Phoenix Technical High School - Phoenix Yearbook (Phoenix, AZ)

Page 47 text:

aaeataf eau of Quant! as reported by RUSSELL TALBOTT THE ARIZONA VOCATIONAL SCHOOL started in 1935 in a rented garage building at Sixth Avenue and West Adams. Courses in sheet metal, auto mechan- ics, body and fender, waitress training and distributive education under the directorship of the late Mr. George S. Sanders were offered. The first year the school had approximately one hundred thirty-five students enrolled in these vari- ous shop classes. The following year refrigeration, electricity, carpentry and plumbing classes were added. Enrollment necessitated moving to larger quarters. For the year of 1937-38 the school was moved to East Washington at Ninth Street, and commercial dress- making, commercial art, sign painting, and a Guidance and Counselling Depart- ment were added. Two years later on overcrowded condition again existed and necessitated moving to the present location which was the old Phoenix College Campus. To satisfy public demand, courses in welding, radio, and aircraft sheet metal were offered. Before the end of that school year, the National Defense Training Program was started on a swing shift basis under the direction of the late Edwin C. Cracey and with the sunport of Dr. E. W. Montgomery, past super- intendent, and the Board of Education of the Phoenix Union High School and Phoenix College System. On account of the inadequacy of facilities at this location, the Machine Shop, the Blacksmithing and Forging Shop, and the Patternmaking Shop at the Phoenix Union High School were used. For the next five years this training expanded to a three-shift training program on a twenty-four hour, six day-a-week basis, with two eight hour shifts and one graveyard shift of six and one-half hours. Shop facilities of both the schools were used, as well as Techis auditorium which housed five complete airplanes. Training for both men and women was offered to meet the basic skills required by local and coastal war production plants, including the Air Force, shipyards and plane manu- facturers. Over twenty thousand men and women participated in this training program. The War production training was completed in 1945. The name of the school was changed from Arizona Vocational School to the Phoenix Technical School in 1946. The closed courses were reactivated and many new ones were added. Aircraft engines and aircraft maintenance K both accredited by the Civil Aeronautics Administrationj, machine training, architectural draft- ing, mechanical draftinff, band, truck driving and driver training were available to Tech students. The Phoenix Technical School was one of the first schools in the nation to have its own ROTC Engineer Battalion, and it was one of the first to offer truck driver training. Of the many fine members of the faculty at Phoenix Technical School, some have served approximately ten years or more. They are Robert D. Blackman, Bobby Boan, Simon N. Chilleen, Miss Iva Curlee, Homer D. Dukes, Gordon S. Furnish, Frank M. Gray, John D. Kendall, Mrs. Iinnett B. Kirk, Iohn E. Kronen- bitter, Samuel C. Liberante, Russell Talbott, james L. Thomas, William H. Voigts, Harry E. West and William VV. Wright. The growth of the Phoenix Technical School is dramatically presented by recent statistics. Last year the enrollment of the day and night classes and clinics was sixty-five times as great as during the first year of its existence. In twenty years it grew from a school serving 135 to one serving 8,821 This phenomenal development is proof positive that Tech has responded to the leadership of great visionaries and has satisfied a community need. Its future will reflect the brilliant past as Tech becomes a part of a new school. -43-

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Tugwell, Donald R. Turner, Phillip D. Tye, Robert F. Urban, Margie A. Urschel David R. V Y XVcluer, Sliercr Rl. XYelcl1 lValter R, XXl11tC',ClldI'lL5 lx. Yllidcner, Ronald H. VVilliams, Volnev Valenzuela, George an Aller, Fred VV, lla, Manuel Y. Vrbka, Patricia Vlladdell, Avis V. XVilliams, Noel C. XX ilson, Donald S. VVitte, lerrv A. XVood,Patr'icia NVoolsey, Lee A. Yeager, Ernest XV. XValler, XValter L. VVare, Arliss P, NVcl1lJ, Hiram B., Ir. Vllvlvlb, Robert B. XVeber, lolm C. Yeley, Donald L. Calvin, Ernest

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MR. IAMES THOMAS MR. SAMUEL LIBERANTE THE ADVANCED AUTO shop features training for chassis repair, brake system overhaul, wheel alignment, clutch repairs and general engine overhaul. Students work on Live jobs in which they repair and overhaul the various chassis units. They are also capable of repairing any of the mechanical parts of the automobile. Included in the studentis Iunior year is one semester of advanced chassis work and one semester of advanced engine work. Resourcefulness, citizenship, punc- tuality, reliability, and safety are neces- sary for success in this field of work. The lives and safety of car passengers depend on the reliability of the auto mechanic. RIGHT: DON YELEY making minor ad- justments on a Jeep. BELOW L to H: JOE BANGORA and DONALD PIERCE doing typical auto work.