Northampton Area High School - Amptennian Yearbook (Northampton, PA)

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A silhouette on the horizon, Leon C. Kuntz, seated, discusses concert scores in a scene characteristic of a decade and longer ago. From left, standing, are Mr. Edwin Berg, then his colleague in music, now Junior High School Principal, Raymond C. Kohler, now of Cementon, Michael Skweir, now a captain in the Army Dental Corpsp Richard Porotsky, now with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Company, New York City. and his son, Leon C. Kuntz Jr., now with the LEON C. KUNTZ September 5, 1893 - December 7, 1964 Diminutive in physical stature - he stood bare- ly five feet tall - but a veritable giant in his chosen profession, Leon C. Kuntz went on to study for the Great Master on December 7, 1964. He was one of the most picturesque, one of the best loved, and one of the most challenging in- dividuals ever to serve on the faculty. A native of Treichlers, he was graduated from the Northampton High School and later from the New England Conservatory of Music. He served in World War I and was with the American Expedi- tionary Force in France. While there, he became a member ofthe 79th Division Band and played an instrument newly emerging into recognition, the saxophone. He was discharged as a First Class Musician and was attached to Headquarters Com- pany, 310th lnfantry Regiment. page 20 He loved music with an all-consuming passion and was an accomplished pianist and organist. In 1932, Mr. Kuntz came back to Northampton after a career as a symphony musician to become director of instrumental music in the high school. Besides his work in the schools, both instrumental and vocal, he was active in music throughout the area - the Bach Choir for 35 years, director of the Northampton Male Chorus, music chairman of the Allied Male Choruses of Eastern Pennsylvania, Northampton Rotary music director, organist in a number of churches, and more. Most of all, he in- stilled the love of good music in his hundreds of students and inspired a number of these to great- ness. Though health forced him to retire in 1959, he never retired from music. Neither will the im- pact of the man who taught us Bach ever leave, he lives in our heart forever.

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Creating tomorrofwfv world. HARRY B. WALL, Ph.B., M.A.p English, Head Wrestling Coach, Public Relations Director HENRY WEIR, B.S.p Mathematics JOAN WESLEY, B.S,p English, Tri-Hi-Y Advisor, Dramatics Advisor HARRY WITEMEYER, B.S.g World Cultures, N Club Advisor, Lighting Crew Advisor JANET A. YELENICS, B.S.p Physical Education, Health, Girls' Gym Team NABEEH A. YOUNES, B.S.7 Spanish MARY ZIRINSKY, B.S.g Dietician ,Tig 4 1 V 5252 i 1 1 x .. , , 3. I g 'A 5 1 if ,J Q ,, , ,z if fig fw , is f' page I9

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A figure outlined' against the setting sun, Dr. Mahlon G, Miller, on left, with typical humility, receives the fifty year citation of the Pennsylvania Medical Society at a special meeting of the Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce in 1955. He was a youngster of 78 then. Next to him is another youngster, Dr. Thomas Stites, Nazareth, then presi- dent of the Northampton County Medical Society, who made the presentation. Third from left is Mr. Anthony Billera, then president of the Chamber, while late Dr. Charles E. Meixsell, then also a youngster - offering congratulations on the far right is the of 74. DR. M. G. MILLER June 1, 1877 - December 26, 1964 One of the most familiar and best loved figures within our halls - and the halls of all the local schools - for longer than we, and our parents as well, can remember, left us this term. Dr. Mahlon G. Miller, affectionately known as Northampton's Grand Old Man of the medical profession, passed away on December 26, 1964. He was one of Northampton's most active and unselfish citizens. As a civic leader, he was a founder and charter member of the Northampton Board of Trade, now the Northampton Area Chamber of Commerce. As a sportsman, he was a past president of the Lappawinzo Fish and Game Protective Association and was one of the orga- nizers of the former Twin County Fair held on its grounds. As a public servant, one of a number of such activities was his service for many years as the president of the Northampton Board of Health. page 21 Dr. Miller was also one of Northampton's most honored citizens. He was the first to receive the Golden Deeds award of the Northampton Ex- change Club, in 1955 he was cited by the Penn- sylvania Medical Society on the anniversary of his fiftieth year of medical practice. Numerous other honors, including some by his associates in the local schools, were bestowed upon him. Most of all, to us, Dr. Miller was an untiring, dedicated colleague who faithfully served the schools and the children he loved as medical ex- aminer since 1916. To us this great man, who was a teacher before he became a physician, was an institution. Now he has become a precious memo- ry - one the youth who take our places in these halls will never know or ever have the privilege of sharing.