Howard
Wilson graduated in the first class to go all four years at the ‘new'
West High School on Powell Ave. He entered Ohio State University in
the fall of ‘32 with the intent of becoming a lawyer. He entered the
Arts college and was in the pre-law program. Other West classmates
attending OSU with him were Martin Sharp, Norman Broadway, Claris
Jones, and Rachel Richards. Howard graduated from OSU with a bachelor's
degree in 1937. While he still wanted to pursue a law degree, he needed
a job. He learned if he took some education courses he could teach
school, so he did that and in 1938 received a BSC in Education. He
received one offer to teach for $400 a year and two for $800 a year
but felt that wasn't enough. He took a part-time job at Federal Glass
working his way up in the Shipping Dept. They paid a bonus for piecework
and Howard was fast, so his resulting salary was more than he would
have earned teaching. In 1942 he married another West graduate, Frances
Peters ‘39. |
While stationed at Lockbourne the Ococks lived in an apartment on S. Harris Ave., not far from West High School. When he was leaving the Air Force in August 1956 he went to West High School to check on job openings. He was hired as a Physics teacher and as they say - the rest is history. In the fall of 1956 he became a Physics teacher at West High School. He remembered that Gary Link ‘57 was in his very first class. After graduating from OSU Gary returned to West to also join the West teaching staff. Gary remembers Mr. Ocock as being an excellent teacher, especially since he had him in his first year of teaching. He also related enjoying working with him of the staff at West. Another former student who came back to West to teach, Terry Elliott ‘64, also had good memories of Jerry Ocock. Terry related the following regarding Mr. Ocock. "He was one of those teachers who would do subtle things in class and look to see if any of the students would notice. Like the time he put up three peg boards in the front of his room above the chalk board. He painted them three different colors - red, blue, and yellow. He put a number under each one. It was the wave length in angstroms. Then he would wait for a student to notice and say something about the relationship between the number and the color. If someone did notice one of these things he did, there was nothing big made about it - possibly just a short locking of the eyes or a look between the two saying "I know that you know that I know" and he would go on with the class. Terry considered Mr. Ocock a close friend while he taught at West from 1968 to 1979. In 1958 when the Russians launched Sputnik, the United States determined there was a need to improve its science programs. And as part of that program, Mr. Ocock took a class in the Physics Dept. at OSU on upgrading high school physics courses. He was then asked to help teach the class for the next six years during the summer quarter. He retired from West at the end of the 1989 school year. Jerry Ocock always had an interest in flying so in the late 70s he used part of his GI Bill money to learn to fly, and he obtained his private and commercial pilot license. He also always had an interest in photography and found a way to combine his two hobbies. In 1992 he purchased his own plane. To help pay for it he leased it back to the pilot school at Bolton Field where he kept the plane. He also found another way to help pay for the plane. He began taking pictures of many central Ohio landmarks. And as he not only took the pictures, he developed them in his basement darkroom and framed them. He often took his pictures to local craft fairs. While at the shows he would also take orders to take aerial pictures of homes, farms, etc. He followed this interest for about ten years then decided to take a second retirement. He sold his plane two years ago. Jerry and
Marilyn Ocock have four children. Their first child, David, was born
just before Jerry left the Air Force. David is an accountant for the
Continental Real Estate Companies. Their second son, Tim, who works
for the Big Bear organization. Their daughter, Nadine, is on staff at
OSU in their Speech and Hearing Pathology Dept. Their youngest, Nathan,
works for Gordon Food Company. Marilyn is following in a hobby that
her mother also did - China painting. She has painted numerous plates,
vases, and other china items with beautiful scenes. She has converted
one room in their home to a studio. Jerry has his computer, framing
equipment, many of his aerial photos, plus other things he is involved
in, in his ‘studio' he built behind their house. He also does newsletters
for a couple of different groups, one being the Greater Hilltop Area
League for the Arts - GHALA, which he participates in. Between family
and hobbies, the Ococks keep very busy. |
GARY
LINK '57 Once again we bring you a West alumni who returned to West to teach - GARY LINK 57. Also, like many others, he has a West tradition in his family. His parents - CHARLES 33 and SARAH HOFFMAN LINK 34. His brother, BILL, was in the 56 class. His wife is RONDA GRAHAM LINK 58. He has two children, Ronald, and Richard. Through Gary's teaching and coaching at West, Richard met and became friends with many West students and requested to attend West, even though they didn't live in the West school district. Graduating in 86, RICHARD met his future wife at West - KELLIE SWAGGERTY LINK, 85. After West,
Gary attended The Ohio State University where he earned a BS in Education.
