Concordia College - Corona Borealis Yearbook (Edmonton, Alberta Canada)

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We dedicate this Yearbook to a servant of God whom the Lord of the Church used as one of the chief founders of our school—Dr. Alfred M. Rehwinkel. Upon his graduation from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, in 1910, Dr. Rehwinkel entered the ministry at Pincher Creek, Alberta, and accepted a call to St. Peter ' s Church in Edmonton ur first school-year as assistant teacher. He was elected a regular professor of history and German in 1922 and served in this capacity until May, 1928, when he left to accept the presidency of St. John ' s College in Winfield, Kansas. From its earliest beginnings the history of our school has been intimately connected with the name Rehwinkel. He took an active part in the movement to establish a college of our church in Western Canada. This endeavor began to take a somewhat definite form in 1913, when he led in the exploration of a plan to open a college in Calgary, where a large residence had been offered by a layman. After the war he initiated an investigation into the possibility of organizing a high school class in St. Matthew ' s Christian day school at Stony Plain, which, because of war conditions had been closed. Still another plan was to begin a preparatory school in Edmonton, provided ten students would enroll and pay $250 each. All these plans were not considered feasible. The conviction grew that so large an educational venture required the support of our Synod. The result was a petition to the general convention in Detroit in 1920. Synod acted favorably, but only after convincing arguments had been submitted; and these were based on the research work which had been done in a large measure by Dr. Rehwinkel. In 1921 our school was opened in rented quarters—the administration building at 10875 - 98th Street, and the service building at 9529 - I 10th Avenue. For the acquisition of these buildings we were chiefly indebted to Dr. Rehwinkel. And he rendered invaluable services in laying out the new buildings and improving the grounds at our present location. Equally appreciated were his services in organizing our first course of studies, which had to meet synodical requirements and conform as much as possible fo those of the provincial Department of Education. Dr. Rehwinkel ' s unselfish toil in the founding of our school, his untiring labor, his boundless zeal as a profoundly learned and efficient teacher, the bonds of friendship which he established between himself and those who were privileged to work with him and, in the classroom, to work for him, his consecration to the work of our Concordia, his devotion to the cause of our Savior—these considerations urge us to thank our Heavenly Father for the gifts, the labors, and the accomplishments of this noble pioneer. in 1914. During c (1921 -22) he served —A.H.S. 21