THANK YOU

I would like to recognize and remember the parents and other adults who contributed to our learning and to our growth.  I hope you will add your appreciations and memories. 

My memory is incomplete and, at times mistaken.  Corrections and additions are welcome.

Scouting

Boy Scouts

Mr. Judd (Kathy’s dad) served as the Scoutmaster of Troop 209.   He taught us basic outdoor skills and spent many nights with us at camp sites winter and summer.  As I recall, our equipment was vintage WWII as were many of our Scout leaders.  They taught us survival skills, the most important of which was surviving our own cooking.

Mrs. Perin served as a den mother to many of us in the Cub Scout Pack.  I remember meetings in her home and, thanks to her, can still dip a leaf into paraffin.

Martin Striffler was our Cub Scout leader.  During the winter we would meet at that old green building near the old High School football field to build wood projects with our dads.  We also had father/son softball games in which dads would hit opposite hand with sawed off bats. 

As many of us have come to appreciate, having a chance to spend time with our fathers’ was important.  It would not have been possible without all adults who contributed to Scouting.

Girl Scouts

Brownies

Sports

Football

Tom O’Malley served as our first football coach during fourth, fifth and sixth grades.  I was vaguely aware that he had played QB at University of Cincinnati.  What I did not remember was that he led the nation in passing in 1949 and played QB for the Green Bay Packers in 1950.  He was probably challenged to coach kids with our skills, but we did win a championship during one of those years—sixth grade I think.

Bob Bass was  a patient teacher in the classroom and on the field.  My memory is that we won the league championship in the eight grade and were unbeaten that year.  I also recall that no team scored on us until, I think this is right, the last game of the season.  Steve Keeton played a major role in our success.

Bill Hoffeld  is an Ohio High School Hall of Fame coach.  He coached us during our freshman year.   We learned more than football from him.

Baseball

Mr. Otto Reich (Bruce’s dad) coached many of us during our first years of C level Knothole baseball.  I can remember practicing and playing on that sandy, small field at the old High School and finally moving up over the years to the full sized diamond on the other end of the football field.  If nothing else, baseball teaches humility.  Mr Reich taught us how to play that game at its most basic level.  He also went with us to Crosley Field on Knothole day to watch some of the worst teams in baseball play the Reds.

Mr. Calvin organized Knothole in our later years.  Some of us worked for him as umpires.  I learned a few life lessons from that experience.

Basketball

Track

Other Sports

Governance

Mr. Perin served as Chairman of the School Board for many of the years we attended  Madeira schools.   His leadership brought us the quality education and facilities we enjoyed.  I think we all understand now the effort that goes into planning and financing a good school system. 

Mayor MacDonald was mayor of the city forever. 

Mr. Ward (Jim Ward’s dad)  Served on the Madeira police force while we were growing up.  He helped keep us safe and, at times, in line.

That's a nice list, Rudy, and certainly an appropriate salute to those adults who were there for us during those years.  Please let me add some as well.

One that comes immediately to mind is "Doc" Voshell.  Whatever the sport, "Doc" seemed to be there and with some words of encouragement no matter however large or small you were actually playing a part in the activity.  He was able to walk the line between being an adult instructor and friend while still holding our respect.  I will always be glad that my class (1962) dedicated the Mnemonic to him in our senior year.

Another is Frank Lang.  He started at MHS as a teacher, was an assistant princial for some years and then later became principal before retiring in 1975.  Mr. Lang gave you the opportunity to be treated as an adult or as a child.  It was up to you and how responsible you acted.  In the years that have passed, I have always enjoyed seeing and talking to him and when I have done so, he has given the feeling that he enjoyed it as well.   

There are another group of people I want to mention.  It's probably best not to mention names because some would be left out and yet I realize that one of them was Rudy's mom.  I'm referring to the bus drivers.  I have no idea how many hours a week those people spent taking us to school, bringing us back, driving to after-school events and in all kinds of weather.  With transporting the kindergarten kids for half-days, I have no idea when any of them ever got a break during the day.  On top of that, they had to deal with a bunch of kids of all ages and attitudes while taking all the steps of driving safely.  Here's to them for all they did for all of those years.

Doc was a treasure.  To this day I can remember his closing line at the annual athletic banquet, "We are preparing these students to play the greatest game of all, the game of life."

Doc also ran the Madeira recreation summer program.  I worked for him the summer between HS graduation and college.  He was a great boss, laid back and always watching to see that the kids had a good time and good instruction.