As most who read and/or peruse this board can attest, Wapella High
School was no doubt one of the finer institutions of higher learning in
the Midwest, if not the country. Legendary educators walked the hallowed
halls, and passed along knowledge with fervor and aplomb. In the early
90's for example, Hall of Fame teachers like Ric Imig, David Bowman,
Mitchi Tucker, Jerry Peroutka mixed with future Hall inductees like Alan
Thompsen and William Hutchinson, all under the watchful eye of William Robert
Hedgecock.
But today we tip our hats to Wapella's less decorated, lesser known
gurus - the substitute teachers, the student teachers, and those that
only spent a short time at WHS. For example, as far as student teachers
are concerned, our very own DIT, who stepped in to fill Jerry Peroutka's
shoes (no doubt bought at Gerry and Al's) tops the fan favorite poll,
along with such luminaries as Tony Tennerelli (sp?) who stepped in for
Dave Bowman's biology, and then the almighty Mr. Murphy (first name
anyone?) who stepped in for Mathematics.
The list of substitutes who put in time at WHS is near endless. Another
fan fave being our own Kansas Cat, who filled in large gaps for Mitchi
Tucker.
Teachers who provided short tenures at Wapella were also numerous,
personal faves being Zelda Thorp, Mary Harweger (sp?) and Teresa
Nietske(sp?) and these are but a few from my era. What about you? Any
shout-outs to Wapella's lesser-known harbingers of knowledge?
And a quiz...What WHS student teacher later went on to marry a Clinton Graduate with a renowned Wapella name, her family being one of Wapella's oldest, having multiple generations of WHS and country school grads?
Update: Quiz Answer
The WHS Student teacher? Mr. Bruce McCominsky who taught English at WHS and later went on to marry Clinton Maroon and Purdue Boilermaker, Cindy Ryan, daughter of WHS '52 Jerry Ryan. Bruce and Cindy are both now English Professors in Alabama.
30 comments:
Mr. Middlestadt had the best collection of silent films that brightened our junior high English class. Hats off as well to Wapella native Mrs. Linda Green-Hale for yeoman service with some troublemaking fifth graders in the stead of the injured Mrs. Doris Turner.
HoosierGato
Herr M. was the all time greatest sub.
Hats off and deep bows to LGH for enduring MY bad behavior. Maxima mea culpa.
BEP
Mr. Miller was Mr. Bowman's student teacher, helped with baseball and was incredibly pleasant - a big favorite of the kids. We visited his apt one night (probably a bad idea) for no reason in Normal and he got a kick out of that. I liked Clinton Mayor Ed Wollet as a sub - also a pleasant guy.
Wasn't Carl Thorp voted Dewitt County's most handsome sub around 1995? bbd
Mrs. Estelle Pound could really turn a phrase in the English class. She had all the pizzaz of Cornelia Austin, alebeit without the athleticism.
When I think back to the glory days of Wapella, I tip my glass to one Ms. Meeker. Long Live FHA at WHS!
Mr. Tennerelli did a great Ackroyd "Fred Garvin, Male Prostitute" impression, and if I'm not mistaken, he brought in a VHS of the skit to show us in Biology once. That guy was great.
Linda [Head] Rainey was an excellent teacher, and put up with a lot from the likes of HG, BEP, and myself, among others.
HG, Mr. Middlestadt allowed me to borrow freely from his extensive collection of classic movie magazines from the 1930's and 1940's, which was quite generous of him. "Herr M" was one of the all-time great subs.
My favorite sub was my Grandma, Mrs. Day.
SoCal
SoCal--I'm with you on the teaching skills of Linda (Head) Rainey. World Lit with Chekhov, Kafka, Pirandello, Maupassant, Mann, etc. was a tour de force of the 20th century. Brava!
BUT, Mr. Mod wants us to focus on substitutes here, and I like to stay on topic. Mrs. Day was a winner too. For a crossover, how about the outstanding Mrs. Nelda Dupree, who began as a sixth grade fill in, and went on to WGS glory in a long-running role?
