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

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membered in the Zonta Club, served later as a volunteer in the G ift Shop at La Crosse Lutheran Hospital. In 1963, the Wisconsin Bureau of Personnel Leaders said thanks with a special citation for her work here in help- ing place young people in jobs. A member of First Congregational Church, her activities for five yearshave been limited because she is legally blind. She maintained her home at Route 3, La Crosse until recently. A highlight of 1977 was a neighborhood surprise t ribute, in the form of a restaurant dinnerattended by over 50 neighbors and friends, for Mr. and Mrs. Pinker just prior .to Mr. Pinker's sudden death. Neighbors liked the Pinkers, and they told them so on their 80th birthday . anniversaries which oc- curred only a week apart in November of 1977. GEORGE HOWE, ausnuEss MANAGER t194o-19651 George L. Howe, the Mr. Personality of his time, was business manager of the La Crosse Vocational School for 25 years, retiring in 1965. During World War I, he was trained as a JN4D C'Jenny l aircraft pilot. He was born October 20, 1894 in La Crosse, and graduated from La Crosse High School in 1913. At that time he went to work in the Collection Department at First National Bank, remaining until sign- Facing page, Top: Mrs. Aileen Pinker- Director's Secretary l1916-1965l. Bottom: George Howe-Business Manager 11940- 1965l. This page: Alph Sorenson-Print- ing Head Department i1920-1969l, ing up for US. Army fiighttraining in 1917. After being discharged from military service, he returned to his hometown and was hired as business manager of the La Crosse Public Schools. He held this position until he accepted the same sort of job at theLa Crosse Vocational School in 1940 as business manager here, where Howe covered a range of duties from bid- taking to payrolls. Much of his routine was learned on the job. His office was the scene of hundreds of . interviews of students referred to him by teachers for placement. As a lieutenant in the Army Reserves, Howe was also president of the La Crosse Chapter, Reserve Officers Association, and a member-recruiter of La Crosse American Legion Post 52. For 45 years he sang bass in the St. Mary's Catholic Church.choir, also singing with the Old Style Babershop Quartet. He and his wife, Laura, had two sons and three daughters, who are not married. Living in an apartment alone, overlooking former Central High School grounds, Howeplays cribbage and gin rummy, likes to watch football, and visits friends. The late John B. Coleman, the La Crosse Vocational School's Long-time director, once said of Howe, The people that he met, and to whom he talked, were given the philosophy of adult education real lpainlessly'. I know he did very much for the school. ALPH SORENSON, PRINTING HEAD DEPARTMENT l1920-19691 Alph M. Sorenson, Printing - woodwork- ing instructor from 1920 into 1969 at Western Wisconsin Technical Institute, was recruited at Stout Institute to teach here by Director ColemarL He was the seventh staff member to be hired here when the school was only eight years old. Born at Madelia, Minnesota, December31, 1898, Sorenson had a wealth of high school training that prepared him for his double major certificate at Stout Institute and later teaching. His first duty at the La Crosse Vocational Schoolincludedteaching12to18yearold boys in printing, woodworking and sheet metal. Typical of most vocational instruc- tors, Sorenson also taught related academics, such as hygience, safety, mathematics, English, mechanical draw- ing and blueprint reading. For 47 years he taught woodworking and evening school and after1945,.haIf-time in day school. For 49 years he was head of the Printing Department. in addition, he Iectu red as a substitute for classes in draf- ting and sheet metal. For severalsummers he returned to Stout for printing credits, also working summers in area printing - publishing shops. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Stout in 1931. He also did graduate study at Colorado State University. He personally built the home he and his wife live intoday in 1937, with helpofother faculty members. He was chairman of the Wisconsin Association of Printing Teachers in 1960. For 35 years he was a teacher and later superintendent of the Sunday School at Bethel Lutheran Church and First Presbeyterian Church in La Crosse. He and wife, Alice, have two sons and one daughter, each the recipient ofa Sorenson - madewainut grandfather clock hand - built by grandad Alph at W.W.T.l. Retirement days are spent in travel and flower and vegetable gardening - a good tonic for .a former teacher whose reputation was enhanced by a cheerful, sincere, and yet firm classroom manner.

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You Will Receive High Quality Education Whether you are enrolled in a vocational diploma program or an associate degree program, you will receive the highest quality, individualized education of its type available anywhere. Our school in La Crosse, and others like it in Wisconsin, pioneered this type of occupational career education more than sixty-five years ago and have continued to improve on itoverthe years to make it one of the outstanding educational systems in the nation, and a model for others throughout the world. by, Charles G. Richardson taken from 1977-78 Student Handbook 11