Spotlight for Alumni and Friends of East High

For Alumni And Friends potlight Of East High S October 2004 New Book Captures The 130-Year War Memorial Update History Of East High School Statuary is most often After four years of research, the that each decade faced its own identified with the past, Alumni and Friends of East are unique challenges and problems. but an East High alum is on the verge of publishing a new For instance, a student of the busy creating this unique history of East High School. Flights 1930s faced the depression year, art form today. Ray of Angels: A History of East High while a student of the ’40s had to Fedde (1954) owns Fedde School 1874-2004 is set to come out contend with World War II. Stu- Bronze Works in east as early as the end of October this dents of the ’70s dealt with civil Denver, but it is not a ca- year. Written by Richard Nelson, rights, the Viet Nam war and bus- reer he envisioned when a former East teacher (1964-1995), ing to achieve integration, while he left East High School. the book provides an overview of students of the new century had Ray’s post-secondary each decade of East’s history in Columbine and 9/11 etched into career took many turns an attempt to show how the his- his/her memory. over the years. After tory of East has evolved over the East emerged as a leader among graduation, he entered years. Denver schools each decade. The St. Olaf’s College in Min- An earlier history was publish- new book does not picture East nesota. He came back to ed in 1950 in time to commemo- High School as a perfect place or Denver one year later rate the 25th anniversary of the a perfect school. It does, however, and enrolled in Colorado school. The alumni association has portray a school populated by School of Mines. Before long had the goal of providing the special people doing distinctive he could complete a de- East community with a new his- marks the beginning of the histo- things with their lives. gree he entered the Unit- tory that includes the later years ry of Denver East. In 1881, Denver Like all public schools, East has ed States Navy and was The 9/11 Display was placed near the of East’s history. East Side High School was opened evolved over the years. The build- stationed in Hawaii as an War Memorial on the second floor. See The title of the book Flights of on 19th and Stout and in 1924 the ing that housed the “children of electrical technician. box on page 2. Angels was chosen to honor the school was moved to Esplanade East” has changed and moved its He returned to enroll thousands of East Angels who left and Colfax Ave. location over the years. The curric- in the University of Denver Business School. To this day he remains East High School for the larger A special alumni open house ulum has changed. The hair styles four hours short of a degree. He inherited his family Oil Supply world. Many of these students will be held December 5, in the and clothing have changed. The Business. During the gasoline crunch of the ’70s the gas business who return to the school share the main lobby of East, from 1-4 p.m. idioms of language have changed. hit bottom and once again, Ray was in search of his destiny. fact that East was a special place At this time, alums can purchase Social awareness has changed. He entered the University of Colorado at Denver, where he took in their early years. The book the book and take a tour of the Teachers and administrators have up art classes. Once again, no degree. While he was on the Auraria attempts to capture the images, historical tower museum or a come and gone. However, the campus, he noticed that they were tearing down a foundry. He people and programs that made walking tour of the various histor- book will stress the fact that the bought the equipment and thus his career in creating bronze works East High School the best school ical sites within the school. Alums story of East High School is a story began. in Denver. who live out of the area or who of a unique spirit and soul. The NEW OR Ray has entered into contract The first official history of East cannot attend the open house will purpose of the book is to give CORRECTED NAMES: with the Alumni and Friends of begins in 1874 with the opening of be able to purchase the book meaning to the history that shap- WORLD WAR II East Association on two projects. Arapahoe School in downtown through the mail. ed East and to provide a sense of Richard Ames The first is the updating of the Denver. It was the first public high The chapters of the book will be what it has always meant to be an Les Andrews War Memorial at East. This school in the area and thus it divided by decades. It was felt “East High Angel.” Morton P. Gross memorial was erected by the Paul V. Hansen classes of 1945 and ’46 and paid Class Of 1964 Proud Of School Achievements James R. Howell tribute to those who fell in World Carl Lindblad War I and II. Since then, the asso- In 1964, Look magazine rated Jewish students. But what seemed chance to catch up on what had Robert A. Mariam ciation has asked for informa- East High School as one of the top most important to the magazine happened to each other in the last Francis J. Morse tion on servicemen who died in 10 schools in the country. How- was that East High School was 40 years. Norman R. Morse the Korean and Viet Nam wars. ever, it was more than a rating for making integration work. Perhaps The banquet on Saturday night Bryan Wayne Meyers The project will be completed academic achievement, which East this is why the school weathered carried with it a bit of history. The Charles l. Parsons Jr. late this fall. The original names had established early in its history. the storm of forced busing to scene was the former Scottish George Schmidt were cut into faux bronze name East was considered one of the achieve integration in the ’70s. Rite/El Jebel Temple at 1770 Sher- Elvis N. Spotts plates. The Korean and Viet Nam model schools in terms of racial This was not true of many of the man Street. Interestingly, this was Otto Richard Thiede casualties are so noted on the diversity and racial harmony. schools in Denver. the site of the first proms held out- Everett L. Walling name plate in a similar but re- When the class of 1964 returned The group met Friday, Septem- side East High School in the ’20s Leonard Wolff duced font. to East High School for their 40th ber 17, at Bogie’s On the Park res- and ’30s. Over 300 alums danced He is also recasting the origi- reunion September 17-19, they taurant at City Park Golf Course. to the music of the ’60s. KOREA Wilson Bingaman nal Woodbury Declamation fondly recalled this special honor On Saturday morning alums were On Sunday morning 150 alums Medal and the Wolcott Sight for their school. East was naturally invited to the south courtyard of gathered in the auditorium of Raymond E. Hobbs Ronald G. Payne Reading Medal. The alumni evolving into a diverse school of East to enjoy a picnic and the East. They were told about cur- association will provide the win- Anglo, African American, Native rent happenings at East High. Kenneth Riley Karle Seydel ner of each contest a medal for American, Hispanic and Japanese They were also offered the chance winning the contest. These med- students. It was also a school with to ask about programs and people VIET NAM als go back more than 125 years. a large population of Greek and from the past. Following this ses- Charles Hackett Ray’s son, Matthew Fedde sion, they toured the building and Edward R. Naylor graduated in 2002. eventually found themselves in Frank Ralston Jr. the tower museum. Class Of 1954 Celebrates 50th Reunion When the class of 1954 met in students saw their friends at alums gathered at East High Denver June 11-12, to celebrate its church. There is truth in the say- School for a time of remembering 50th reunion, it was as if a com- ing that high school was not just and a tour of the East High Alum- munity was being re-established. a time, it was a place and that spe- ni Museum. It was appropriate When these students attended cial place was East High School. that they all meet in the auditori- East from 1952-1954, a great deal The group gathered Friday, um at the beginning. Roscoe Hill, was made about how cohesive the June 11, at Glenmoor Country legendary principal at East, called community had been in those Club in Englewood. On Saturday, (Continued on Page 3) days. East students spent a great deal of time at The original Keystone angel sculpture remains in a garden at East. school, they walked Ella Catherine Matty Orman, who at age six was the model for the home together and it original, with the new bust which was a gift from the graduating wasn’t hard for the boys Class of 1964.

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