Dale Gieringer

 Ann's comment on Mr. Sowell recalls a creepy incident that occurred to me in his 7th grade art class.  I was seated next to my friend George Mellinger (who left WHHS for Minneapolis the next year).  Disrespectful effies that we were, we had been whispering, giggling and passing notes in class.  Mr. Sowell indignantly reprimanded us and demanded that we hold hands for the rest of the period.  We sheepishly did so, much to our embarrassment and the mirth of the rest of the class. At the time, we didn't question the propriety of such punishment  - not cruel, but quite unusual.    Looking back from today's perspective, it seems fraught with sinister implications of abuse with sexual overtones. Let us not go there.  In the end, no harm was done, but it did leave me with an enduring bad taste for Mr. Sowell's art class.  

Mary Vore (Iwamoto)

I believe that Peter Stites, the much-loved Spanish teacher, was known as Don Pedro?? 

A sunrise from our favorite spot on Burntside Lake in northern Minnesota and interesting clouds from an incoming storm front this morning in Lexington.  

David Buchholz

Lovely, Mary!

Steven Levinson

Tom, many teachers were simply referred to by their first names (e.g., "Vivian" (Ross) and "Wilma" (Hutchison, of beloved and blessed memory).  Mr. Brandon was fondly dubbed "Wild Willy."  

Steven Levinson

And I'll never forget what you wrote on the blackboard the first day of 9th Grade Biology:  "Mr. Lounds (rhymes with 'sounds')."

Richard Winter (Winter)

Did Mr. Brandon teach American History?  If not, who did?

Philip Spiess

Yes, Mr. Brandon taught American History (11th grade?  Mr. Farnham taught it in 7th grade; Mr. Meredith taught it in 8th grade -- he also taught, as part of that, Ohio and Cincinnati history, something which had a major effect on my future careeer).

So, Mr. Lounds (okay, Tom), aside from nicknames, some of us imitated the speech patterns and/or physical idiosyncrasies of our teachers.  You must understand that, for the most part, this was done, not in derision, but almost in imitation of these teachers, who we regarded highly (classmates, either agree with me or correct me if I'm wrong on this!).  Mr. Knab is a case in point:  I think we all really respected him as a teacher, but we could imitate his standing posture and his utterance of the derogation "Buffoon!"  I myself was very proud of my ability to imitate the speech patterns of that most brilliant of substitute teachers, Mr. Fish, who, by the way, when substituting in Frau Kitzmann's German class, in one phrase taught me everything I needed to know about the significance of Goethe's Faust, something which saw me through German courses in college and two graduate degrees, my professors always astounded at my knowledge of the core of Goethe's philosophy.  I also imitated Miss Keegan (AP English, 10th grade) and Miss Ross (AP English, 11th grade), both in cartoons and in literary parodies (this is what AP English does to you).  I was also pretty good at imitating the speech patterns of Mr. Ahlert (shop class -- his jovial "You've just gotten a detention!" was waaay before Donald Trump's "You're fired!") and that of Mr. Inskeep, English teacher, who was a jolly soul.

Dale Gieringer

  Mr. Brandon also taught AP American History, which I took in 12th grade.   One of the toughest but most educational classes at WHHS.  As I recall, he assigned us four term papers, of which I completed only three.  I don't know that anyone completed all four - especially those of us with senioritis - but Mr Brandon was understanding and didn't dock our grades on that score.  He was a truly dedicated teacher.  The year after graduating from college, when I was teaching junior high in Northern Ky  to evade the draft, I re-visited WHHS and was invited by Mr Brandon to dine with him in the teachers' lunchroom.   I was disappointed to find that the food there was no better than in the students' lunchroom, but greatly appreciated Mr. Brandon's mentorship.

Steven Levinson

I took Wild Willy's AP US History course in the 11th Grade.  I have never had better teachers than Wilma Hutchison, Joe Knab, and him.  Mr. Brandon's syllabus was tougher than most college courses.  I routinely stayed up 'til 2:00 a.m. doing my AP US homework.  He, apparently, was a successful businessman before he decided to go into teaching.  He was a true inspiration and imparted the joy he personally felt from his subject to any student he had with eyes, ears, a brain, and a hearrt.

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

I'm going to try again to send my newly found Peanuts photos.  

Jonathan Marks

Thank you, Barbie!

Stephen (Steve) Dixon

My thanks, also, Barbie. The pictures are great and I value them especially because my 1963 Remembrancer was stolen. I have no photos of Junior year.

