Barry Olson

I was one of the original faculty members when Timpview first opened. Originally, I taught Sophomore English , German I-AP, and coached golf, basketball, and baseball. We won the baseball State Championship the in first year of the school. In golf we ended up winning 14 consecutive Region and 10 state championships before I retired from coaching. The first couple of years, I was also playing in a popular rock-band named "Honey and Soul." We played a few times at THS. We would play "Rocky Mountain Way," which had become an "unofficial" school song. Students would go wild and sing along. We also played at many LDS Stake and Region dances, at BYU, and at most all of the high schools and colleges in Utah, and in nearby states.
Opening a new school was a blast! Everything was new, exciting, fun, and we were all creating new traditions. I ended up staying at THS for the remainder of my career, mostly teaching German. I began taking students on "educational-exchange" trips, along with PHS students, to a partner-school in Berlin. The German students would stay with my students' families when they came here. We also traveled throughout Germany, Switzerland, and parts of Austria after leaving Berlin. After 18 years, I earned a Masters in Psychology and Counseling, and spent my last ten years at THS as a counselor. I ended up being a counselor for the many of the children of the students whom I had taught in the early years. Man, it made me feel old!
I have spent most of my adult life at Timpview, and have to say, I have many fond memories as a teacher, coach, and counselor at an excellent high school.
You students were the ones who helped build the foundation for a great new high school. Timpview has always been, and still is, one of the highest ranked and outstanding academic high schools in the state. It is also a consistent powerhouse in most all sports in the state. Many traditions, like the "Stars Assembly," were still being continued when I was last there. You may have moved on, but you left your mark as the first creators of an awesome school! It was an honor for me to be a member of the first faculty! Go T-Birds!

I recall the considerable "shock and awe" created during an election assembly when when, I believe, Brett Burr was speaking. Two streakers dashed across the gym floor from the side doors with only paper-sacks over their heads! The story is that some girls recognized their "bods," and identified them.

I taught a Sophomore English right after lunch, and had quite a bunch of clowns, comedians, and cut-ups in class. As I started class one day, Brett Burr and Bryce Lyons (I think) came walking proudly into class pulling a very long string (approx. 50ft.) of straws stuck together. The class loved it, and I was trying not to laugh. After the class settled, I said something like: Now, would you mature, young gentlemen quietly take your toy out and throw it away, and politely walk back into class. Brett and I had a good understanding, I believe, and did what I asked. There were far too many funny stories from this class! Oh the memories!

I don't recall who, when, or why the picture of me was taken in the "tight" basketball uniform! Yikes!