Wilma's Say-So
The question comes up - why not put all this on Facebook? Everybody is on there, it's easier to find, share pictures, track other business, and after all it's the latest communication tool.
What Facebook does not do, and what this blog does allow, is an essay developed with care and thought, with complete sentences, proper grammar and punctuation, and a composition that may not be the Gettysburg Address but is a full exploration of a topic, albeit minor in many postings. Facebook seems to attract incomplete ramblings and, on many posts, nonsense.
But the ultimate test is - which would Wilma prefer, Facebook? Or the NKHS 62 blog?
Is there any question?
What Facebook does not do, and what this blog does allow, is an essay developed with care and thought, with complete sentences, proper grammar and punctuation, and a composition that may not be the Gettysburg Address but is a full exploration of a topic, albeit minor in many postings. Facebook seems to attract incomplete ramblings and, on many posts, nonsense.
But the ultimate test is - which would Wilma prefer, Facebook? Or the NKHS 62 blog?
Is there any question?
Wilma Helgeland
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| Wilma Helgeland at the 2007 Reunion |
Bonnie Mack, '60
Saturday, December 31, 2011
L T Dillon - Entrepeneur
Richard Holstad keeps feeding information about L T Dillon and the 1936 National Band Contest. The exploits have been reported previously and at some point the numerous photos along with a recording made by the St Olaf Band of the song played in contest by the NHS Band will be posted by way of YouTube.
In the meantime, take a closer look at the above photo. Click on it to open a larger view in a new window, then look carefully at the band members themselves. They're all cut-outs! According to the clipping at the bottom of the photo, it was made by L T Dillon, composed of individual photos of the various members munted on a base and placed on a small stage, thus "manufactured" by Dillon because the school in 1936 did not have an auditorium - and this apparently was the closest facsimile of a performance setting that he could come up with. (The gymnasium used by the Class of '62 was built and occupied AFTER the National Contest.)
Pretty ingenious, that fellow. He also is the photographer for the photo below, as reported previously in this blog. Unable to be in the picture, he made it there as an inserted image in the upper left corner. This almost makes you laugh, except for the picture of determination and dedication that he embodied as a "part-time" instructor for a national champ. You may not find a more entrepreneurial spirit.
The band held a reunion in 2006; what a joy it must have been for those players to get back together again!
Keep your eyes on this blog for more information and stories on this group. Many of them would have been parents of the Class of '62 or that era. A son of one of the members, Richard has been reaching out to others to solicit their memories and photos as well.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
What Are You Reading?
Many of our schoolmates have talked about books they have read or are reading today. Think back to your high school days - what teacher was prompting you to read back then?
Perhaps in junior high you read some of the teen mystery books like Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins (72 books written by a syndicate between 1904 and 1979), or their ilk. Or perhaps you read some of those fabulous sports novels, where fair play was more than a favorite term, becoming heroic by invoking the concept of fair play as the cause du jour. In some of those novels the protagonist learned from the hard work of the Polish kid, whose name ended in "sky," or "ski," that being Polish was not a bad thing, that you could play on the same team, and that the nastiness of the kids at "Northern" or "State" was far greater than the undeserved ethnic disfavor heaped on the Polish kid earlier in the novel. And there weren't any Polish kids in Northwood anyway, were there?
None of these books was included in the curriculum, outside reading that they were, and not until one encountered American literature as a junior, under the tutelage of Helen Thies, did one become erudite about great American novels. Or did we? Certainly we heard about Mark Twain, Emerson, Thoreau and others, but how many of them became part of your reading library - or inspired you to read more? Perhaps the criticism is unfair, perhaps not.
As sophomores we were treated to an entire quarter of Leonidis Chimbidis reading All's Quiet on the Western Front, no doubt a great novel, but certainly an easy lesson plan for him to prepare just as it meant no homework for the students. So it was like we were getting cheated on inspiration.
And then this writer discovered, through the Google, that Mr. Chimbidis died at age 73 in 2004, and found his obituary online.
We missed out on something, as you will discover if you click that link and read his obituary. He was indeed a traveled man. He never left you with any doubt that he was quite intellectual, but the depth and breadth of his life may surprise you. It's just that he never seemed like the kind of guy who would come out to the farm and help you unload a wagon load of bales. We knew him as having worked as a bartender at the Red Llama, as reported by Mike Lien after one of our proms, but his involvement in the development and operation of that and other businesses was never brought to the light of day.