After graduation, his job search turned up two high school teaching
jobs in Columbus with one being at West. He applied and in 1962 returned
to West. Throughout his thirty years at West, Gary taught U. S. History,
World History, Geography, and Economics. He also coached football, basketball,
baseball, golf, and girls softball. He earned an MS in Secondary Administration
from Xavier University. In his free time, he enjoys working with the Hilltop Y's Men's service group. Becoming an avid skier, he and Ronda have been skiing about fifty times the last two years, including trips to Killington, VT; Vail, CO; Holiday Valley, NY; and, in January 2002, to Switzerland, where they celebrated their 40th anniversary. Vacations have also taken them to Cape Cod and the East Coast three times, to Charleston, SC; Williamsburg, VA; and Cancun. As a West student, Gary said his greatest moments were having his grandmother, Lula Link, serve his food for six years in the West Cafeteria, running around with his brother Bill, all of his friends, being involved in sports, having three lunch periods as a senior (we didn't ask how he had three lunch periods), and being a teammate of JOHNNY EDWARDS 56, who later was a catcher for the Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Houston. As a West teacher Gary said his greatest moments were, and in this order: the kids, the kids, the kids; MR. DAVID RANDALL 35 (principal at West from 1961 through 1969); thirty years of mainly ups, with very few downs; and seeing 9th graders mature to seniors. Along with Ronda, Gary enjoys collecting Royal Doulton character jugs, Hummels, rolling pins, presidential badges, cap guns, walking sticks and canes, hat pins and holders, plus anything else that catches his eye. Friends and former students can e-mail Gary, or Ronda, at: RONDA.LINK@FABCON-USA.COM. |
TERRY ELLIOTT '64 Many will remember MR. TERRY ELLIOTT ‘64 by his A.K.A. name "Mr. Tree." He is 6'8" tall, but his moniker was given by band members when Terry assisted Mr. Jim Hill with the West band in the 70s! The title referred the children's song popular during that time - Wake Up There Mister Tree! Terry was known for arriving at band practice not totally awake. As a student at West, Terry Elliott was on the basketball team. This experience provided him the opportunity to also be a member of the OSU basketball team for three years. Among others, he had the privilege of playing with former OSU and New York Nicks star, and current OSU basketball announcer, Bill Hosket. When completing his Education Major at OSU, Terry did his student teaching at Hilltonia Jr. High, which he had attended as a student. His intentions were to continue on and obtain his master's degree, but in the fall of 1968 West came calling! They had an opening for a Math teacher, and it was too good an opportunity for Mr. Elliott to pass up. Four years after leaving West as Terry Elliott the student, he came back to West as Mr. Elliott the teacher. During his time at West he taught both Math and General Science. After attending OSU for three summers as part of their National Science Foundation Math Institute, he did finally earn his masters in Math Education during the summer of 1974. In addition to his teaching duties he assisted with the marching band, which he had participated in as a student. However, as he did not begin assisting the marching band until the fall of 1969, he was not one of the lucky ones who went with the band on their historic trip to the Rose Bowl Parade in 1968! While teaching at West,Terry also taught Math at OSU. In 1979 he decided he would like to get into the burgeoning computer field and left teaching to work at the Woolworth Corporation. At that time Woolworth Corp. was an umbrella for a large variety of businesses including Woolworth, Woolco, Kenny Shoe, Foot Locker, Champs Sporting Goods, Northern Reflections and many others - over forty businesses in all. In 1985 the company moved their Columbus Data Center to the Milwaukee, WI area. Mr. Elliott and his family also made the move, and he stayed with the company until 1995. He is still in the computer business, now Mgr. of Data Services for the Milwaukee division of Bossard, a Swiss company. Bossard Milwaukee supplies fasteners (nuts bolts, screws, etc.) to companies such as Briggs & Stratton and John Deere. His daughter Justin, who is 30, is a graduate of Texas Christian University and lives with her husband, Andy, in Green Bay, WI. His son Eric, who is 26, is currently completing his Ph.D. in chemistry at the University of California San Diego and is engaged to his long-time girlfriend Judy. Friends and former students can e-mail Terry at: tlesinger@wi.rr.com. (Update:
Justin and her husband have moved back to the Milwaukee area. |
This newsletter we introduce you to MARGARET HAROLD who taught Spanish and French at West from 1945 to 1959. She transferred to Columbus Whetstone High School when it opened in 1959 and continued there until she retired n 1980. Mrs. Harold grew up in Oberlin, Ohio, going to high school and college there. After graduating from Oberlin College, she taught 6th grade at Loraine County Elementary school in Oberlin. Teaching in her second year there she married Frank, who was in the Army. She was a substitute teacher in Oklahoma for nearly two years, until Frank transferred to Ft. Bragg, NC. She saw a newspaper ad there for a combined French and Spanish teacher and Librarian. Knowing she was qualified to teach both French and Spanish, and felt she could fill the Librarian duties, she applied for and got the job. Being the newest teacher at the school, she believes they gave her the "problem" classes. One included eight girls and thirty boys. Her psychology and supervisory skills were tested and honed there. After five years in the military, in 1945 Frank entered medical school at OSU. This moved prompted the Harolds to move to Columbus and was when she started at West. In 1948 she earned an OAS Scholarship that took her to Havana, Cuba for the summer to study language development. In 1959 she earned a Fulbright Scholarship that took her to Colombia to study language. She also received an NDEA Grant in Montreal, Canada. She accomplished everything while living throughout her life with a congenital eye condition that affected her corneas. Having had both cataract and corneal transplants, thanks to the continued development of technology, she now sees better than ever. Her husband, Frank, was in private practice as an internist prior to moving to General Motors where he was their plant doctor. He achieved the position of Brigadier General in the Army Reserve before dying at the age of 55. At the time of his death he was commander of the 2291 Medical Unit in Columbus. Although Mrs. Harold retired from teaching in 1980, she has stayed very active. She is a gourmet cook, even preferring to cook for just herself rather than eating out. At the age of 62 she became involved in karate, having obtained her second degree black belt two years ago. She is still active in karate, although she says she no longer does "sparring." Through her involvement in the Upper Arlington Senior Center, in 1985 she started racing Malibu Grand Prix cars. These are the scaled-down Formula One cars. And, she won her first race! Matter of fact, her claim-to-fame might be (according to her) when a couple of years ago she, and others in the group, appeared on the back page of an issue of The National Inquirer. The title of the article, "Racing Grannies Feel a Need for Speed." It started by saying, "Columbus, Ohio has its share of fast women - 75 little old ladies who put the pedal to the metal." A video of one of her big races was even shown in central Europe. She continues this activity. The fall season ended with 200 individuals racing cars and culminated with their annual banquet. An eight-year cancer survivor, she continues to have a great interest in language. She writes every week, having written enough poetry for three books. Although she did not retire from West, she is involved in the Retired West Teachers group who meet for lunch several times throughout the year. She is a long-time member of the Grandparents Living Theatre, that includes over eighty active seniors. Frequent practices and numerous performances (seven in October alone) keep them all very busy. Another group of Grandparents Living Theatre members has a poetry reading group that Mrs. Harold participates in. She has had her poetry printed in the Short North Gazette and is in the International Poetry Hall of Fame. For those
who would like to visit her web page it is: www.poets.com/margaretharold.
