Alumni News - Topeka High School

TOPEKA HIGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Alumni News
THS Historical Society/Alumni Association, 800 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612
New Site: thsweb.org/alumni Phone: 785-295-3200 Email: thshs2001@yahoo.com
Vol. XXXIV No.2
Duty, Honor, Country: Brig. Gen. Norman F. Ramsey, U.S. Army
On the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, 2015, the Topeka Cemetery honored Brig. General Norman F. Ramsey
with a wreath laying and ceremony at his gravesite. Two of
the General’s granddaughters were present and cadets from
Topeka High’s MC JROTC program participated. Portions
of the following biography were read by cadets:
Norman Foster Ramsey was born July 9, 1882, in Oakdale,
Illinois, but at age three moved with his family to Kansas
and soon afterwards to Topeka. Enrolled at Topeka High, a
month or two shy of his 16th birthday, the young Topekan
enlisted in the famed 20th Kansas Infantry led by Gen. Frederick Funston.
He experienced combat in February of
1899 during the war’s aftermath
Mark McHenry
(1969) wasInsurrection.
the
known
as the Philippine
2014 Homecoming Parade Grand Marshall
He wrote about his experiences to the
High School W orld which printed several of his letters. After 17 months of
honorable service, Ramsey was discharged as a corporal - but that was not
the end of his story.
Norman Ramsey returned to Topeka
and graduated from Topeka High in
1900 and then spent a year at Washburn College. One reason, of course,
there was a girl at THS; Wilhelmina,
or Mina, Bauer whom he would marry
October 12, 1910. Nevertheless, his
time in the Army inspired him and in
1901 was appointed to the U.S. Military Academy at West
Point. An outstanding student, in the upper fifth of his
class, he also managed the 1904 football team and was
elected Senior Class President, graduating in 1905.
ty, entered a burning building containing loaded bombs and
explosives, directed and assisted in the reviving of an injured civilian employee. Immediately after the rescue the
building was completely demolished by detonation of burning explosives…”
After that, the prairies of home must have seemed a vacation with Maj. Ramsey first a student at the Command and
General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and then an instructor there from 1926 to 1931. His next assignment was
Governors Island, New York, followed by three years in
the Chief of Staff’s office in Washington, 1933-1945. During this period
Ramsey was elevated to Brigadier
General (1940).
TheAt
Class
of 1947
remembered
a special
Rock
Island,
Gen. Ramsey
oversaw
classmate at a brunch at the Blue Moose.
numerous changes and improvements
vital to America’s war effort after December 7, 1941, as well as important to
Britain both before and after America’s entry into combat. He worked
closely with private industry and nurtured a machinist apprentice school to
provide skilled craftsmen. Rock Island
also was involved in the development
ofofmilitary
vehicles
likeOR,
self-propelled
Class
1951 came
from LA,
MO, CA,
recoilless
gun
TX,carriages,
WA, GA, AK,
FL, CO,
IA,carriages,
AZ NB, DE,
AL, halftrack
WY, IL NM,
MD & tanks,
KS to dance
to as
the
vehicles,
as well
tunessmall
of The
3
Harts
arms and ammunition.
Gen. Ramsey had intended to retire around 1940; however,
the world crisis led to his staying and continuing his important role at Rock Island. For his final tour, 1945-1946,
he headed the Springfield Arsenal in Massachusetts. In retirement, the General moved back to Dover, New Jersey
Initially an Infantry officer, Lieut. Ramsey soon became
where he remained active in Civil Defense work for the
attached to the Ordinance Department. He reached France state. He suffered a stroke in 1961 and died April 11, 1963.
about a month before the end of World War I but spent
Gen. Ramsey was survived by his widow, Mina, and son
nearly two years closing Ordinance accounts. He graduated Norman F. Ramsey, Jr. (an older son had died in adolesfrom the War College in 1921 and had a tour of duty in the cence). A brilliant family - Mrs. Ramsey had majored in
Office of the Assistant Secretary of War. Next, from 1922 mathematics at Washburn and son Norman went into scito 1926 Ramsey was commanding officer of the Picatinny ence. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Arsenal in New Jersey. During this tour two events earned For his service to the nation, General Norman Foster Ramhim the purple heart and Soldier’s Medal.
sey honors Topeka High School and the Topeka Cemetery.
