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Nürnberg Alumni Association Online Archive

Nürnberg American High Schoola U.S. Army dependents school formerly located in Fürth/Bavaria, Germany

1955-56 School Year10th year of the school’s existence

Graduating Class of 1956

This File: Memoirs, Historical Articles, Memorabilia

Comments, corrections, and further contributions to the Nürnberg AlumniAssociation Archives should be sent to

– Bob McQuitty, NAA Archivist/Historian, mcquittr@sbcglobal.net

“USAREUR Dependents School System Starts 10th Yr.” 2Article from Stars and Stripes

“A Most Unforgettable Character” by Larry Shuman,’57 3Article about Charlie Myers from the NAA Trichter

Photo Gallery – pictures from Ethel (Walske) Lapitan,’58 4-10Junior-Senior Prom, program and photos from Berta (Williams) Bryner,’56 11-14Baccalauerate Service Program 15Commencement Program 16NHS’s Distinguished Faculty, photo from Ethel (Walske) Lapitan,’58 17

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KARLSRUHE, Germany, Oct. 13 – USAREUR tomorrow begins its 10th year as the operating agency fora novel educational organization which had its beginning amid the rubble and desolation of wartorn Europe – theArmy dependent school system.

Thirty-eight elementary schools and five high schools staffed by [illegible] American teachers, opened theirdoors to 2800 dependent youngsters on Oct. 14, 1946. Of the original faculty four teachers remain to carry on theformidable work that was begun nine years ago.

Gay [illegible], an art instructor at the Frankfurt American High School, found that on her arrival that therewere three schools in the Frankfurt area, and “there was a shortage of art teachers. So I was assigned to all three andI worked from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.”

Used Salvage MaterialTo get supplies, Gay would take several students to an airplane dump near Frankfurt. “There we would cut

off bits of leather, wood and metal for use in our crafts class. Once the Army told us that they had 3,000 empty shellcases. We took them all and our children made the most beautiful tobacco cans, lamps, jewelry boxes, and ash traysyou ever saw.”

Rex L. Gleason, principal of Munich High School was attending summer school at Texas Christian Universitywhen Army recruiters “talked me into coming back overseas for a year.”

“When I got to Europe, I was sure glad I only signed up for one year,” said Gleason. “The high school wasin a German house, and I taught mathematics in one of the bedrooms. There were no textbooks to speak of and noschool supplies. I had the students bring wrapping paper to school on which they would take notes and do theirassignments.”

There was one bus for commuters. “It had no windows,” Gleason recalled. “You entered from a door in theback and sat in darkness until you reached the school. We had to get rid of it when the students began complaining.”

“The Germans were curious about us,” recalls Olive M. Anderson, who also teaches at Munich High. MissAnderson recalls that in those first days the Germans were “shy of us and we were shy of them. It was the languagebarriers that did it.”

Originally contracted for “one year only” Miss Anderson remained because of her interest in the growth ofthe schools and in the noticeable change of the Germans. She encouraged Germans to visit her schools. “We hadmany visitors, both professional and laymen, and I believe some of our educational methods found their way intothe German school system.”

Mary M. Merchant, principal of the Frankfurt American Elementary School No. 1, has been assigned toFrankfurt since her arrival with the first group of teachers in 1946.

No ‘Pedestal’Miss Merchant pointed out that Germans have been impressed with the informality usually found in American

classrooms. “American teachers do not occupy the ‘pedestal’ that German teachers apparently do,” she said.All four veterans agree that the USAREUR school system is as good as the top systems in the U.S. In

addition to their regular courses of study American youngsters have the advantages of living the lessons they learn.Field trips, foreign-language programs, and international student exchanges offer the youngsters valuable experiencesthey can not obtain at home.

Planning for this vast network of schools began immediately after World War II. Under the guidance ofMaj. Virgil R. Walker, who later became the first civilian director of the dependent school system, it was decidedthat schools would be established wherever there were enough children eligible for education.

October 14, 1955 THE STARS AND STRIPES Page 9

USAREUR Dependents School System Starts 10th Yr.

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Schools were housed wherever a room could be found. In those early days, classes were organized inrequisitioned houses, in private apartments, in military barracks—anywhere a roof and four walls could be foundintact.

As the 10th year of school operations begins, officials note with pride that approximately 5,000 Americanteachers have taught nearly 100,000 students since 1946.

Today the American high schools in France and Germany have been given unqualified accreditation by theNorth Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools—the highest accreditation granted by the largestaccrediting society in the U.S.

