Ottawa Township High School - Senior Yearbook (Ottawa, IL)

Page 20 text:

John Huber, Counse¬ lor, Coach, B.S., M.S., Southern Illi¬ nois University, North¬ ern Illinois University, University of Illinois. Robert Johnson, Di¬ rector of Counseling and Guidance, Coach, B.S., M.S., Iowa State College, University of Colorado, Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois, Western Michigan University. Ronald Slack, Counselor, Coach, B.S., M.S., M. Ed., Illinois State University, University of Wyoming. Mary Ann Watts, Counselor, B.A., Northern Illinois University, University of Illinois. Mr. Huber discusses scheduling with Brian Miller. 16

Page 19 text:

Backbone to Education I ! Gordon Fidler, Superintendent, B.S., M.S., C.A.S., Chillicothe Business College, Illinois State University, Uni¬ versity of Illinois, Northern Illinois University. Administration Kenneth Fread, Director of Student Services, B.A., M.A., Iowa Wesleyan Col¬ lege, Iowa State Teachers ' College, University of Iowa, Northern Illinois University. Robert Colborn, Principal, B.S., M.S., Southern Illi¬ nois University, Northern Illinois University. Harry Adrian, Dean of Students, B.A., M.Ed., Lincoln College, St. Mary ' s College, Wino¬ na, Minn., Missouri University, Northern Illinois University, Mis¬ souri State College, University of Illinois.

Page 21 text:

Robert R. McKay 1906-1969 During spring vacation and after this book had been completed, OHS personnel and the entire community were saddened by the death of Mr. Robert R. McKay, who had spent his entire teaching career at this school. This tribute was read to all students and teachers April 14: “just five school days ago we asked you to help us pay tribute to a fallen national and world leader, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Now we pay homage to another man, one who stood tall in accomplishments within this community —Mr. Robert R. McKay—who had served this school as teacher and coach for 42 years. “A fine athlete in his high school and college days, Mr. McKay had been named All-Big Ten guard while playing varsity basketball at his alma mater, the University of Illinois. Then he came to Ottawa High School as coach of all sports. He knew, both as player and coach, the rigors of competition, the shimmering heat of rugged football practice in late sum¬ mer, the icy blasts of the late fall winds, per¬ haps the dejection of his star hurdler who stumbled at the finish line and erased all hope for a new track record. “He felt not only the bitter dregs of defeat by narrow margins, the despair of dashed hopes, but also the thrills of hard-fought vic¬ tories. “Mr. McKay began his career at the thresh- hold of a terrible depression when service on the athletic field and in the classroom was poorly rewarded. After serving his country as a lieutenant commander in the Navy during World War II, he returned to OHS and soon initiated one of the first and most efficient driver education programs in the state of Illinois. He attained state and national promi¬ nence in this field. Although it seems par¬ ticularly sad that death must come to anyone in the springtime, Mr. McKay ' s exacting and demanding program of safety education will serve as a monument whereby young drivers of the past two decades may live, through this and other springtimes. “Above all, Mr. McKay, despite his uncom¬ promising attitude toward carelessness and indifference, loved mankind and constantly performed kind deeds for others without ex¬ pectation of renown or reward. “In his 42 years here Mr. McKay has con¬ tributed to the thought of these lines from “Pep. “Crimson and white we ' re marching onward Courage and strength we owe to you.