Sherman C. Nystrom, 80, died Friday, March 23, 2007 at his home in Dallas, Texas. He was born August 5, 1926 at Garfield, Kansas, the son of Carl Fredrick and Mary Irene Dempsy Nystrom. On September 22, 1946, he married Florence Miller at Garfield. She died November 8, 2005. Sherman was a retired Professor of Biology with a Master’s degree, teaching over 40 years in Great Bend and Wichita. He was a member of VASA Lodge No. 716 (a Swedish organization honoring the VASA Ship), American Legion for over 59 years, Elks Lodge, Over 55 Club at Bethel Lutheran Church, where he and his late wife Florence were longtime members.

Source: http://www.beckwithmortuary.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=102556

Memorial: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=33979147

Nystrom Named Top Teacher (West Word, April 23, 1965)

Mr. Sherman Nystrom, biology teacher at West for the past ten years, has been awarded the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award.

This award is presented each year by the National Association of Biology Teachers. A committee of biologists, teachers and science educators select a teacher in each state. The purpose of this award is to recognize and encourage superior biology teaching. In order to accomplish this, one truly outstanding teacher is chosen to exemplify and represent excellence for the honor of the whole group. From the state selections a regional NABT award is made with the same purpose in mind. A representative from the states, selections in each region is chosen to represent the region on the national level. This results in the selection of nine teachers in the nation each year in which teachers can focus attention as outstanding associates in the profession of teaching.

With the state award, Mr. Nystrom will now compete in the regional NABT. Teachers are selected for these awards because of their participation and interest in the field of biology.

Among the many organizations Mr. Nystrom belongs to are the NABT, the Kansas Association of Biology Teachers in which he served as past president, and Kansas membership chairman of the National Science Teachers Association. He is also a member of the Phi Sigma fraternity, which is an honorary research fraternity.

Mr. Nystrom’s personal feelings toward teaching are revealed by his statement, “I always strive to continually improve science instruction for high school.”

His contributions to youth education are many. As several students know, Mr. Nystrom was a member of the Wichita test center for the BSCS biology books now being used by sophomores at West. He has been active in participation in curriculum revisions in all areas of science, particularly biology. Besides being a member of various professional organizations, he has served in several official capacities and contributed to their publications. In what little spare time he has he attends meetings, giving science lectures. Mr. Nystrom’s only remark to his busy schedule was, “Some people just can’t say no.”

Nystrom Accepts Publishing Post (West Word, March 4, 1966)

Mr. Sherman Nystrom, charter member of the West faculty 14 years ago, resigned his position as head of the science department. After the close of school last Friday, he left for St. Louis, Mo., to work as the science editor for McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. This permanent assignment will include writing and editing manuscripts.

As a consultant for the University of Colorado, Mr. Nystrom contributed to experimental studies, writing conferences, test centers and editing of High School Biology, the text used here in Biology I courses.

He became interested in science editing through being a part of BSCS biology growth program. Mr. Nystrom’s field is in biology; his teaching career began when he started here at the opening of West.

“I’ve seen West grow from a small school to a large high school. I’ve seen improvement in the curriculum offered and in the attitude and ability of the students. To use an often used quote, “West Is Best.” I though it was best at first, but now I know it is,” said Mr. Nystrom.