Our thanks to Judy Jeckell Fisher ‘60 for suggesting the article on
Mrs. Harold and for getting us in touch with her. (Update: Mrs. Harold died in April, 2002, in Oberlin, Ohio. She had moved there in 2001 when her health became worse. She had a nephew and his family there who she was close to. According to a note from her nephew, Margaret was active as possible up until the week before her death.) |
Myrtie and
DWIGHT BLACK Dwight Black taught history at West from 1958 to 1968. Talking candidly, he said it was becoming more and more difficult to discipline the students. And, he decided it wasn't worth the aggravation. He started his teaching career at Hamilton Township, then to Canal Winchester, then Big Walnut, and then Scioto Valley (which is now Buckeye Valley). He taught and coached three to four years at each school before coming to West. Dwight said back then coaches weren't paid, they just got an extra free class period. However, at West he didn't even get that. He coached reserve basketball for ten years at West. During his 6th year there, Principal David Randall asked him to also take on coaching baseball when William Schmitter quit coaching. Dwight coached baseball for four years with one of his more notable student/athletes being JOHN MORLAN ‘65, who went on to play professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates before becoming a teacher (also see reference in the Homecoming article). When John pitched for the Cowboys, Coach Black said they won seventy-plus games, a feat he is proud of. However, in 1947, he coached his Hamilton Township team to a state championship. After leaving West, Dwight was involved in chemical sales in Ohio and surrounding areas. However, when his wife, Myrtie, had some health problems, he decided he needed to "get off the road." He had owned 67 acres in Ostrander for awhile, which he farmed part-time. Farming was a lot of work and wasn't extremely profitable. He had been a pretty good golfer and decided his farm land might be a good location for a golf course. He didn't have any experience in designing or building a golf course, but with a lot of planning and the help of a few people, including a son-in-law, he got it done. In 1972 he started building the Mill Creek Golf Course, 7259 Penn Rd., opening the first nine-hole course in 1973 and the 2nd nine holes in 1977. His house is on the Golf Course. A few years ago he bought the land across the road from his Mertie and Dwight Black golf course, in case he ever wants to expand his course again. Mill Creek Golf Course is truly a family business. Dwight and Myrtie (or Myrt as Dwight calls her) have been married fifty-eight years and have five daughters. Their oldest daughter, Donna, previously worked at the golf course. Now she and her husband own the Liberty Hills Golf Course. Donna's daughter is involved with the Disney golf courses, in Orlando. Dwight's daughter Jean schedules outings at the course and has a daughter who is a tennis coach at Ohio Wesylan and a son who was on the golf team at Columbus Academy High School and Georgia Southern University. Janice is the bookkeeper for the business. Her oldest son, Ben Curtis, is currently the Ohio Amateur Golf Champion, attending Kent State. He plans to join the pro circuit after graduation. And yes, Ben has golfed with Tiger Woods, both losing to him and beating him! Janice's youngest son golfs in high school. Dwight said his grandsons have been golfing since they were very small, when they could walk out their back door to the practice area. Dwight's daughter Nancy previously taught school in Houston TX, but now works at Mill Creek with her husband where they are in charge of catering and ordering the inventory for the Pro Shop. One daughter not involved in the family business is Linda, who is a police officer in Evanston, IL, near Chicago. All of Dwight's daughters were home in June when they celebrated with an early 80th birthday for their father. Dwight made sure we knew he wouldn't be 80 until August. There were some West Alumni at the party including MIKE CARNEY ‘65, JOHN MORLAN ‘65, GARY LINK ‘57, who also taught at West for over thirty years, and STEVE BARNARD ‘65 who is the accountant for the golf course. Dwight said former students he either had in a class or coached often stop by to golf or just say hello. He keeps an inventory of West Yearbooks from his years at West in a cabinet in the Pro Shop, which he often brings out, like he did during his party. Also working at the golf course is GENE BAY, West Vice-Principal from ‘67 to ‘74 and Principal from ‘79 to ‘86. Gene said he used to be Dwight's boss, now Dwight is his boss! By the way, Gene is married to LOIS HUNTER NEFF's sister, CHARLOTTE HUNTER BAY. CAROL SPRING, who didn't graduate from West but did attend West during her Sophomore year in 1963, is the postmaster in Ostrander. ROBERT DARROW, former West Principal who left in 1961, stops in the gold course occasionally. Dwight said CHARLIE CASTLE ‘63 manages Grove Brook Golf Club, in Grove City. For you local
golfers who have not been to Mill Creek, put it on your list. It is
a beautiful course that always has room for West Alumni! (7/20/03 Update: Today Ben Curtis won his first PGA event, the most prestigious British Open. Coming into the event Ben was ranked around 400th in the PGA ranking and was in his 16th PGA event. He just recently qualified for the event by finishing 12th in the Western Open. In England the betting field had him at a 500 to 1 shot of winning. He played well throughout the event, even leading by two shots at one point during the final day of play. However, during the final nine holes he lost his lead. Ben was a few holes ahead of the last to play and went in to the 18th probably thinking he had finished 2nd or 3rd. But as a result of the players behind him stumbling, and Ben finishing with a par, he won the event by one shot. During the Sunday play several times the announcers contacted Ben's father in Ostrander at Mill Creek Golf Course (the course that Dwight Black built). When asked what the biggest influence was on Ben's golf career he said it was Ben's grandfather (Dwight Black) who built the golf course and supported Ben in his golf. After Ben had won the event and the announcers talked with Ben's father again, he said the clubhouse erupted when it was final that Ben had won. We're sure Coach Black was watching from above, using his coaching abilities once again to give his grandson, Ben Curtis, that little extra he needed to bring home the win.) And, in 2008, he was chosen to be on the Ryder Cup team. |
JOANNE GEORGITON
STAMATAKOS Mildred and George P.