Maj. Ramsey received a commendation for a situation May
28, 1925, where “with utter disregard for his personal safe- Douglass W. Wallace (THS 1965)
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Topeka High School Historical Society
July 2015
THSHS President’s Corner - Julie Elting Schloetzer (THS 1959)
WOW! What a busy and exciting
time for our alma mater!
After 6 years in the planning, we are
now living in our newly remodeled office/museum. The remodel allowed us
to not only update the office area but to
create a Museum space to display, on a
rotating basis, many of the historical
artifacts we have in our archives. Within 2 weeks after the dedication of the Paul Fink Memorial Room we
were able to unveil 4 new, 7’ by 10’, murals telling the
story of 5,000 years of the written word, communication, information and humanity. They were donated
by an alumnus and adorn the walls in the Chester
Woodward library. The last “Alumni News” describes both of these changes in depth and in color.
Be sure to stop by and check these new additions to
Topeka High.
Upcoming projects include:
*Restoration of the Topeka High School coat
of arms that has adorned the front doors of the school
since the 1932. A replica will be made that will withstand the ravages of time and weather while the original will be refurbished and incased in a display case
inside the front lobby.
*Refurbishing the Chandeliers in Room 103
(Debate and Forensics Room).
Let us know what you think our next project
should be - perhaps the stairs to the tower?
It is time to update our Alumni Directory. You
will receive a postcard this fall from Harris Connect
requesting that you confirm your current whereabouts.
Not only does the directory make it fun to keep up
with your classmates but it helps the office keep our
database up to date.
I can’t express how much your membership
means to the Historical Society. We hope you will
continue to support the operations of your alma mater
with your dues. We encourage you to ask your classmates to show their Trojan pride by joining the Society. Funds donated to the Tower Society are used to
support such projects as mentioned above. We are
researching new funding sources. One will be the establishment of “Memorials & Bequests”. We encourage you to remember us in your wills and memorials
in your name. More information to come.
Please plan to attend the Friends of THS
Lunch on September 14th and Hall of Fame ceremony
on Sunday, October 4, 2 pm, Woodward Library.
~ 2015 TROJAN CLASS REUNIONS ~
THS Homecoming 2015 - October 2 - THS vs Seaman
Class
Class of 1955
Dates
September 12
For More Information
Paul McGuire, coastdetl@yahoo.com
Class of 1960
September 25,26,27
www.topekahighclassof1960.com,
jpfuetze@gmail.com
Class of 1965
October 9,10,11
cadair47@gmail.com,
leahmarshall@kirkandcobb.com
Class of 1970
September 11, 12
thsnineteenseventy@yahoo.com, Facebook
Class of 1975
September 4,5
www.topths75.com/class_index
Class of 1980
October 2,3
www.topekahigh1980.com, Facebook
Class of 1985
October 2
cmetzger8566@gmail.com
Class of 1995
October 2,3
Shayla at 785-554-8637
Class of 2005
TBA
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Topeka High School Historical Society
July 2015
GRADUATE HALL OF FAME, - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2 PM
Dr. Charles Axton (1950)
Dr. Axton studied at the Juilliard
Preparatory School in NY and
the Kansas City Conservatory
of Music. He is a conductor, arranger, editor and writer. He
has guest conducted the Berlin
Symphony Orchestra nine
times. He received national attention as musical director of
the first German performance of
“West Side Story”. He became
a free-lance artist, conducting
and directing numerous other productions in the early 70s. He has been the artist in residence at Washburn University. He retired in Japan in 1994 after
touring Japan conducting the Stuttgart Ballet.
Fred L. Slaughter (1960)
Mr. Slaughter is recognized as
one of the greatest athletes in
UCLA history and is a member of
the UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame.
He was a three year starter on
Coach John Wooden’s UCLA
basketball teams from 1962-64
and helped lead UCLA to its Final
Four appearance in 1962. He
then contributed to a 30-0 record
and their first National Championship team in 1964. He was Senior Class President in
1963-64 and became the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs for the UCLA School of
Law from 1972-1980. He was considered the best
high school basketball player in Kansas when he
was a senior at THS in 1960.