– STARS AND STRIPES clipping from Larry Shuman,’57

Vol 21, No. 1 NAA Trichter, Spring 2009 Page 11

A Most Unforgettable Characterby Larry D. Shuman, ’57Over the years I have shared with

my children and, now grandchildren,experiences and profiles of people fromthroughout my life. For years I have toldmy posterity about Charlie Myers. I sawCharlie’s sister Mary Jane (Myers)Soyenova ’61 at the last reunion. I askedabout Charlie. She brought me up todate. She said Charlie did not considercoming to the reunion because he didnot think anybody would know him. Idoubt Charlie even remembers me, butI remember him. Actually I think Charliebelonged to the Class of ’56; however, hecame up short a credit or two so hegraduated with the rest of us in 1957. Wesaw him in class infrequently. He didnot have to attend school all of thetime. I do not recall his exact scheduleor even what class he occasionallyattended. I only remember that we didnot see him very often and while notunfriendly, Charlie did not socialize toomuch. I think the only real friend hehad at NAHS was Darrell Freeman.

When I saw him the first time, Iassumed he was German. He woreGerman-styled clothing, corduroys,heavily braided sweaters and Europeanshoes. He wore his hair long, neatlycoifed, like a German. “Who is theGerman?” I asked somebody. “He is not aGerman. His Dad is EES, lived in

Germany forever. He’s American buthe’s ‘gone native.’ I thought to myself:“I have to talk to this guy.” Over thesemester that Charlie attended classes Imade a point to visit with him. I learnedthat he had indeed pretty much gonenative. Not only did he look German,he acted German. I asked him one day ifhe had ever gone “home” to the ZI. Hereplied that he had but that on thosevisits, during the whole time he felt like aforeigner.

Several times we would see Charlieat the O’Darby snack bar with a date.We never saw Charlie with anybody butfashion models, striking, statuesque,

beautiful woman dressed to the nines.He would leave his date at the table whilehe went through the food line. I do notknow if any of these beauties everrealized the audience of teenagers oglingher while she sat waiting for Charlie tobring the food to the table. We satfascinated as Charlie conversed with hisdate in perfect German. His date wouldlaugh and flirt in such a way that we inthe “audience” would go crazy. Intoday’s jargon we would have classifiedCharlie as “The Man.” Forget aboutfootball and basketball stars. Those guysdated the same girls we did. We wishedwe could get to know Charlie better.Maybe he could fix us up with one ofthose beautiful women (not girls,women).

Over the years I wondered whateverhappened to Charlie. Did he stay native?I did not get a full answer from MaryJane beyond that he now lives in theUnited States.

I always have a memory for out-of-the-ordinary people. I admire MikeLeach, coach of Texas Tech, a maverick,former rugby player, lawyer, nowsought-after football coach, whose teamsplay (and win) erratically, like him.

The reason I remember CharlieMyers is because Charlie was a maverickand a winner. I hope he has had a goodlife.

Charlie Myers, yearbook photo

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Ethel Walske’s Photo GalleryLooking Backward at 1955-56

Ethel (Walske) Lapitan,’58, went to Nürnberg American High School for all four years. Duringthis time she took many snapshots. Her freshman photos appear in the 1954-55 archive. Theseare her sophomore year pictures.

Homecoming

Football Action

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Dorothy Keene, sopohomore, and Tom Wolf, junior

Meeting of the Student Council

Christmas Party

Gerald Cochran,sophomore,back, top

Jim Orcutt,in plaid shirt

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Juniors and seniors assemble in the Community Theater

Some students even went to the library and studied.

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Class Trips

Class Party At left, Carol (Pierotti) Miller,’55. In thedoorway the late Mike Crumley,’54; behindhim is Midge (Kulp) Foltz,’56. Picturetaken by Berta (Williams) Bryner,’56, infront of the AYA at William O. DarbyKaserne.

Trip to Bamberg

Mr. Russ Abraham andMr. Bob Smith, classsponsors (in overcoats)

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Trip to Richard Wagners’ home and opera house in Bayreuth

Trip to Konsum, a supermarket in downtown Nürnberg

Gerald Cochrane,Shirley Wilkerson,Dorothy Keene,Don Barnett

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School play presented by the Dramatics Club. From left Rich Baker (on his knees), Vivian Willcut, BobMitchell, Carol Gossman, Ted Brostrom, Frances Moore, Ethel Walske

School Play

Rich Baker, Carol Grossman, Ethel Walske, Frances Moore, Ted Brostrom, Vivian Willcut, Bob Mitchell