Georgiton JoAnne recalls living at 171 N. Ogden Ave. until 1959-60. She played daily at Holton Park and occasionally at Westgate Park with neighbors from the Culp, Eperson, Carmeans, Caldwell, and Grashel families. She attended West Broad Street Elementary School and was in the first seventh grade class at the newly-constructed Westmoor Junior High School. However, the family moved to 2600 Georgesville Rd., when she entered the eighth grade, so she attended West Franklin Middle School and Franklin Heights H.S., Graduating in 1965. Following high school, JoAnne attended Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio, graduating in 1969. JoAnn recalls that, on the first day of school, the principal of Norton Middle School called and asked where she was: apparently, she had been hired by the Southwestern Board of Education as well, but had not been notified. (Their loss, our gain!) Fortunately, JoAnne had many close ties to West due to the many friends in the neighborhood and also from her father's store. JoAnne started working in the store at age 5 - standing on a stool putting the top curve on candy canes. The store was famous for its candy canes at Christmas and Easter eggs at Easter. Many families came to the store late at night the eve of Easter to get chocolate eggs decorated with their children's names. Many readers and West High grads well remember those candy canes of all sizes hanging in the window at Christmas - a magical sight! Georgiton's was THE West High handout for years, and the place where families came from all over the city for the best homemade candies and ice cream as well as Coney Island sandwiches. Mr. Georgiton was asked many times for his recipe for his Coney sauce, but he took it to the grave, never divulging it to anyone. At one time, Broad and Hague was the hub of the Hilltop, and Georgiton's store became synonymous with it. Everyone from the Hilltop stopped in the store at one time or another for good food, candy canes, candy apples, Easter eggs, and ice cream floats. It was also a place where you could find people such as Mayor Sensenbrenner, Mayor Westlake, judges, doctors, lawyers, and movers and shakers of business from all over Columbus, as well as the mechanic, gas station attendant, or grocery clerk. It is true that the store developed an unfair reputation in the later 1950s when juvenile gangs would hang around outside the store on the corner. Many parents forbade their children to go to Georgiton's at lunch, after school, or after ball games. That hurt George Georgiton, but he also understood their concern. However, the truth is that inside the store George held a tough control on behavior. He did not permit roughhousing, discourtesy, destructiveness, loitering, and so on. He maintained lists of youth suspended from the establishment, and often would call parents about behavior he thought was unacceptable. Many parents appreciated his concern and many of those supposedly "rough" kids ended up becoming policemen, doctors, judges, and so on. JoAnne remembers one young man who came in wearing a priest's collar and carrying a Bible. He asked to speak with her father, and told him that as a youth, he had stolen boxes of candy and ice cream from him and wanted to repay him for the wrong he had done/. George's eyes welled with tears, and he said "Young man, you couldn't have repaid me more than by becoming the ethical man you are today. I accept no payment but a hand shake." Georgiton was more than a proprietor, he was a mentor of troubled youth a friend to parents who needed community support, and a natural educator of the finest sort. In JoAnne's eyes, the biggest negative influence on the Hilltop occurred in the early 1960s with the loss of the small businesses, proprietors who were the eyes and ears in the community who knew each other and who helped parents raise children. That extended support system has been lost. Mr. Georgiton and his wife, Mildred were active in community needs in another way that most people are unaware of - they, along with two other local couples established the first Franklin County School for the Retarded since, in the early 1950 the city had no adequate school to train retarded children. JoAnne's oldest brother John was severely handicapped, as was the daughter of one of the other couples. Her parents refused to institutionalize John, which was the practice at the time. They also refused to treat him as an unseen member of the family. He was taken everywhere and never treated as a burden. It was not until they, along with the other parents, demanded a day school for help in training their children that the public school system added programs for the mentally handicapped. Today, with the inclusion program, it seems strange that as late as the 1950, society took no interest in such children. The program began with just one teacher who was a gift to these children and a wonderfully patient and innovative educator. Looking back, JoAnne realizes that her father's example and the need she saw in young people by working in the store influenced her decision to teach. Coming from a home that respected teachers and the power of education, there was no nobler profession. Of course, though, JoAnne did not start out wanting to become a teacher; she wanted to be an artist. Unfortunately, George died in 1963 at age 52, before JoAnne graduated form high school. Her mother felt that a more practical use of college money for a female would be in a career as a nurse or a teacher. She chose teaching mainly because she had learned from her father that the best way to build the community is to guide its youth; that good teachers mentor the mind and nurse the soul, and tha no profession could be more creative than teaching. She has never been sorry for her decision. Georgiton is now in her 28th year of teaching at West and teaches American Literature and Advanced Placement Composition. She has also taught Speech and every grade lever and skill level in English. Georgiton began her career in a bath of fire at West - racial unrest, war protesting, split scheduling, School Without School, drug abuse, teacher's strike, etc. For the first ten years, she didn't experience traditional education as she had been taught, but the thing that kept her going was that this was her neighborhood, her home. Its youth are her legacy, and she refuses to give up on our youth and continues to demand the excellence from them that she knows they can deliver. She also credits the pleasure of working with a superior staff of teachers who had been innovative leaders, setting standards for others to emulate. "Sometimes," JoAnne remembers, "in our haste to judge, I think we forget the many cruses our school and neighborhood had endures. When we consider the social and economic problems against which we have been struggling, we have done remarkably well with our students. West students still have pride in their school. Community concern is evident and involvement is frowing. However, we still have much to do to help our young create better lives for themselves." In 1984, the PTSA gave JoAnne a prestigious honor - Central Ohio Teacher of the Year. Because it came from parents and students, it was more of an accolade for her contributions than she could imagine. She considers the fact that it was a tough compliment to earn from her critical youth and a tougher one to live up to, and states that she is still trying to deserve it. JoAnne, you HAVE deserved it! JoAnne Georgiton is married to John C.Stamatakos who is an attorney in private practice. They have no children of their own, but a wealth of children from her extended West High family whom she has nurtured JoAnne has shown her support of the West High School Alumni Association by becoming the first "Friends of Alumni Life Member." Thank you, JoAnne, for your support, understanding, and dedication. |