Richard W. Snyder (1941)
Concertmaster of the orchestra, drum major in the band,
and junior and senior manager of the football team. He
attended KU for 2 ½ years
before military service called.
A member of the Engineer
Corps, he was sent to England and assigned to General
Patton’s Third Army. They
landed on Utah Beach on August 3, 1944. By the
time the war ended in 1945, his platoon had built 48
bridges in France, Luxembourg, Germany and Austria. After the war, he completed college and law
school and received a direct commission in the Army
Judge Advocate General’s Corps. During the next 27
years Colonel Snyder served in the US and overseas, including service in the Korean and Viet Nam
conflicts.
Linda Dickinson Spalding
(1961)
Ms. Spalding has lived in Mexico, Japan and Hawaii doing everything from social work to public
television. Since 1982, she has
been living in Toronto, Canada,
working as a writer and co-editor
of Brick, a national literary journal, which she co-edits with her
husband Michael Ondattje, and
her daughter, Esta Spalding. Michael wrote The English Patient, which was made into an academy award
winning film. She has written several novels and was
an author in residence at Topeka High in the early
2000s. In 2012 she was awarded the GovernorGeneral’s literary Award (equivalent of the National
Book Award in the US) for her book, “The Purchase:
A Novel”.
Qualifications for THS Hall of Fame: 1. Must be a Topeka High graduate 2. Induction into the Hall of Fame is based
upon achievements after his/her graduation 3. A nominee will not be considered for the Hall of Fame until 20 years
following his/her graduation. 4. Nominees are to have two (2) letters or signatures of endorsement and current biographical information 5. Once nominated, the nominee remains on the consideration list. Other supportive information may be received at any time and will become a part of the nominee’s file 6. Each year the Hall of Fame selection committee will choose candidates for induction. The selection committee will submit the names to the THSHS
Board of Directors for majority approval.
If you know someone who should be considered for THS Hall of Fame recognition, send the necessary information
to: THS Historical Society, 800 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612
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July 2015
Topeka High School Historical Society
THE LUCKIEST GUY IN THE CIVIL WAR
THS was founded in 1870-71;
therefore, no student could have
participated in the Civil War. However, one individual associated with
Topeka High did - its third principal
Linaeus Thomas (1872 to 1881); or
the luckiest guy of the Civil War. His
story explains that declaration:
The Kansas Daily Commonwealth for November 12,
1881, told the rest of the tale of Mr. Thomas that horrendous night of April 27, 1865:
He was among the number of those released and
sent home on the ill-fated steamer Sultana, which
blew up on the Mississippi River near Memphis. Prof.
Thomas jumped from the floating wreck after all hope
of safety had flown, and with the aid of a plank, manBorn in Ohio in 1845, Thomas entered Mount Union aged to reach a clump of willows which were partially
College at age 17 but enlisted in the Army a year lat- submerged by the high waters. He remained in a tree
er joining Co. F of the 115th Ohio Infantry. He was
for a whole day, and was then released by hailing a
subsequently captured by the Confederates and sent steamer which had been sent from Memphis to pick
to the infamous Andersonville Prison in Georgia
up the survivors of the disaster.
(some accounts state he also spent time at Libby
Prison, too). When the war ended, along with hunIt was the worst disaster in American maritime history
dreds of other prisoners, he was given passage home with a greater loss of life than on board the RMS Tiaboard the Mississippi River side-wheeler, the Sultanic nearly fifty years later.
tana.
Thomas returned to Ohio and finished his education
Such river boats could safely carry only a few hunat Mount Union. Soon afterwards he became the prindred passengers, but its captain and owner saw
cipal of an academy in his home state but in 1868
(literally) a golden opportunity from the federal govmoved to Kansas. In 1872 the Civil War veteran was
ernment paying passage. Hence, it has been estimat- selected principal of the Topeka High School where
ed that over 2,000 men, most ex-prisoners from An- he served until the spring of 1881. Faculty, students,
dersonville, crowded every deck as it steamed north and parents all held him in high esteem, often comfrom Vicksburg in late April, 1865. Top-heavy, the
paring him, in character, to Lincoln. He planned takboat listed badly with water rushing into the boiler
ing a comparable position at the Clay Center High
room; soon the cold waters of the Mississippi washed School (higher salary!) the fall of 1881. Unfortunately,
against the hot boilers. Then BOOM!
