News from the Paul Fink Room
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TOPEKA HIGH HISTORICAL SOCIETY News from the Paul Fink Room THS Historical Society/Alumni Association, 800 SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612 Website: thshistoricalsociety.org Phone: 785-295-3200 Email: [email protected] Vol. 38 No.4 2019 Hall of Fame - Graduates making a difference An artist, a Shakespearean Gary L. Taylor, class of 1971. Shakespearean schol- scholar and a public ad- ar. His activities at Topeka High included debat- ministrator were inducted er, chief justice of the Judicial Council, Model UN, into the Topeka High Quill & Scroll, newspaper staff, and All Time Hon- School Graduate Hall of or-T. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English Fame at 2 p.m. Sunday, classics at KU and his doctorate at Cambridge Uni- Oct. 6, in the school’s sec- versity. While in England, he was a joint general ond-floor Woodward Li- editor of The Oxford Shakespeare, and during this brary. period he rediscovered a long-lost work attributed to Shakespeare. He has written numerous books and L to r, Gary Taylor, David Overmyer,Jr. Two former staff mem- articles about Elizabethan literature and has taught and T.C. Broadnax bers were honored as Dis- at Oxford, Brandeis University, and the University tinguished Staff. of Alabama. He is the Dahl and Lottie Pryor Profes- A special presentation from Artist Walter Hatke (THS 1967 sor of Shakespeare Literature at Florida State Uni- and THS Hall of Fame) was also be part of the ceremony. versity. This is the 38th Hall of Fame ceremony, with 114 THS graduates having been inducted and 23 former staff/faculty Donald E. Madl – Distinguished Staff, was on the honored with the Distinguished Staff designation. English faculty and lived from 1924 to 2005. He received his bachelor of education degree from The three honorees whose portraits have been added to the Pittsburg State University and his master’s from Hall of Fame Room and Distinguished Staff whose names Fort Hays State University he served in the Army in were added to the special plaque are: World War II, earning the rank of Master Sergeant. T.C. Broadnax, Jr., class of 1987, a public adminis- He began his teaching career at Plainville Rural trator. He was on the 1986 State Basketball High School, coming to Topeka High in 1958, Championship squad and was 1987 Homecoming where he taught English; he later taught at Jardine King. He earned bachelor’s degrees in political sci- Middle School, retiring in 1985. At Topeka High, ence and communications at Washburn University he was often the Junior Class or Senior Class spon- and later a master’s in public administration from sor. the University of North Texas at Denton. His career in public administration has spanned the continent Michael Homan – Distinguished Staff, was on the from Pompano Beach, FL, to San Antonio, TX, to security staff at Topeka High. for 35 years, he was Tacoma, WA, and since 2017 he has served as city the face of security at Topeka High, making all feel manager of Dallas, TX, overseeing a $3.6 billion welcomed and comfortable in the Halls of Troy. He enterprise with 13,000 employees. graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1971 and entered the Air Force, stationed first at Lack- David H. Overmyer, an artist, who lived from 1889 land AFB, TX, then Eglin AFB, FL, and finally La- to 1973. He was a Topeka High student, but might jes Field in the Azores. Returning home, after a not have formally graduated, which was a norm brief stint at Kmart, Holman became a security of- back then. He was the first in a long line of distin- ficer for USD #501. He retired in 2013 as coordina- guished artists from Topeka High School. Over- tor of Campus Police for THS with the rank of ser- myer became well-known as a muralist with some geant. of his best examples at Hale/Farrell Library at Kan- sas State University and historical murals for the Capitol Rotunda in Topeka. Three important works are found at THS: “Pageant of Old England” in the English room (1936), untitled Mediterranean sea- scape in the faculty dining room (1937), and “Pioneers” in the Woodward Library (1939). Walter Hatke and 1967 class- THS Principal Rebecca mate Ted Clark Morrisey and Mike Homan 1 Topeka High School Historical Society December 2019 THS 150th Report PHYLLIS WILEMAN, Specific dates will be decided as the school calen- “FUTURE ARTIST” dar is prepared in the Spring 2020. January – Kick-off Gala – Formal Dinner followed This Topeka High Trojan, class of by concert with Richetta Manager and Anthony 1945, knew even then she was ‘Tommy’ Jones going to be an artist during her February – Fiddler on the Roof – Grads invited to life. Phyllis Wileman Stewart participate in opening number ‘Tradition’ 1945 signed fellow students’ April – Sock Hop for Grads on the same evening as yearbooks with the above signa- ture (see photo of yearbook signa- Prom in the North Gym. Get