HG
Actually HG, this is EEP's byline, I just posted it.
Moderator
Mrs. Immig was our substitute teacher for an extended period of time for someone in grade school. She was soooo nice and a good teacher.
CDT might have been voted DeWitt county's most handsome sub, but Kansas Cat has to rank up there. I recall several post school meetings with the Cat at the Tap (him cashing the $50.00 or so school paycheck for drinks/entertainment). RJT
Mr. Murphy, Dan I think was his first name, was legend in Math class. From calling people by their inappropriate nicknames, to laughing at inappropriate comments (he loved Ron Tucker's comedy, as did I and many others. Ron T. may be Wapella's most underrated comedian of all-time) he was one of the best.
Carl Thorp wasn't just voted Dewitt County's most handome sub - he WAS the most handsome sub and probably the best looking of all. It was after my time, but no doubt Kansas Cat was the top sub and after Carl, the best looking man in Dewitt Cty. at the time.
AW
EEP, I think the Dan Murphy you speak of was actually Dan Miller. The man was shorter than most females, but did have some pretty awesome wit... I know I ticked him off a time or two.
JMK - Mr. Miller? Mickey Mouse!
I know there was a Mr. Miller, but I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about Mr. Murphy. Now that I think about it, his initials were MLM and he'd never tell us what they stood for, so his first name was not Dan.
IRBW - care to confirm?
EEP, Guess I'll have to break out a yearbook... If I'm mistaken then so be it :) I do remember a Mr. Miller that taught math. I believe he was the predecessor to one Bruce Gibbens.
Murphy was a long-time sub for Ms. Robin Lovelace, who was on maternity leave. Miller was fullt-ime at WHS.
Ahhh, so we agree that Miller did exist.. good enough for me! I believe Lovelace was there right before I entered the halls of the alma mater. I dont remember ever having her.
Mr. Miller, you are correct EEP!
JMK- Mickey Mouse
IRBW
Mr. Miller, you are correct EEP!
JMK- Mickey Mouse
IRBW
OK, you can change the subject, I have been ganged up on enough... :0)
Ms. Lovelace, Mrs. Zimmerman after getting married, was our pompom coach for a few months before giving birth. Nice lady. Mr. Murphy was indeed her sub for most of the time. EEP, right as always!
Didn't the Free Stater coach the Kit Kats for a time? Our cousin-in-law, Marjorie Devore gave you some pointers...she was another great WHS sub.
Does anyone remember the lady from Farmer City (not the man with the hot fire) who allegedly was id'd as a porn star?
No EEP, I'm not making this up. A little help out there?
Estelle P was stark, raving mad.
BEP
HG, I didn't realize that Mrs. DuPree had started out as a sub, but she was, indeed, a fine teacher.
Estelle Pound was nuts, and so was "Miss" Austin. [Cue the "Twilight Zone" theme.] Mrs. Ryback was a bit scary, as well.
SoCal
I may be in the minority, but I liked Miss C. Austin, especially her advocacy of the Great Books program in which I participated. SoCal, do you in fact mean Mrs. Rybolt of the Kenny, IL antique farm implement museum fame?
HG
Miss Austin had a pleasant side, and a special place in the hearts of many Wapella athletes for her PE classes
1) She smoked.
2) She liked to watch TV, and bought a Sony from Wapella legend "Tex" Ritter one time, and used to praise/harass Roger about the performance of the TV.
3) She was a great professional wrestling fan.
Those 3 traits alone get you a long way in Hog City.
Mod.
Can we have a dedicated
Mutual Admiration Society
Section on this site?
HG, you are correct that it was Mrs. Rybolt. I had forgotten her name, but how could one forget that Kenney "museum?"
I was also in Great Books, and Miss Austin was an advocate of said program. It was having her as a P.E. teacher that tarnished any admiration I may have had for her previously.
SoCal
It was Miss Austin's raw athleticism that I admired most. She was also a crafty dodgeball strategist and had great footspeed.
Mrs. Plunkett, from Clinton, was a substitute 1979-1982 (approx).
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