Western Technical College - Latech Yearbook (La Crosse, WI)

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This Book Dedicated to John B. Coleman For His Devotion as Director of the Early Vocational School uHow does it feel to have a school named after your - That was a question that J ohn Coleman was asked constantly upon his retirement as long-time director of the La Crosse Vocational and Adult School in 1963, after having served 47 years in that same position. The question was asked because the La Crosse Board of Education renamed the school in Mr. Colemanis honor, and for five years tfrom 1963 to 19681 the school was known as the Coleman Technical Institute. Honors, like having his own school named for him, were not new or foreign to John Coleman. He started his career as a pioneer in the field of vocational education immediately after graduationfrom the old Whitewater Normal School, now the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, in 1906. Coleman was born in Whitewater, Wisconsin, in 1888. That made him 18 years old when he got his iirst job teaching tteacher-training then consisted of a two-year course after high schooD. On top of his early age of graduation, which was even quite young to iinish college in those days, Colemanis first job was as prin- cipal of the elementary school in Kiel, Wisconsin. Following his first job in Kiel, Coleman taught vocational courses in Kenosha, Wisconsin; at Interloc- kin School For Boys in La Porte, Indiana; and at the famous Milwuakee Continuation School, or Vocational School, now the Milwaukee Area Technical College. During summers, from 1906 until 1916 Coleman continued his education at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. In later years he completed his baccalaureate degree and also obtained a Masters Degree. It was in early 1916 when Coleman's boss at the Milwaukee Vocational School, Dr. Robert L . Cooley, called him into his office and said, They need a director of the vocational school in La Crosse -- be there tomorrow morning? Coleman didnit exactly take Dr. Cooley seriously until later that day when he met him in the hall of the Milwaukee school, and Dr. Cooley said, itWhat are you doing here, youire supposed to be in La Crosse on this afternoon's trainT' Coleman said he had to borrow some extra money from friends to pay the fare, and had to take a late train out of Milwaukee that arrived in La Crosse early in the morning. He got off the trainin a strange town and was met by one of the leading businessmen in La Crosse, Mr. Louis Hirscheimer, President of the La Crosse Plow Company, forerunner of the Allis-Chalmers Plantin the city. Hirschiemer took Coleman to see several other prominent La Crosse men who were all on the Vocational Education Board, and Mr. Coleman remained director continuously until his retirement 47 years later in 1963. J ohn Coleman became famous as a vocational school director and was featured in an article in THE READERS DIGEST Magazine, written by author George Kent, entitled A City That Goes To School. The article was also used as the basis of a radio program on the National Broadcasting System, which originated from New York City the same year. Coleman became famous - as did his school - and La Crosse was thought of as the center of vocational education for the whole nation. Coleman was asked to teach summers as a visiting professor at the University of Colorado - Fort Collins; Stout Institute tnow University of Wisconsin- Stoutl at Menomonie, Wisconsin; J acksonv111e College in Florida; Nevada State in Reno; the University of Minnesota; and also at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. In 1951, Coleman was elected president of the Greater La Crosse Chamber of Commerce - testimony to his close working relationship with top business and industrial people of the community. Further recognition of his role as a community leader came in 1965 when he was chosen to be Festmaster of the La Crosse OKTOBERFEST celebration. J ohn B. Coleman has won many awards over the years, and has received many honors. The 1975 HLa Tech Staff, the W.W.T.I. Student Body, the faculty, administration and the Board of the Western Wisconsin Vocational, Technical and Adult Education District salute J ohn B. Coleman as an outstanding example of a citizen who helped America, and the local community, become great. In this, the 1976 Bicentennial Yearbook, it is appropriate that these pages are dedicated to J ohn B. Coleman - a great American!

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Forward The faculty, staff and students of Western Wisconsin Technical Institute would like to join all Americans in the observance of our nationls 200th birthday. It is a time to reflect . . . a time to recall the action of those courageous men and women who declared before the world a new standard of mankindls freedom. This is also a time to look forward, to plan and, and to set our standards of today at a level that will result in and even greater America. We can all take pride in our countryis accomplishments over the past 200 years . . . and we at WWTI can be proud of our past history also. To help celebrate our nationls bicentennial, we will attempt to recapture in this volume some of the historical accomplishments of our own vocational, technical and adult education system. We will recall the dedication of those who have made this education possible. We will experience academic growth and development through vocational, technical programs. We will learn organization and cooperation through campus fellowship groups. We will observe how individual efforts con- tribute to team victories. We will remember the good times through campus and community social events. We will see campus expansion and 1111prove- ment to our present day. But no matter how great our achievements, we will do better. Therefore, the reflections of re-dedication seen from Western Wisconsin Technical Institute, 1975-76, as in the past 64 years are the results of each of us setting his or her own standards of ac- complishments. . . . to not only create a better vocational, technical education, but a better and greater America. by Sharon Pionke

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John B. Coleman Director-1916-1963