Prof. Thomas was stricken with consumption and
died that November. As a survivor of Andersonville
Between 1,500 and 1,700 men were instantly killed in and the Sultana, Linaeus Thomas could be called the
the explosion or, after terrifying moments, burnt or
luckiest guy of the Civil War. But it is better to rememscalded to death. Between 500 to 700 survived the
ber him as the principal who began Topeka High’s
initial hours of the disaster, subsequently picked up
tradition of excellence, plus our tangible link to the
by various boats out of Memphis and sent to a hospi- nation’s darkest hour, the American Civil War.
tal in that city. Around 200 or more soon thereafter
died - one of the lucky ones being Linaeus Thomas.
Douglass W. Wallace (THS 1965)
BLACK & GOLD REPORT
Fundraising started to refurbish six
chandeliers in THS Room 103
Board President, Chester Woodward, in 1931 visualized Room 103 as a “living room” for “small teas
Congratulations to Gil Carter who has been named
and entertainments to teach social conduct,” thus
to the 2015 Shawnee County Baseball Hall of Fame. being named The Social Room. Today it houses
He is best known for a home run measured at 733
the Speech Arts: Debate and Forensics. It retains
feet while playing a minor league game for the Carls- its original linoleum floor and 6 wrought iron chanbad Potashers in 1959. He played in the Chicago
deliers. The chandeliers are in need of refurbishing
Cubs organization and led the Class D Sophomore
and will cost $3,000. If you spent time in Room 103
Leagues in 1959 with 34 homers.
(or know someone who did) and would like to participate in the fundraising efforts, contact the
THSHS office.
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Topeka High School Historical Society
J u l y 20 1 5
IN MEMORY OF TOPEKA HIGH GRADUATES
Edwin M. Terrell 1933
Harriet Stephens Wilson 1936
Parthene Duvall Holstrom 1937
Mary Alden Clarke 1937
Edna Lucille Boam Westfall 1938
Emily J. Milam Miller 1938
Margaret Oyler Holeman 1939
Florence Neill Campbell 1939
Arlene Reece Ellison 1940
Richard Snyder 1941
James L. Maloney 1941
Joan Stewart Wyland 1941
Jeanne Moore Wales 1941
Dorothy Rasmussen Woody 1942
George B. Brown 1942
Georgina Haydon Webb 1942
Betty Cordill Caljouw 1943
Mary Moser Wasson 1943
Denise McCluggage 1943
Ruth Leech Foster 1943
Robert McCaig 1945
Lois Stolpe Elliott 1945
Viola Stephens Rahberg 1945
Jane Bright Sellen 1945
Jean Kanode Lindemuth 1946
Robert Williamson 1946
Paul Cibulski 1947
Elden F. Tuell 1948
Katherine Honstead Smith 1948
J. Stanley Smith 1948
Elmer ‘Lee’ Neeley 1949
Jean Johnson Wheeler 1949
Meriam Johnson Lycans 1949
Michael Guerrero 1950
Mary Wright Schuster 1951
Diane Freeborn Swasey 1951
Darwin Lehning 1951
Don Butts 1951
B. Frank Beesley 1951
William L. Falk 1952
Joan McKnaught Eakes 1952
James H.Schlegel II 1952
Dolores Miller Pagel 1953
John Gall 1954
Shirley Collins Geenans 1954
Herbert E. Rissen 1955
Thomas F. Heath 1955
Marla Leuenberger Beimford 1956
John Dutt 1956
Janice Eustler Kavanaugh 1956
Michael J. Donnelly 1956
Albert O. Higgins 1957
Luella Avers Bagby 1957
Linda Hankinson Terrill 1957
Charlsia Finley 1957
Virginia Smith Sloane 1957
Janice Calihan Overby 1957
Earlene Pierce Dean 1957
James G. Waddell 1958
Joan French 1958
Gene Bailey 1958
Erland Johnson 1958
John Harper 1958
Vera Eberhart Cornell 1959
Gary J. Magathan 1961
Richard Sallman 1961
John Martin 1961
Michael G. Shinn 1961
Samuel E. Kibble 1962
John W. ‘Bill’ Shuart 1964
Doris Wutherich Shead 1964
James E. Cunningham, Sr 1965
Donna Parker VanDyke 1966
Russell Holle 1967
Sonia Mathy Johnson 1971
Randy Smoot 1971
Frank Housholder 1975
Scott Strobel 1975
James A. Dyche 1978
Shawn H. Bravence 1983
BELLAMY AWARD BOOK RETURNED TO TOPEKA HIGH AFTER 43 YEARS
Tim Greenshields, of Greeley, Colorado,
learned that you never know what treasures you
might find in forgotten storage boxes.
