School Story:
My Favorite times at JHS was my participation in CHOIR. Big guy loved singing more than being the BIG guy. I was lucky enough to have been in All-City Choir each year. It was GREAT. My youngest Daughter shares my love of music so much that she followed through and excelled so much in HS that she landed a Scholarship at the University of Illinois and has been Principle Bass Clarinetist every year . She will go on to Conducting in 2011.
After graduation she went on to teaching as Band Director in school district near us.
I remember my favorite teacher- Mr. George Baron- Was Boys Dean for years before we all got there and stayed on into the 70's at least. Totally Classy guy- Unfortunately I was in there so much he became good friends with my Dad. One time at the end of winter break I came in and asked if there were any new rules that had been made up and he threw me out but not before he had me go into his bathroom (only cold water) and shave off the mustache and beard I had started over the break. NO SOAP either. No one remembers, I am sure, that during the graduation ceremony, someone in the choir slipped out and had tied some fishing line to the clapper in the bell tower. It was I! I learned early how to pick locks! Mr. Baron caught me in front pulling on the line and laughed forever. After he retired he continued keeping involved with kids by coaching Lacrosse on the Island. He died this year but not before making deep great impressions on many many young people. We stayed friends up to his death.
