Earl and I may have been in a few classes together at THS but mostly I remember him from Boswell; he was one of several black guys there who made me later appreciate growing up in Topeka and going to public schools after the Brown decision. Earl was smart, witty, and not shy about speaking about race relations during those days. I of course did not have a clue. He stuck up for me during a nasty blindsinding event by one of his frends near the city library one night and I never forgot that. Maybe to him I was just another silly white kid but he and a few others---both at Boswell and THS---helped make me the progressive unabashed liberal I have been all my life. And good for him.
Earl Wheeler was one of many young men I was happy to get aquainted with - but we had to wait till junior high before we met. In my 7th grade phys. ed. class squad, there was Jim Parks, Earl Wheeler, Ernie Turner and myself. I can't remember exactly when it dawned on me that I had gone to a segregated school - I still recall feeling a cold chill when that thought came to realization. Earl was our first saxaphone player in the "Jazz Messengers" band we started in junior high - Joe Klugg on trumpet, myself on trombone, Gaylon Umbarger on piano and Douglas Lester on drums. I recall Earl as being a true gentleman.
Robert W. Farnsworth
Earl and I may have been in a few classes together at THS but mostly I remember him from Boswell; he was one of several black guys there who made me later appreciate growing up in Topeka and going to public schools after the Brown decision. Earl was smart, witty, and not shy about speaking about race relations during those days. I of course did not have a clue. He stuck up for me during a nasty blindsinding event by one of his frends near the city library one night and I never forgot that. Maybe to him I was just another silly white kid but he and a few others---both at Boswell and THS---helped make me the progressive unabashed liberal I have been all my life. And good for him.
Timothy K. Stone
Earl Wheeler was one of many young men I was happy to get aquainted with - but we had to wait till junior high before we met. In my 7th grade phys. ed. class squad, there was Jim Parks, Earl Wheeler, Ernie Turner and myself. I can't remember exactly when it dawned on me that I had gone to a segregated school - I still recall feeling a cold chill when that thought came to realization. Earl was our first saxaphone player in the "Jazz Messengers" band we started in junior high - Joe Klugg on trumpet, myself on trombone, Gaylon Umbarger on piano and Douglas Lester on drums. I recall Earl as being a true gentleman.