Des Moines Technical High School - Engineer Yearbook (Des Moines, IA)

Page 15 text:

HAIL TO OUR NEW CHIEF Mr. Betz Among the new arrivals when Tech ' s doors were swung open September 2 was Mr. E. C. Betz, our new principal, who hails from Amos Hiatt Junior High where he was principal. Mr. Betz also held positions at Washington Irving and Lin- coln. He has attended Des Mo- ines University and Northwest- ern University, where he earn- ed his masters degree. Chief Betz has already en- deared himself to the boys and girls at Tech A hearty wel- come to you, Mr. Betz, from your new students at Tech. One of the few times Mr. Betz had to look up an answer. Highlights of years recalled by Betz Mr. Betz made many lasting f riendships during his years at Tech, with both faculty members and students. Mr. Betz knew thousands of young men and women — students of Tech High. He watched them grow, sharing their ) I and exasperations. He saw them graduate and move on in life, some meeting with success, some with failure. Mr. Betz watched Tech grow, and helped it along its way. From a humble beginning and a crowded of fice, he saw Tech expand into a new building, grow to have 27 core areas and a student body of nearly 2000. Of his years at Tech, Mr. Betz remarked, It will be hard to walk out and close the doors behind me, but I expect to be proud off Tech as long as there is a Tech. Principal Betz worked hard from the beginning at old Tech. Mr. Betz proudly shows a symbol of Tech s strength - the gear. 1 1

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Mr. E. C. Betz Principal ' 69 was not all silver moments. There was much unfinished work left to do. Mr. E. C. Betz retires after 23 years; earns title, f Mr. Tech ' Mr. E. C. Betz is concluding many years of service to Tech in 1969. He is retiring f rom Des Moines l ech after twenty-three years as principal. Mr. Betz began his years at Tech in 1946, when it was a very new school. He replaced Mr. P. (i. Frasier, Tech ' s first principal. The building of Tech into one of the midwest ' s finest technical-vocational schools was due in a great part to the efforts of Mr. Betz. Under his direction, Des Moines Tech tripled its en- rollment and expanded into a larger building. The new facilities enabled Tech to offer more opportunities to more Des Moines students. Many of the additions and improvements for the new building were the result of continuing work and encouragement by Mr. Betz. A stu- dent parking lot added in the fall of 1968 was evidence of his never ending concern for Tech students. In the twenty-three years of his career at Tech, Mr. Betz saw some of the school ' s finest moments. lech ' s twenty-fifth year was com- pleted in 1969 under his direction. Mr. Don Blackmail, who served as principal-elect for the [£68-69 school year, will replace Mr. Betz, and will start Tech on its second quarter- century of progress. Des Moines Tech gradu- ates, students, and future students owe much to Mr. E. C. Betz, who certainly deserves the title, Mr. Tech. At times it was even hard to find the desk. But there were also times of celebration. 10

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Mrs. Mary Anne McManus, girls ' advisor Mr. Gerald Con ley, vice principal Mrs. McManus, Mr. Conley aid students with problems; Mr. Blackman plans Mrs. Mary Anne McManus has been the girls 1 advisor at Tech for six years. She deals with soc ial programs and the senior executive board. ( her her desk, comes many problems of student conduct and behavior. She was girls ' advisor al Irving Junior High School and was a teacher in the Des Moines s sirm before coming to Tech. Mr. Gerald Conley has been the Vice Principal at l ec h for one year. Before becoming Vice Princi- pal, he was a social studies teacher, sophomore has ketball coach, and golf coac h at l ech. Both advisors also have routine office and clerical duties. Principal-elect Don Blackman has been teaching in the Des Moines school system lor 24 years. He has been a member of the faculty at nine schools. He was principal of Wood row Wilson Junior High in 1967-68 and at one time, was vice-principal at Tech. Mr. Blackman spent the year finding out what makes Tech tick. 12