What a shame. The obituary reports that Leo was a teacher and philosopher in the tradition of those classical scholars of Classical Greece. We could have learned much from the man,what with his repeatedly investigating the religious and archaeological sites in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia. . . .
Leo, we hardly knew ye.
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| Helen Thies - She Loved Her Lit |
None of these books was included in the curriculum, outside reading that they were, and not until one encountered American literature as a junior, under the tutelage of Helen Thies, did one become erudite about great American novels. Or did we? Certainly we heard about Mark Twain, Emerson, Thoreau and others, but how many of them became part of your reading library - or inspired you to read more? Perhaps the criticism is unfair, perhaps not.
As sophomores we were treated to an entire quarter of Leonidis Chimbidis reading All's Quiet on the Western Front, no doubt a great novel, but certainly an easy lesson plan for him to prepare just as it meant no homework for the students. So it was like we were getting cheated on inspiration.
And then this writer discovered, through the Google, that Mr. Chimbidis died at age 73 in 2004, and found his obituary online.
We missed out on something, as you will discover if you click that link and read his obituary. He was indeed a traveled man. He never left you with any doubt that he was quite intellectual, but the depth and breadth of his life may surprise you. It's just that he never seemed like the kind of guy who would come out to the farm and help you unload a wagon load of bales. We knew him as having worked as a bartender at the Red Llama, as reported by Mike Lien after one of our proms, but his involvement in the development and operation of that and other businesses was never brought to the light of day.
What a shame. The obituary reports that Leo was a teacher and philosopher in the tradition of those classical scholars of Classical Greece. We could have learned much from the man,what with his repeatedly investigating the religious and archaeological sites in Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia. . . .
Leo, we hardly knew ye.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
News from 50 Years Ago
I didn't know he was a hunter, but Bob Wilder once bagged a couple of Canadians for Thanksgiving Day. Here's what the Anchor reports in their Early Files of November 23, 1961:
Robert Wilder, N-K industrial arts teacher, bagged a pair of Canadian Honkers Saturday near Silver Lake. The geese weighed eight and ten pounds with the larger bird having a 67-inch wingspan. It was two geese with two shots for Wilder after sneaking up on the small flock.
And he would have been using lead shot, for sure. Two for two with steel shot would have been difficult at best, though we give him credit for his expertise in this shooting and I'm sure the birds were delicious.
Wilder was also a JV basketball coach for at least a couple of years, including our freshman year, the only time I think I ever played organized basketball, but I dropped out due to my inability to shoot or handle the ball. Or play defense. The one basketball memory that I can report is that Wilder reneged on a promise made to me in practice one night. When I found myself in a jump ball situation with the much taller John Roberts Wilder declared, "If you outjump him, you start at center tomorrow night against Glenville."
I won the tip but Wilder took back his words, and I started on the bench, where I belonged.
JV Practice was held in the new elementary gym when it became available, the latest in a line of gyms we used. You will recall from an earlier posting that the arched gym we used was 25 years old in our senior year. Prior to its construction the gymnasium had been located in the lower level of the original building, later to became the home of Wilder's industrial arts classes, Ag, and Band. That same gymnasium doubled as our lunchroom until the new elementary was built in 1953 or 54. I have a memory of standing on a walkway next to a railing, overlooking the lunch tables of the basement gym below, and smelling the school lunch. When the new gym/lunchroom was built, the memory is of the footrace to be first in line for lunch. The lunch smell probably did not change, and to this day has probably not changed.
All these memories because the Anchor reported Bob Wilder shot two geese.
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| Bob Wilder in Class |
And he would have been using lead shot, for sure. Two for two with steel shot would have been difficult at best, though we give him credit for his expertise in this shooting and I'm sure the birds were delicious.
Wilder was also a JV basketball coach for at least a couple of years, including our freshman year, the only time I think I ever played organized basketball, but I dropped out due to my inability to shoot or handle the ball. Or play defense. The one basketball memory that I can report is that Wilder reneged on a promise made to me in practice one night. When I found myself in a jump ball situation with the much taller John Roberts Wilder declared, "If you outjump him, you start at center tomorrow night against Glenville."
I won the tip but Wilder took back his words, and I started on the bench, where I belonged.