DAVE DOBOS
'73 Dave Dobos, Class of '73, is this month's "Distinguished Alumnus," and well deserves the honor. An honor scholar and graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dave is making his mark on the Columbus School System as a member of the Columbus Board of Education. A 10th Grade English teacher, Barbara Teal, who served only 6 months at West, first prodded Dave and a few other students to look to much higher education because she felt they stood away from their classmates in academic ability. By his Junior year, Dave had written to 30 colleges for information, and eventually chose MIT. He went on to receive an S.B. in Economics with an undergraduate minor in History; then further studied in business and finance at the Sloan School of Management (MIT) and the Ohio State University . After graduating from MIT, Class of 1977, Dobos worked for two years in their Admissions Office before returning to Columbus in 1980. Dobos grew up on the Hilltop, attending West Mound Elementary and Hilltonia Junior High School. While at West, he lettered in Cross Country, and ran track and played JV Basketball. He was also a member of the Orchestra and President of the Student Council. One of his best memories at West was participating in the "In The Know" Team, coached by teacher Robert Zadrozny Out of 40 school teams, West made it to the Final Four before being eliminated. These were the days when Hunt Carlyle was the MC. Others that participated with Dave were Fred Van Dyke, Duane Baker, and Garth Rinehart. Upon his return to Columbus, Dave worked for AccuRay for four years, from 1981-1984, as a Systems Engineer and later, an Assistant Controller. During this time, Dobos was also on the the first elected members of the newly-formed Greater Hilltop Area Commission, serving as Secretary. In 1984, Dave started working for Micro Center as a Sales Representative, and was responsible for starting their Direct Marketing program. With his help, the company grew from profiting $2 million to over $20 million a year in just two years time. Dobos left Micro Center in 1987 and started his own business, Direct Micro, a direct marketer of microcomputer supplies and accessories to education, electronic shopping, consumer end user, and international markets. In 1993, he was named one of the "Top 10 Businessmen under 40" in Columbus by Business First newspaper, and in 1994, was awarded the Ohio Governor's Export Excellence Award. Dobos served in the InfoPort Task Force from 1992-1994, having been named by Mayor Gregory Lashutka to the 27-member task force being charged with designing the strategic plan for the Columbus trade point center. He assisted in the development, writing, and presentation of the plan for this United nations-sanctioned initiative to increase the amount and efficiency of international trade by utilizing computer information and technology. Dave served as an elected member of the Franklin County Republication Central Committee from 1984-1994, Ward 38, near West Mound School. He served briefly in Clintonville before resigning. Dave also was affiliated with the Big Brothers / Big Sisters of Franklin County from 1982-1993. Dobos recently entered his current business venture: WorldWise Computer Supplies and Accessories, located on West Broad Street near Hague Avenue, serving as a re-seller of microcomputer supplies and accessories to the K-12 education market. One of Dave's biggest accomplishments was being elected to the Columbus Board of Education in November, 1993. This seven-member board determines policy for the Columbus Public School system. He is the Chair of the Finance Panel, and is pleased to have been part of several important decision, including the compilation of the first eve strategic plan for the district, including defining goals and objectives; passing the student assignment plan that will end forced busing; and revamping the entire Math and Science division. He is more than pleased that Proficiency Test Scores are up significantly in the school system. Future personal goals on the Board include helping to enrich college admissions counseling and helping champion the cause of gifted children. A program that has benefited school on the Hilltop is the School Net Program, initiated by Governor George Voinovich. Of the 150 pilot school in the state of Ohio, 6 are in Columbus, and of those 6, 3 are on the Hilltop: Highland, Westmoor, and West. Designed to eventually be implemented in all schools, this program involves wiring school for advanced communications. On March 20, 1993, Dave married the former Lora Gingerich, which , in itself, is an interesting story. Lora was a student at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, where Dave was studying at MIT. The mostly make MIT had a formal relationship with the female Wellesley, one joint venture being a combined Orchestra, in which both Lora and Dave played violin. While they knew one another, they didn't date. After graduation, Lora joined the faculty of The Ohio State University as an Associate Professor of Music and head of the Theory and Composition area of the School of Music. Coming to Columbus, she remembered Dave, looked him up, and the rest, as they say, is history! The Dobos' lived for awhile in the Clintonville area, then moved to the Hilltop in the house of the former Dr. John Thompson at Roys and Crescent Dr. Both play in the orchestra for the Hilltop Community Theater, and are members of the Overbook Presbyterian Church. An important event this year for Dave was West High's Graduation June 8, at Veteran's Memorial, where he assisted , representing the Columbus Board of Education. This writer had the interesting
experience of working with Dave Dobos in 1991, trying to save West
High stadium. Just in the talking stages of forming an Alumni Association,
we committed this future group to support repairing the current stadium,
promising to compile a list of names on Dave's computer and organizing
a fund raising drive if necessary. At the time, we felt as if we were
literally putting out collective necks on the "chopping block".
After several meetings with West's Principal, Athletic Director and
various others, the stadium was indeed restored to its original beauty.