out your saddle ture). shoes and penny loafers May – Reception for Graduating Seniors sponsored by the classes of 1951 and 1971 Sometimes we know June through August – Graduate Art Exhibit what we are destined to July – Patriotic Chimes Concert on the front lawn be, and sometimes we August - Topeka High Display at the Topeka and don’t. She was so con- fident about her future, Shawnee County Library she was comfortable September 18 – Birthday Cake on the Lawn for signing everyone’s yearbook in this manner while Students and Staff still in her senior year. September 24th – Homecoming Weekend She studied art at Topeka High and went on to begin her art career almost immediately. She fell in love Assembly and Parade – Inviting past Royalty, with fellow ’45 classmate Ed Stewart and they mar- Former Band, Former Athletes, Former ried in Lubbock, Texas, in 1948, after his service in MCJROTC, Former Cheerleaders/Dancers/Step the US Army ended. After their marriage in Lub- Team, Clubs bock, they lived in Odessa, Amarillo, Abilene, Wa- Saturday – Affinity Groups, Memorabilia Sales, co, Albuquerque, and finally back to Lubbock. Early on, she began painting and drawing for family Food Trucks, Graduate Variety Show, Surprise and friends, selling some pieces along the way. She Finale eventually became locally famous enough to begin Sunday – Hall of Fame Brunch and Ceremony teaching art lessons out of her home. At one time, she was awarded her own one-person art show at the We’re looking for these volunteers NOW! local art museum and was written up in the town newspaper for having been afforded such an honor. Marketing & Sponsorship Committee members She also won prizes in local art contests and served as Vice President of the Abilene Creative Art Club. Planning committee members for the Gala in Janu- She continued painting and drawing well into her ary and Sock Hop in April. life, but now is retired and she and Ed live in a small town near Tulsa, Oklahoma, close to her daughter’s Videographers home. Both are now 92 and doing well for their age, having enjoyed a long and adventurous life to- Speakers bureau –we’ll provide scripts gether in these two states. As we all know, THS instills in many of us a confi- Organize a get together or THS Birthday Party with dence which is rooted in the very fame and im- other THS Grads in your city portance of our high school and its students and fac- ulty. We benefit from these traditions that we un- Let us know at [email protected] consciously rely on later in life. Phyllis Wileman undoubtedly felt this confidence before she even VISIT TopekaHigh150.com and ‘like’ us on Facebook graduated from the halls of Troy and was willing to TopekaHigh150. Donations are accepted online or sign her yearbooks “Phyllis Wileman, ‘future made to: THS Historical Society/Topeka High 150, 800 artist’.” Good for her, and congratulations to her for SW 10th, Topeka, KS 66612 her life as a confident artist proudly representing THS! (Continued on page 3) 2 Topeka High School Historical Society December 2019 THS Historical Society Endowment Fund An Endowment Fund for the Topeka High School Histori- Region Community Services in NH, and Whole Village in cal Society has been formed thanks to a generous Topeka NH. High graduate with family ties to the school extending over decades. “Topeka High School is especially in need with the chang- ing demographics, the year-to-year ambiguity of public Brinton W. “Pete” Woodward, THS 1958, has consulted support and memberships, the age of the building, and the with the THS Historical Society board of directors to estab- necessity to preserve one of the finest school buildings in lish the Topeka High School Historical Society Endow- the U.S,” Woodward said. ment Fund that will sustain the operations of the organiza- tion and encourage preservation of the building and The Endowment Fund will be administered by the Topeka grounds that comprise the Topeka High School campus. Community Foundation with contributions held, adminis- tered and distributed in accordance with Foundation poli- “By giving to the Topeka High School Historical Society cies. Endowed funds are unique in that the total amount of Endowment Fund,” Woodward says, “I am not only honor- the gift is invested. Each year, a percentage of the endow- ing my family and our past commitment to Topeka High, I ment’s average three-year September 30 balance will be am helping preserve the building and heritage for students distributed to benefit the THS Historical Society. that will pursue their future through education.” Gifts to the Topeka High School Historical Society En- Woodward has made an initial contribution to the Endow- dowment Fund during a donor’s lifetime or via estate ment Fund as well as funds for marketing the new Fund planning is a statement that the donor values education and according to Steve Holloman, president of the Historical supports the institution that has been important to you, Society board.