Mike/Mary. So many wonderful teachers from the days that the first Williwaw opened (1960 first grade) up through graduation at East High in 1972. Far too many to mention. I posted images of the Williwaw classes on the FB site You Know you grew up in Anchorage if......plus Jana's site "Growing Up Anchorage.com". So many, too many to mention. Wish I could but......all I know is that most created the most memorable education this old man could have. We had some great teachers. Randy
Mr Joe Buckingham, Ev DeMello and Mr Ed Harbke were my favorites. Each taught me life lessons and skills I’ve used every day of my life since. We all remained friends until their individual passings.
Two teachers stand out in my memory: Mrs. Olson taught English in the old Jr. High building downtown and I had her for 7th and 8th grade English. Then, when I was a freshman at the (then new) high school on Romig Hill, I had Mrs. Olson again as my English teacher. She was a very good English teacher, but what I remember most about her was her penchant for taking nips from a bottle she hid in her desk drawer, and the crazy hair colors she'd wear on various occasions. She was always a sight to behold!
Perhaps the one teacher who had the biggest impact on my life was Jack McGuin, the band director I learned from, first at the downtown Jr. High where he was my teacher in 7th and 8th grades, and then through all four years of high school band at the school on Romig Hill. Like you, Mike, I excelled as a trumpet instrumentalist, and sat first chair in the section beginning with my sophomore year. I also played in the school orchestra and was principal trumpet in the Anchorage Symphony.
One whole section of my memoir, An Alaskan Childhood, is devoted to memories of Mr. McGuin. Under his tutelage, I earned a full music scholarship to college and went on to be a lead trumpet instrumentalist in Navy unit bands.
These two wonderful leaders pointed me towards music and authorship, and to them I am eternally grateful. g
Favorite Anchorage Teachers ... where to start? Mountain View Elementary when it was brand new gave me a great start and I remember all my teachers there very well. Possibly my favorite was Mr. (Howard?) Barr (recently deceased, I think), who had been in the military and still carried himself that way. I had a wonderful time studying the Civil War in his class--a hobby of mine, still.
At Orah Dee Clark, I loved Mrs. Lily Neilson's Eng class and can still remember her reading Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, giving all the characters different voices. SO great!
At East High, I loved the music teachers - Mr. Kirke Muse and Mr. James Everly - of course, but also those who insisted that i work hard. (I came from the "do only enough work to get an A or maybe a B" school of tho't.) Mrs. Joan Baxter taught English Lit and for her I DID work. And it paid off with higher grades (imagine it). So in one sense she is probably my most unforgettable teacher at EAHS. But Mr. Everly fostered my musical abilities, even allowed me to be his Student Director and let me direct the "pit orchestra" for the musical ("Where's the Mayor--not a Broadway hit, of course) my senior year. I'd say many of my teachers in Anchorage schools were memorable; it's hard to say which was my favorite. Mr. Everly, maybe.
Mike/Mary. So many wonderful teachers from the days that the first Williwaw opened (1960 first grade) up through graduation at East High in 1972. Far too many to mention. I posted images of the Williwaw classes on the FB site You Know you grew up in Anchorage if......plus Jana's site "Growing Up Anchorage.com". So many, too many to mention. Wish I could but......all I know is that most created the most memorable education this old man could have. We had some great teachers. Randy
Nice tribute -
Mr Joe Buckingham, Ev DeMello and Mr Ed Harbke were my favorites. Each taught me life lessons and skills I’ve used every day of my life since. We all remained friends until their individual passings.
Friederike - which schools were those teacher in?
Two teachers stand out in my memory: Mrs. Olson taught English in the old Jr. High building downtown and I had her for 7th and 8th grade English. Then, when I was a freshman at the (then new) high school on Romig Hill, I had Mrs. Olson again as my English teacher. She was a very good English teacher, but what I remember most about her was her penchant for taking nips from a bottle she hid in her desk drawer, and the crazy hair colors she'd wear on various occasions. She was always a sight to behold!
Perhaps the one teacher who had the biggest impact on my life was Jack McGuin, the band director I learned from, first at the downtown Jr. High where he was my teacher in 7th and 8th grades, and then through all four years of high school band at the school on Romig Hill. Like you, Mike, I excelled as a trumpet instrumentalist, and sat first chair in the section beginning with my sophomore year. I also played in the school orchestra and was principal trumpet in the Anchorage Symphony.
One whole section of my memoir, An Alaskan Childhood, is devoted to memories of Mr. McGuin. Under his tutelage, I earned a full music scholarship to college and went on to be a lead trumpet instrumentalist in Navy unit bands.
These two wonderful leaders pointed me towards music and authorship, and to them I am eternally grateful. g
Gene - Wow, great memories. Thank you Gene -
Favorite Anchorage Teachers ... where to start? Mountain View Elementary when it was brand new gave me a great start and I remember all my teachers there very well. Possibly my favorite was Mr. (Howard?) Barr (recently deceased, I think), who had been in the military and still carried himself that way. I had a wonderful time studying the Civil War in his class--a hobby of mine, still.
At Orah Dee Clark, I loved Mrs. Lily Neilson's Eng class and can still remember her reading Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, giving all the characters different voices. SO great!
At East High, I loved the music teachers - Mr. Kirke Muse and Mr. James Everly - of course, but also those who insisted that i work hard. (I came from the "do only enough work to get an A or maybe a B" school of tho't.) Mrs. Joan Baxter taught English Lit and for her I DID work. And it paid off with higher grades (imagine it). So in one sense she is probably my most unforgettable teacher at EAHS. But Mr. Everly fostered my musical abilities, even allowed me to be his Student Director and let me direct the "pit orchestra" for the musical ("Where's the Mayor--not a Broadway hit, of course) my senior year. I'd say many of my teachers in Anchorage schools were memorable; it's hard to say which was my favorite. Mr. Everly, maybe.
Becky - You have a great memory. Love the details. What musical instrument do you play?
Trombone. I think I was in the EAHS band at the same time as your brother Tom.
My brother, Tom Watkins, may have been in the EAHS band with you, on trumpet.
Becky - while my brother Tom is no longer with us, I think I do recall your brother Tom. Small world.