When Greenshields graduated from Wichita
State University in 1970 he accepted a teaching position at Topeka High. After 2 years of teaching government and social studies, he packed up his room
and moved to Colorado Springs, where he taught
until 1985. He spent the next nineteen years as one
of the National Directors at Lesley College out of
Cambridge, Massachusetts. Today he works for a
technology company and manages curriculum training for educators across Colorado.
While going through old boxes recently from
his teaching days at Topeka High he found an item
that would certainly be of value to Topeka High - a
bound book of over a hundred original handwritten
and typed congratulatory letters sent to Topeka High
on being selected as a Belamy Award Recipient.
Letters written by dignitaries included Lyndon Johnson, Vice-President; Robert Kennedy, Attorney General; Douglas Dillon, Secretary of the Treasury and
Richard Nixon, former U.S. President. In 1961, Topeka High was selected as the 21st recipient of the
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Francis Bellamy Flag Award. The award started in
1942, honoring the name of Francis Bellamy, the
author of the ‘Pledge of Allegiance’. For 50 years a
school was chosen to represent its state as the epitome of scholarship, citizenship, curriculum and accomplishments.
Mr. Greenshields delivered the book to Topeka High on Friday, June 5th.
From left, Rob Hays, THS Associate Principal,;Tim Greenshields; Lisa Sandmeyer (1975),
THSHS Vice-President
Topeka High School Historical Society
June 2015
Dean Smith Scholarship Report
In February of this year, Topeka High graduate Dean
Smith (THS 1949) passed away. At the suggestion and
lead gift of Senator Nancy Kassebaum (THS 1950) a
scholarship honoring Mr. Smith was established.
Whitney Holloman and Jordaan Ramirez-Jennings are
the first recipients of the Topeka High Dean Smith Scholarship. The scholarship will continue to be awarded to a
boy and girl graduating from Topeka High who earned
above average grades, participated in varsity sports at
Topeka High and will be attending a Kansas college.
Whitney, graduated number two in her class. She was active in track and field, basketball, tennis, band, National
Honor Society and Math Honors Club. She signed a letter
of intent to play collegiate tennis at Washburn University.
Whitney is the daughter of Scott (THS 1983) and Gina
Holloman
Jordaan played basketball and was on the Link Crew. He
was in the top 10% of his class, National Honor Society,
Math Honors Society and was a Wendy’s Heisman Winner. He went to the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy
Camp. He signed a letter of intent to play basketball at
Ottawa University. Jordaan is the son of Ryan (THS 1996)
and Nikki Carter Ramirez-Jennings (THS 1995)
The Topeka Community Foundation will manage the
scholarship account and selection. Scholarship contributions can be sent to: Topeka Community Foundation,
5431 SW 29th St, Topeka, KS 66614.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR THS GRADUATES
Doug Wallace is collecting information and
needs your help identifying THS Grads who
fit these descriptions:




A POW in WWII, Korea or Viet Nam
Worked for a Diplomatic Service
Bataan Death March
Graduated from a service academy - West Point,
Air Force Academy or Naval Academy
Send information to THSHS, 800 SW 10th, Topeka,
KS or thshs2001@yahoo.com
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Thank you to THS Historical Society supporters
for their generous attention at the 2015 Topeka
Gives on June 2nd. $1,006 received in donations that day and $186.27 of Topeka Community
Foundation matching funds will be used for 2015
operating expenses.
Thank you to the Topeka Community Foundation
for the opportunity to make connections with 131
other not-for-profit organizations in Topeka and
our supporters.