Needless to say, the Alumni Association became a reality, and far
surpassed our expectations. Thanks to all of your for your support
of our Alma Mater. |
PHIL
WALLACE '72 Phil Wallace, who is completing his first year as a choral director for West High School, has already made a tremendous impact on his Alma Mater. After teaching for 17 years at Walnut Ridge High School, where his choirs won numerous awards, ranging from state to international, he has come home to West High. Students, faculty and community at large are fortunate to have this talented and enthusiastic young man. His talents have earned him the status of a sought-after writer, producer, and musician in studios from New York to Chicago and Nashville; he also toured for ten years with the contemporary Christian group :Oasis." He is currently affiliated with Vaud-Villities, American's oldest and largest musical variety show, which has been entertaining Central Ohio for 53 years. It was apparent that his reputation had preceded him, when the number of students requesting enrollment in his classes exceeded the number of available places. This past holiday the program was exceptional in its variety and execution. Furthermore, the auditorium was filled to capacity for the first time since the West High School Band went to the Rose Bowl in 1984. Phil's inclusion of the neighborhood elementary and middle schools was very intuitive. It could only serve to strengthen the neighborhood support of West High School and help these youngsters look ahead to their own West High School days. For the first time in many years, the West High School Chorus went to City School Competition. They placed with an "excellent" rating. This is a testimony to the hard work on the part of the students and on the part of the untiring director. Phil's enthusiasm and talent is appreciated by anyone who has attended a Vaud-Villities performance in the past three years, since he assumed the position of director. To those who are fortunate enough to perform in this great production, his untiring efforts and energy are an inspiration. He turns a large chorus of diverse ages and talents in to a polished performing ensemble, and it is a thrill to be part of it. A Columbus
native, Phil has completed his graduate work at The Ohio State University.
He lives in Hilliard with his wife Jeri and daughters Lindsay and Laura.
His wife, Jeri Chamberlain Wallace, is a 1974 graduate of West. |
PAT COZAD
SMART '47 Nurse (nurs) n. One trained to care for the sick; to treat; to take special care of; to treat carefully. (From the Latin Nutrix) All of the above apply to one special woman: Pat Smart, who retired this past year after 25 years of service as a School Nurse, 22 of those year at West High School. Pat's interest in nursing came naturally, from her Aunt Mary (her mother's sister) who was a nurse in McArthur, Ohio. Pat would visit her in the summer, and learned to help roll gauze sponges in return for a swimming trip to Lake Hope. Many minor surgeries were performed in Doctor's office, especially tonsillectomies, that required lots of sponges. She even went with her Aunt and the Doctor to deliver a baby, with the mother's consent. In Columbus, Pat Cozad lived with her mother and father and younger sister Eleanor on S. Richardson Avenue, right across from john Burroughs school. Many pleasant memories were recalled from J. B., including Spelling Bees, May Day activities out side in the field, attending live performances at the old Veteran's Memorial Hall, and the principal, E.B. Graham. Living a stone's throw from the school did not insure being on time, thought, and Pat tells of many times getting in line just before the tardy bell! Upon finishing 6th grade Pat and her class looked forward to attending West High School at 7th graders, but the school was so full that her class had to stay at Burroughs for the first half of the 7th grade. When the January class graduated form West her class finally made it! Pat graduated from West in 1947, and enrolled in the School of Nursing at The Ohio State University. At that time, nursing students went 4 years/16 straight quarters with no summers off. Her studies were finished in September, 1951, but she didn't graduate until December, 1951, and was considered a Graduate Nurse during that time. By the end of March, 1952, exams were released, and Pat became a Registered Nurse. She recalls working the day her notification came; working a split from 7-12, and 3:30-7. She went to a classmate's apartment, and found that the classmate had received her certification. Pat immediately called home to see if the mail had come, and her mother was almost afraid to open the letter. She relayed the information over the phone: "You passed!" Of the 75 students who started with Pat, 31 graduated in Nursing. Pat married in 1951, and three days later her husband left for Korea. She moved to Indianapolis for a short time, and worked at the Methodist Hospital there. Returning to Columbus, Pat worked for a while in Public Health, then took the next 12 years off to raise her three daughters. During this "off" time, Pat worked Private Duty on occasion, and also at Polio Clinics. In 1969, a classmate called asking Pat to substitute for her for six weeks as she was due to have surgery. Pat worked the last six weeks of the school year for the Bexley School system, and then applied for a position, a job she held for the next 25 years. Her service to Columbus Public was at most of the Hilltop and Franklinton area schools, and she has worked at West Mound, Wayne, Lindbergh, Westgate, Highland, Georgian Heights, Binns, John Burroughs, Dana, Chicago Ave., Sullivant, Hilltonia Jr. High, and West High. She has worked at as many as five schools at a time, serving one-half days. She was the school nurse at Hilltonia Jr. High in 1972 during the first there. In the fall of 1972, Pat started at West. Pat has attended Burgess Avenue United Methodist Church since being a child, and as an adult, has served the congregation in various jobs, including youth work, Bible School, Sunday School, Secretary, and as a member of the Pastor/Parish Relations Committee, even serving as Chairman of that group. Another love of Pat's is ushering at OSU home games, a job she had done for over 20 years. An avid Buckeye fan, you would always see Pat in scarlet and gray on Fridays before a game. A single parent following divorce, Pat has always had time for her three daughters, Becky, Brenda, and Beverly. In 1980, Pat married Sid Smart, West High Chemistry and General Science teacher, and well respected by his students. Their marriage lasted six years before Sid's untimely death in 1986. Pat recalls enjoying working with students at all the schools she served, especially at West. Her general duties included doing health appraisals, blood pressure screenings, and working on various health-related projects with other teachers. She remarked how interesting it was to work with the staff at West, and watch their children, as well as her own grow into maturity. One goal she successfully worked on was to get students to be responsible for their own health, kind of "early" preventive medicine. Retirement plans for Pat include golfing, attending the theater, reading and traveling. A trip to Ireland, Scotland, and England is planned for this summer with her sister and friends. Mentioning her sister, Pat is quick to point out that Eleanor is an ordained Presbyterian Minister, having received her Doctor of Divinity Degree this past May. She resides near Austin, Texas, and is the Director of Admissions and Vocations at the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Her husband is a United Methodist minister. Pat will also be spending time with her girls and grandchildren. Eldest daughter Becky lives in Indianapolis and has one child and one due in mid-February. She is a teacher at Ivy Technical State College teaching Total Quality Management and Business courses. Daughter Brenda lives in Hilliard with her three children, and is a Computer Analyst for Columbus Life Insurance Company. Both graduated from West. Youngest daughter Beverly graduated from Briggs in 1979, has two boys, and is employed at Nationwide Insurance as a Project Systems Leader. Pat's mother, Edna, still resides on the Hilltop, and also attends Burgess Ave. Church. This pat summer, to celebrate Pat's retirement, all the girls and their families went with Pat for a vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina where they shared a six-bedroom cottage. Nice memories! From all your friends,
