Kirkman Vocational School - Spirit Yearbook (Chattanooga, TN)

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Q w Q! MR. FRANK HUFFAKER

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7a 'adam The noble acts which he did, and his greatness, they are not written: for they were very many. The A pocrypha I Maccabees IX, 22 At the passing of any one who -is near and dear to us there comes a feel- ing of shock and sadness, but the feeling is especially strong when our leader and friend has gone from us. The loss of a man of Mr. Huffaker's stature will be long felt by those who are now or have been at Kirkman. He was an educational leader without peer in our state. Long hours of competent work and devotion to duty built in the lives of his associates and co-workers a monument to the memory of Mr. Huffaker beyond the power of mere words to describe. Loyalty to his associates and friends was a most admirable characteristic. An humble and sincere disposi- tion made him the friend and helper of all who knew him. Even when his duties and cares weighed the heaviest upon him, he found time to help those -in need of his aid. Mr. Kirkman and Mr. Huffaker were the two men most instrumental in realizing the hopes and dreams of vocational education in our community. Mr. Huffaker's plans for a school plant, sufficient to meet the need of Kirk- man Vocational High School, were nearing a point of fulfillment at the time he was taken from us. His efforts to reach this aspiration will be re- membered as the ma-in force responsible for its achievement, even though he was 11ot privileged to see its completion. The accomplishments of this respected man will long be remembered and appreciated. -41

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192 to 1953 400 CHESTNUT STREET BUILDING In this building, located at 400 Chestnut Street, the Chattanooga Vocational School opened in October, 1928. Theq late O. C. Kirkman, then a teacher ali Chattanooga was relieved of one-half of his teaching duties so that he mighty serve as the school's principal. It was largely due to Mr. Kirkman's persistent and untiring efforts that Superintendent W. T. Robinson and Commissioner H. D. Huffaker reacted favor- ably toward the opening of a vocational school in Chattanooga. During the first year the school enrolled 70 students and a staff of 3 teachers, a secretary and Mr. Kirk- man. By the end of the third year the enrollment had grown to the fpoint that the space in this 12 room building was inadequate. A 3-story garage building in the rear of the school and facing on Broad Street was leased to provide extra shop and classroom space. In 1937 the garage was vacated when shops were moved into a newly con- structed building at 215 Chestnut Street, now the site of Kirkman's main building lshown on the end sheets of this bookl. The need for additional classroom space became so great that the present ma-in building was erected at 215 Chestnut Street and was occupied in 1939. The 4100 Chestnut Street building continued to be used as a pre-vocational school for seventh and eighth grade students until 1945 when the junior high, division was moved into lhe Pa-rk Place School on East Ninth Street. It remained there until its closing. Following the death of Mr. Kirkman, July 13, 1943, the name of the school was changed to Kirkman Vocational High School in honor of its founder. Mr. Frank Huf- linker was appointed to succeed Nlr. Kirkman as principal of tha high school and to serve as Director of Vocational Education in the Chattanooga Public Schools. In 194-9 lVlr. Robert A. Taylor was appointed as principal of the high school. Mr. Huffaker became full-time director and continued in that capacity until his death, March 3, 1954. 6 .-