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

You are so welcome Jon and Steve....I was excited to find the Peanuts pictures.  Sorry about the loss of your Remembracer Steve.  I think I still have mine up in the closet.  They were somehow rescued from my parents house untouched by a flash flood that destroyed many of our belongings years ago.  

Jean Snapp (Miller)

What great pictures, Barbie. 

Chuck Cole

Some of us called our AP European History course  "Advanced Joe", which it was. 

And wasn't it Mr. Peterson whom we called Boom Boom because he used to respond to some kinds of mischief as if he had been (and probably was) shell-shocked during WWII or the Korean War?

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

Hi Little Sister Jean!  you're in the pictures, right? 

Laura Reid (Pease)

Barbie, those pictures are great and really bring back memories of the Sharks and the Jets!  Thanks for posting those.  Did we have a nickname for Denzil Carpenter??  And do we think it's true that he did a little nipping at lunch or was that a rumor??  And remember his sneezing?  Sorry Tom....

Dale Gieringer

  Thanks Barb for the terrific Peanuts pix.  Could someone refresh my beclouded memory as to what was  happening on stage?  What was Spiess up to with that straw hat, cane, spectacles and crab-shaped corsage?  And what was that peace sign doing hovering above the stage?   Was that supposed to be a confrontation between boys and gals or something out of West Side Story?   Come to think of it, it wasn't the peace sign yet in '63; it was the symbol for nuclear disarmament.      

Larry Klein

Yes, Laura, Mr. Carpenter did a little "nipping", and not just at lunch.  I was in an afternoon class 1st semester and saw him dip into the closet more than once.  Sneezing??  My seat was in the front row right at the corner of his desk, where he liked to sit while "lecturing".  Linda Karpen and Arn Bortz were to my right.  One day, I'd had enough of his sneezing on me.  I picked up all my stuff and removed myself to the back row right in the middle of class.  Even though I aced all his tests, he gave me a 'C'.  I stormed down the hall to Mr. Brokamp's office and all but demanded to be removed from that class.  Mr. B put me in Mr. Iaccabucci's regular math class, where I sat next to Barbie Hay the rest of the year.  Barb didn't sneeze once.

Steven Levinson

Dale:  It was West Side Story.  We were singing "America."  "Life is alright in America/if you are white," etc.  I forget what the peace sign was for.

Larry Klein

I just remembered (a year later) that I owe the class a photo of the new South Athletic Complex.  I used my phone, so not a great pic, but here it is at soccer practice.

Stands seats 400, concession stand at far left, the bigger bldg behind the goal posts has locker rooms, eqpt storage, and a BATTING CAGE for the baseball teams.  I'm standing on the spot of the old annex where I had 8th grade math class.  The times they are a'changing!

Ann Shepard (Rueve)

Yes, thanks Barb for the Peanuts pictures.  I remember the "America" routine, but I sure don't remember the one with Spiess, or the other song where the chorus is in dress clothes.  I have no recollection of the peace sign, but wasn't there a skit about doctors, à la, Ben Casey, starring Lynn Gehler and Dale, where the chorus sang, "Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work we go ...", but with doctor lyrics?

Barbara Kahn (Tepper)

I'm so glad you like the Peanuts pictures Laura, Dale and Ann.  Laura you are easily found right in the middle!  We did a song from West Side Story and something else too but what I cannot remember.  The show was a combination of things though - who wrote and put it together?  I remember many practices after school but I'm not complaining....they were so much fun.  Many times I drove my partner, Chip Meyer, home.  

Larry, I'm impressed how well you handled that problem with Mr. Carpenter.  It's also great that Mr. Brokamp responded and fixed the situation for you.  Kids are more assertive these days I think but you did a masterful job taking care of it yourself.  I remember being rather timid about such things.  This doesn't describe me now in any way.  

Steven Levinson

Ann:  The chorus's dress clothes were for our Que Sera Sera number.  It made my father, who was in the audience, cry.

Larry Klein

Thanks Barb K for your comments.  In HS, my PARENTS were the timid ones, so I had to learn to fend for myself very early on.  I didn't always get it right, but I usually avoided trouble pretty well.

I should also note, r.e. OUR Mr Brokamp: he still frequently attends WHHS sports contests with son Jeff (current principal).  We are frequent conversationalists at basketball and football games.  Jeff's daughter was an all-star soccer player at WH (now at UAB), and his son is on the varsity baseball team.  Grand-Dad was pretty busy for several years.