Paul Fink Room Wish List
As we settle into our newly renovated room
we are taking notes of items that will help
complete the project.
With Clarence Gideon (THS 1945) memorial contributions, we are adding two cabinets that will house our many research
notebooks (Hall of Fame, graduation programs, THS postcards, THS events, etc.)
and 3 museum cabinet sliding drawers.
Let us know if you can help with an item on
our wish list:





3-pocket wall-mount brochure & newsletter display rack - $75
Used coat rack with a vintage feel
Small mannequin or adjustable hook
stand ($25 each)
2-3 small lightweight folding chairs ($30
each)
A small lightweight table for mail processing and extra work space ($50)
~ THS Historical Society ~
Graduation Year _______
First Name ____________Last Name (at graduation) ______________ Current Last Name ____________
THS Spouse’s First Name ___________ Last Name ________________ Spouse Graduation Year _____
Street _______________________________________________ City _______________________________
State __________________ Zip Code _____________________ Country ____________________________
Home Phone _________________________________________ E-mail _____________________________
MEMBERSHIP DUES – (operational expenses & THSHS special events)
Amount
Yearly ($25) ………………………………………………………………………………
$___________
5 Years ($100) ……………………………………………………………………………...
$___________
10 Years ($175) …………………………………………………………………………………
$___________
$1 for each year since my graduation (i.e. Class of 1964, 50 years since graduation=$50) $___________
I want to send a gift membership to:
Name ___________________________________________________ Graduation year ______
Address______________________________ City____________ State________ Zip_________
Membership level: ____Yearly____ 5 Year ____ 10 Year
$___________
PURCHASES -Amount
THS Construction Video ($10, plus $5 shipping)…………………………………….
Constitution Plaza Brick ($30), thsweb.org/alumni, download form & attach with
payment
$ __________
$___________
TOWER SOCIETY FUND – (building projects)
Amount
Freshman ($200).......................................................................................................
Sophomore ($350)……………………………………………………………………….
Junior ($500)……………………………………………………………………………..
Senior ($750)……………………………………………………………………………..
Top of the Tower ($1,000)………………………………………………………………
$___________
$___________
$___________
$___________
$___________
Mighty Trojan ($2,500)……………………………………………………………………………. $___________
Given in honor of __________________________________________________
Given in memory of ________________________________________________
Check enclosed: □ (payable to THS Historical Society or THSHS)
TOTAL $___________
Charge account: □ Visa □ Master Card □ American Express □ Discover ($50 minimum charge
requested)
Name on Card: ______________________________________________________________
Number: ___________ - ____________ - ____________- __________CV # (required)_________
Expiration Date: Month_____________ Year __________
Mail to: THSHS, 800 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612, or pay dues online at:: thsweb.org/alumni
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USD 501
THS Historical Society
800 W 10th Ave
Topeka, KS 66612
Non. Prof. Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
Topeka, KS
Permit No. 702
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
REMEMBER TO CHECK YOUR MAILING LABEL: The date on the first line of your label
is your membership EXPIRATION date. New yearly memberships are for twelve
months from the time your check is received. For renewals, twelve months are added to the date of receipt or your previous expiration date. If you have a 2014 expiration on your label, it’s past time to renew your membership. You have until
January 1. We would be sad to lose contact with you.
Welcome new THSHS members!
The THSHS appreciates our dues paying members. As a recipient of this newsletter you are a
paid member of the THSHS. We have accomplished a lot for Topeka High over the past 30
years. Membership dues pay for the operating expenses for the office. We couldn’t have done
it without the interest, generosity, and loyal support of our members.
We welcome these new members : Alice Lee (1959), Michael Lowe (1968), Don Whiteley
(1967), Harriette Rost MacNish ((1961), Ron & Kim Raines (1976)
Help us spread the word about our mission to support Topeka High. Encourage a classmate or friend to join the THSHS. Consider giving a THSHS gift membership to a sibling
or classmate for a birthday or holiday gift You don’t have to be a THS graduate to be a
THSHS member. All who are interested in historic preservation are welcome. You can
remit your dues by completing the form on page 7 of this newsletter or by going on-line
(thsweb.org/alumni) and renewing via PayPal.
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