family, and former students, have an enjoyable retirement , Pat. you
certainly deserve it. |
FRANCES EVANS
At The Ohio State University, Evans earned a Master of Arts with a Major in Latin, and, in later years, earned credits n Psychology and Counseling. She attended the Portsmouth Branch of Ohio University, studying Spanish, and Ohio Dominican College for five full semesters, completing the Ohio Certification in Library Science and Media, grades K-12. As a Senior in high school, Frances worked Saturdays in the Kresge's 5&10 (five and dime, or Ten-Cent Stores , as they were known). After high school, she worked at W.T. Grant Department Store during summers and college vacations, selling ready-to-wear. She also worked almost six months at the Cathedral Book Store on East Broad St. in 1953. Evans taught at Minford High School, Minford , Ohio, for seven years after college graduation. She was only 20 years old when she started her teaching career. Minford School was a rural consolidated school with all 12 grades in one building: grades 1-6 on the 1st floor, grades 7-12 on the second. Her first-year teaching salary was a "whopping" $1600, for a full year! There were many times when pay day would roll around and the Principal would say, "Sorry, teachers, the Board cannot pay you this month; however, you may go to the bank and borrow your money with interest paid by you!" Teachers with family responsibilities often had to do just that. There were no conference periods or free periods for teachers. All taught straight through the day from homeroom to day's end. There was no lunch periods as such. At about noon, a bell was rung after the first twenty minutes of class, and all would open their sack lunches and eat in the classroom, including the teacher. After twenty minutes, the ball rang for class to resume another twenty minutes. By the end of the fifth year at Minford, "Miss Kopp" and all the students and teachers were able to leave the classroom at the 20-minute bell and go down stairs to a new lunchroom to eat for 20 minutes before returning to class. Subjects taught by "Miss Kopp" were Latin, English, and Girl's Physical Education, grades 7-12. Classes in Physical Education were large in size with ages ranging from 7th graders to 12th graders. Besides the usual team games, calisthenics, and the like, "Miss Kopp" taught gymnastics and tumbling. An avid participant in such exercises, she developed in a few years an outstanding Tumbling and Acrobatic team that performed at Basketball Tournaments, County Fairs, and even the Ohio State Fair. Those were seven very happy and memorable years spent in that consolidated school where Evans' students excelled n State Scholarship tests in Latin and English. Frances resigned her position at Minford to marry Alva Evans from Minford, and move with him to Columbus where he was employed. Of her experience coming to West High School, Frances recalls: "Bug-eyed and quaking in her shoes, Mrs. Evans entered West High School . . . that enormous school with three floors, gymnasiums separate from the auditorium (Minford had only one gym that doubled as an auditorium), and an Auditorium larger than any movie theater in the whole city of Portsmouth. 2600 students and 100 staff members inhabited the school." She fondly remembers 35 years of happy days and hard work teaching Latin only for 17 of those years. From 1970 - 1980, she taught Latin, English, and French, and from 1980-1988 worked as a Librarian and Media Specialist. Evans recounts many memories for readers: The Latin classes themselves with the many accomplishments of the students - first advanced placement classes in the Columbus Public Schools with great results; achievements of the National Latin Examinations with median scores of all West students as much as ten points above the national average; State scholarship winners with one little girl coming out second in the entire state; students with near perfect scores in the college board tests; those students went on to college to become successful Latin teachers themselves; all wonderful boys and girls whom she had the privilege to teach. Other experiences at West: French classes; 1980 Spring Break when 15 brave souls (8 West students, 2 mothers, 2 Briggs students, and 2 teachers, Evans from West) flew to London, England and Paris, France for a ten day tour of Paris, the French Chateau country, and a weekend in London. The Library: Eight years as a school Librarian and Media Specialist closed out a teaching career that spanned 42 years; needless to say, the years spent as a classroom teacher were by far the most rewarding and challenging. The constant interactions between teacher and students will never be forgotten. In her words "Just think - those Latin classes opened with the saying of the Lord's Prayer and the Pledge to the Flag in Latin. On test days, many students would ask to say additional "Pater Nosters'." "At Minford, the end of the 1st year of teaching when I felt this was not for me; on the last day of English class a big, burly Freshman said: 'Miss Kopp, you must start the school year tougher than you did this year. Let all the kids know who's boss. You are going to be a good teacher'. After a summer job at Mt. Clemens, Michigan, working as a lab technician in a hospital, I decided to try teaching again for one more year (I was still only 21 at the to,e), so I returned a tough, hard-boiled disciplinarian who took on anyone and everyone for 42 years." Memories at West: "During the 70s, problems arose making my teaching days difficult and unrewarding. These were problems stemming from administration situation created by the school; difficulties that I experienced arose from differences in ideologies and the very essence of education itself. I went home from school one day fully convinced that I could no longer continue teaching under such circumstances. I fully intended to turn in my resignation; but when I arrived home, there was a letter for me. It was from a student who had graduated from West several years earlier. She had studied four ears of Latin with me at West, and had graduated from The Ohio State University. She was married to a wonderful man and she was now teaching. This was first communication from her since she had left West, and in the letter, she began to recall her days at West, especially the Latin classes, and paid tribute to me as her teacher. Her wonderful words of encouragement and praise could never had come at a better time! I interpreted her letter from afar (another state) as a sign from the good God above that I should dismiss my notion of quitting the career I loved too dearly and continue my work, upholding my own standards and ideals. I immediately answered her letter telling her my plight and the timeliness of her correspondence. We still write each other to this day." |