Ted Brostrom,Ethel Walske,Vivian Willcut

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American High Schools Choir Competition

Stets ein Genuss! (always a pleasure)Frankfurt Brew House

Frankfurt Strassenbahn ticket

Nürnberg High School Choir Performing

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The Junior-Senior Prom

June 1, 1956 Kalb Club Seven O’clock

The Class of 1957presents

Dancing in the Kalb Club decorated for the theme “Stairway to the Stars”

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Junior Class President Al Kline crowns King Robert Twaddell and Queen Berta (Williams) Bryner.[Berta says she still has two stars from her crown]

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CLASS OF 1956Dennis V. Crumley

St. Paul, MinnesotaWilliam F. Davis

Seymore, MissouriDana Maria Due

San Antonio, TexasWilliam Field Due, Jr.

San Antonio, TexasNorman P. Embree

St, Paul, MinnesotaE. Michael Gaspar

Cambridge, MassachusettsDona Marie Griffith

Indianola, IowaJose Hernandez

Santurce, Puerto RicoNancy Hett

Butternut, WisconsinRandolph H. Kulp

Atlanta, Georgia

Frances J. ManbeckSalem, Oregon

Karen Jeanne MarquisDes Moines, Iowa

Robert V. MoreyKansas City, Missouri

Henry McDavid Reed IIUnion, South Carolina

Benjamin F. SaarsSuitland, Maryland

Robert Bryan TwaddellDallas, Texas

Roger Kenneth UptonMonnessen, Pennsylvania

Carole Joyce WhiteAustin, Texas

Berta Ann WilliamsLarkspur, California

Janet YoungSalt Lake City, Utah

President Henry ReedVice President Benjamin SaarsSecretary Robert TwaddellTreasurer Roger UptonStudent Council Treasurer Dennis CrumleyStudent Council Representative Nancy HettValedictorian Frances ManbeckSalutatorian Robert TwaddellSenior Class Sponsor Mr. Werner L. Rosin

PROGRAMProcessional

Mrs. Rita BullockStar Spangled Banner

AudienceInvocation

Chaplain H. F. KochnerSalutatory

Robert TwaddellValedictory

Frances Manbeck“Ours is the World”

High School Vocal GroupMiss E. Knighton, Director

Introduction of SpeakerHenry Reed

Commencement AddressThe Honorable U. Alexis JohnsonAmerican Ambassador to Prague

Presentation of ClassMiss Mildred Linck

Awarding of DiplomasColonel T. R. Kimpton

Alma MaterSenior Class

RecessionalMrs. Rita Bullock

ALMA MATER

Hail, oh hail to dear ol’ Nurnberg,Now we honor thee,

Loyal friends of thee forever,Faithful we will be;

Toiling, striving, never ceasing,Looking toward the sky.

Hail to thee, our Alma Mater!Hail to Nurnberg High!

AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOLAdministration

Mr. Frank MichanowiczBridgeport, Pennsylvania

Mr. Charles MooreDecatur, Illinois

Mrs. Ruth MossSalt Lake City, Utah

Mr. Robert NicolaiSan Francisco, California

Mr. Wilbert PattonMilton, Vermont

Miss Gladys PickardClay, New York

Mrs. Bettye RosinPort Arthur, Texas

Mr. Werner RosinSt. Paul, Minnesota

Mr. Ronald RothNazareth, Pennsylvania

Miss Phyllis RussellDuluth, Minnesota

Mr. Robert SmithGarden City, L. I., New York

Herr Walter TradowskyNürnberg, Germany

Miss Hazel YoungmanLong Beach, California

Miss Mildred A. LinckHigh School PrincipalMt. Pleasant, Michigan

Colonel T. R. KimptonNurnberg Sub-Area Commander

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) GaskinsPresident of School Board

Captain J. M. GibbsPresident of PTA

Mr. Frank De MartineRegional Superintendent

Captain Mary O’ConnellSchool Officer

Staff

Mr. Russell AbrahamPortland, Oregon

Mr. Joseph BlacksteadPortland, Oregon

Miss Ingrid EinhellingerNürnberg, Germany

Mr. Erlan EllerLos Angeles, California

Frau Eva FuchsFürth, Germany

Mr. Glenn HendricksPendleton, Oregon

Mr. Chester HoytHollywood, Florida

Mr. Donald KerchnerLenhartsville, Pennsylvania

Miss Erma KnightonWenatchee, Washington

Mr. Patric LucierCovina, California

Miss Anna Lou MartinBritt, Iowa

Miss Lois MassieWaynesville, North Carolina

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