JV Practice was held in the new elementary gym when it became available, the latest in a line of gyms we used. You will recall from an earlier posting that the arched gym we used was 25 years old in our senior year. Prior to its construction the gymnasium had been located in the lower level of the original building, later to became the home of Wilder's industrial arts classes, Ag, and Band. That same gymnasium doubled as our lunchroom until the new elementary was built in 1953 or 54. I have a memory of standing on a walkway next to a railing, overlooking the lunch tables of the basement gym below, and smelling the school lunch. When the new gym/lunchroom was built, the memory is of the footrace to be first in line for lunch. The lunch smell probably did not change, and to this day has probably not changed.
All these memories because the Anchor reported Bob Wilder shot two geese.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
J Edgar Hoover and the Public Enemy
Perhaps you're looking forward to the movie coming out next month starring Leonardo di Caprio as the Man himself. Back in 5th grade Andrena Hanson Opheim was a big fan of J Edgar, the guy who reined in all the bad guys and made America safe, or at least in her worldview.
Had she known of some of the rumors regarding his kinky sexuality, she may not have been a fan. In fairness, Wikipedia reports it may have been rumor only, though the rumors indeed circulated widely. Regardless of those sins, if any, Hoover was not above wiretaps and the elimination of habeas corpus if it were to his convenience. Just to keep us all safe. Few have been so polarizing as he.
Though it's not related to Hoover, it was also when we were in fifth grade that congress changed the Pledge of Allegiance by inserting the phrase "under God" and to this day I still don't know if you need to pause before, after, or both. Seems like the norm is to set it apart with both. Either way, I remain a patriot.
Had she known of some of the rumors regarding his kinky sexuality, she may not have been a fan. In fairness, Wikipedia reports it may have been rumor only, though the rumors indeed circulated widely. Regardless of those sins, if any, Hoover was not above wiretaps and the elimination of habeas corpus if it were to his convenience. Just to keep us all safe. Few have been so polarizing as he.Though it's not related to Hoover, it was also when we were in fifth grade that congress changed the Pledge of Allegiance by inserting the phrase "under God" and to this day I still don't know if you need to pause before, after, or both. Seems like the norm is to set it apart with both. Either way, I remain a patriot.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Northwood's "Music Man"
The September, 1940, NHS News made a couple of references to LT Dillon, the band director, leading cheers for one group or another. I have very vague personal memories of discussions about him, and believe I recall seeing plaques and/or trophies associated with his name, either in the band room or in the trophy cases in the hallway outside the old gym.
But I don't actually know too much about the man and his place in the history of our school - but I should. Because he apparently was, in today's terminology, "the man."
So once again I relied on Richard Holstad for some input, and here is what he sent along:
L T Dillon was one of the very early businessmen in Northwood.
But I don't actually know too much about the man and his place in the history of our school - but I should. Because he apparently was, in today's terminology, "the man."
So once again I relied on Richard Holstad for some input, and here is what he sent along:
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| L. T. Dillon |
He loved music, and he loved the school kids. This combination was so strong that LT Dillon had a major - major impact on the town of Northwood ……. when in 1936 he had the audacity to take the NHS band to the national competition held in Cleveland Ohio …… AND THEY WON FIRST PLACE ….. IN NATIONAL COMPETITION! This man IS Northwood’s own Music Man.
There are several band members still living in Northwood from that time. My mother was in that band. I have spoken with and gotten to know some of these individuals and am able to "click into" some of the bonding these events created in Northwood in 1936 thru 1940 and beyond.
There are several band members still living in Northwood from that time. My mother was in that band. I have spoken with and gotten to know some of these individuals and am able to "click into" some of the bonding these events created in Northwood in 1936 thru 1940 and beyond.
Just looking at the photo you get the feeling that he's a natural-born leader with high expectations, the kind of guy you would expect to make believers of his troops - without resorting to 76 trombones. If you know someone who can tell us more, please pass along their stories. Sounds like this guy is some kind of legend.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Words of Wisdom
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| Click on Photo for Larger View |
The letter he includes with his farewell speaks to many of the same issues we face today. It's a very democratic call to "give everyone an opportunity to get an education, regardless of their status in life." Jefferson couldn't have said it much better.
For all his faults, this pretty well underscores his commitment to do the best possible, make everyone better at what they are/do, and open the game to all. After all, if he is so committed to the right thing that he's willing to back up a car a quarter mile to be able to say he came to a "full stop," how could you argue with him?
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