E. THOBURN
STONE Chemistry class and Rope Twirling - anyone who attended West High School knew what these two things had in common - teacher E. Thoburn Stone. Mr. Stone was respected by students in and out of his class. After graduating form high school in Buffalo, Ohio in 1924, he attended Muskingum College. It took him ten years to get through college, as he had to work and could attend limited hours and summer semesters. Remember, this was during the Great Depression. Following college graduation in 1934, Stone's first teaching assignment was at Blue Bell School, located between Pleasant City and Cumberland, Ohio. The school had grades 1-8 in one room. Stone recalls walking railroad tracks four and one half miles each way to and from work. He taught there until 1937, at which time he accepted a teaching position in Byesville, Ohio. Classes included 7th and 8th Grade History, High School Science, Bookkeeping, and Physics. While teaching at Byesville, Stone met and married his wife, Esther, who was also a teacher in training. Their marriage lasted 46 years until her death in 1985. Stone remained at Byesville until 1942 when he accepted an assignment at West. Arriving in September, 1942, Stone taught Chemistry almost exclusively for a brief period of time when he had an occasional Remedial Arithmetic class. While a teacher, he also taught night school at The Ohio State University for four years during which he taught every Chemistry Class offered to evening students. Stone retired from West in 1971. While a teacher at West, Stone observed to Principal Irvin Young that "since West High School has started, we have been known as the Cowboys, but there was nothing to identify aus a such." With the help of Young, it was decided to start a group of boys and girls who were willing to learn some of the tricks of Cowboys. The Rope Twirlers of West High School were started in May, 1947, and performed at the first night football game in West's stadium. The twirlers and horseback riders became a valuable addition to the Marching Band's shows. In 1948 Clothing instructor Rhoda O'Harra designed costumes for the Rope Twirlers, as shown in the picture on this page. The girl's costumes were green and white frontier blouses and short ballerina skirts with white rangerette hats, boots, and belts. The boys wore green shirts and burnt sherry trousers. The Rope Twirlers also participated in the Band Variety Show for the first time. Over the years, the Rope Twirlers appeared at many functions and events. One such occasion stands out in Stone's mind: performing in the Hall of Mirrors at the Netherlands Plaza Hotel in Cincinnati for the National Convention of the National Association of High School Principals. This appearance was at the request of then West Principal Irving R. Young. But wait! This man's busy career has one more component to it: E. T. Stone is also an accomplished magician, an art he has practiced for over 65 years. Performing mostly for charity, he has presented magic acts for patients at Children's Hospital for over 9 years. His association with the Magicfest began in 1842 with his arrival in Columbus. Stone is also interested in flowers, and has won Grand Prize Trophies and served as a Judge in various subjects as roses, African violets, mums, and rabbits. He celebrated his 87th birthday in November, 1993. E.T. Stone was a hard teacher, expecting perfection from students, but personally assisting those who showed real promise in the field of Chemistry. He organized and presided over may Science Fairs while at West. Stone is a complicated and diverse person who pursues goals with a single-minded determination. He demands excellence of himself and others, and is deserving of the plaudits that have been bestowed upon him. We thank retired West faculty member and current Alumni President Dick Weber for providing this information about E.T. Stone, and share Weber's personal comments: "Whatever success I attained in the educational field I owe in a large part to the guidance and advice given to me during my Student Teaching in which Mr. Stone was my Supervising Teacher." |
DICK
WEBER '43 Dick Weber, former math and chemistry teacher at West, had his roots in the Hilltop area. After attending John Burroughs Elementary School, Dick attended West Junior and Senior High School, graduating in 1943. Following graduation, he served in the United States Army Infantry and Corps of Engineers. Dick married Donna Inboden (WHS June '45) in September 1948. He attended The Ohio State University and graduated in March, 1949; he received his M.A. in December, 1951. Dick did his student teaching at West from January-March 1949, and then began his teaching career at Linden McKinley High School. He transferred from the staff at Linden to West High in September, 1966, the same time Donna came to West as a secretary. Their son, Bill, came to West that same year , from Hilltonia Junior High. While on the staff at West,
Dick was: Since retirement in 1986, Dick has served as Chairman of the visiting evaluation committees for many Central Ohio Schools, including Briggs, Linden McKinley, and West, the three Columbus High Schools where he was a teacher and/or administrator. He also is superintendent of more than 700 ushers at each Ohio State home football game. An active member of Burgess
Ave. U.M. Church, Dick is currently the Assignment Supervisor for
the Billy Graham Crusade at Cooper Stadium September, 1993. He also
teacher part-time at Bliss College West. |
1937 (then)
- DALE ROSE - (now) 1993 Dale Rose served West High School as a coach from 1937 - 1941, coaching Football, Baseball, Wrestling, and Reserve Basketball. Following High School graduation from Clarington High, Clarington , Ohio (on the Ohio River), Rose graduated from Ohio Wesleyan and became Principal of his old school plus teaching 7th and 8th grades. In 1937, Dr. H. H. Reighley, principal of West High School in Columbus, visited Rose's classroom, and subsequently invited Rose to come to Columbus and interview for a job. He was hired as a math teacher and coach at the unheard-of salary of $1000 per year! Coaches he worked with in the West Athletic Department included Harold Wise, George Collins, George Williams, and Rufus Glass. Upon leaving West in 1941, Rose became Football Coach at Capital University. Prior to leaving West, Rose acquired a new assistant, M.E. "Mack" Pemberton. Coach Rose fondly remembers many of his players at West and Capital. Other coaching jobs included Upper Arlington and The Ohio State University. |
M.E. "MACK"
PEMBERTON Mr. Pemberton served 32
years as teacher-coach and school administrator, 1945 - 1957, at West.
He coached West's first All-American Aurelius "Reedy" Thomas.
He received his mater's Degree from OSU, served as Principal at Hilltonia
Jr. High, was affiliated with Boy Scout Troop #45, and was elected
to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1966. Mack Pemberton touched
the lives of many alumni. |
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