William Wilder, 1959 Vocational Agriculture

The Post & Mail, Columbia City, Indiana, Friday, May 21, 1999

Erne, Wilder retiring after total of 57 years in local schools banquet

by Robin R. Plasterer

Together Bill Wilder and Leta Erne have 57 years of teaching at Whitley County Consolidated Schools and in June both will retire.  They were honored at the annual Whitley County Teachers Association retirement banquet.

Wilder began teaching science and vocational agriculture at Union Township.  In 1958, he moved to Columbia City Joint High School where he continued teaching science, vocational agriculture and industrial technology.  At the end of this school year he will have a total of 42 years of service.

Erne began teaching for WCCS in 1984.  She has taught reading, math, sixth and four grades at Jefferson, Marshall and Mary Raber elementary schools.  She completes 15 years of service this year.

Bill Wilder

Dean Warren, agriculture teacher at CCHS, paid tribute to his co-worker and friend.

"Bill was born and raised on a farm near St. Joe in an area known as Coburn's Corner.  The farm was deeded to his great-great-grandfather.  He came from a line of educators, his parents and grandparents taught for a combined 111 years.  Bill's grandfather taught for 45 years and served as a teacher, principal and college professor.

Bill's brother, Bob, graduated from Indiana University with a degree in social studies and is a coordinator at DeKalb High School.  His sister, Mary, graduated from Purdue and served as a consumer educator for REMC and at the Extension office," said Warren.

Wilder is married to Evelyn and they have two children.

He was among 17 students graduating from Spencerville High School in 1952.  Wilder attended Purdue and graduated in 1957 with a degree in agriculture education.  He received his masters degrees in education from St. Francis in 1963 and met the requirements for a director of guidance.

"Upon looking for his first teaching job, two positions were open, one at Coesse and the other at Shipshewana.  Since Coesse was closer he signed a contract for $5,004 for 12 months on the hood of Glenn Burn's 1953 Chevy.  The next year he joined Leon Alter as the second teacher of agriculture at CCJHS.  This was the first two-man agriculture department in the state of Indiana and is still uncommon today.

"Bill served for 25 years as leader of the Indiana Junior Horticulture Association.  He's active in Indiana Agriculture Teachers Association having served as president from 1960-69," said Warren.

"I met Bill in the summer of 1970 when I was taking a graduate course at Purdue and he was there for a summer workshop.  We began working together on Aug. 4, 1970 and we've been together ever since.  I'm sure as he retires he'll enjoy remembering CCHS FFA trips to Louisville, Ky., New Paris, Mississippi and Canada.  I know I'll never forget following Bill, LaVerne Schrader and Junior Studebaker at speeds of up to 80 miles per hour," he said.

"We took several trips to the FFA Center in Canada and I'm sure he'll remember our first trip to Carpenter Lake, Sandy's Sunrise Shores, Rock Lake Cabin, Prairie Bee Lake and the Falls of Carpenter Lake.  I'm sure he'll fondly remember the sorghum crop the FFA planted and harvested it at 11 p.m. to get to the mill at Baker's Corner, only to arrive home around 5 a.m. and teaching at 8 a.m.

"I'm sure Bill can talk of all the changes he's seen in his tenure but I know it's been fun and interesting to work with him for the past 29 years and I wish him well," concluded Warren....

Obituary furnished by Raymond Bechtel, Class of 1957

Coach "Boag" Johnson

David Ralph "Boag" Johnson, 83, of Warsaw, beloved husband of MaryEllen for the past 61 years, died on Monday, July 11, 2005.  Born in Huntington on Dec. 6, 1921, a son of David and Flora Johnson, he graduated in 1939 from Union Center.

After serving in the U.S. Army, he graduated from Huntington College in 1947. He played professional basketball for the Anderson Packers and the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons from 1948 to 1952. In 1964, he was nominated for the Silver Anniversary Basketball Team and was Huntington College Alumnus of the Year. He was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.

"Boag" coached varsity basketball at Columbia City High School from 1952 to 1957, and was athletic director from 1958 to 1960. He moved to Warsaw and coached the Tigers from 1961 to 1971. He taught physical education, health & safety, driver's training, and served as a guidance counselor. He initiated the buildings trade program at Warsaw Community High School. He retired in 1985.

His hobby was carpentry. He built all the homes he lived in since 1968, plus assisted family and friends with their projects.

He is survived by his wife, MaryEllen (Robinson) Johnson; three daughters, Jorie (James) Webster of Warsaw; Kristine (Larry) Ummel of Kimmell, and Leslie (Ray) Barna of Vandalia, Mich.; a son, Greg Johnson of Warsaw; two sisters, Martha Burnau and Dorothy Tuggle, both of Warsaw; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, a brother, and his oldest son, David Johnson.

"Boag" loved his family and his country. He served in Europe during World War II and was a member of American Legion Post 49 of Warsaw. He was known to say that he had lived a great life and would not change a thing.

To celebrate his life, a tribute service is at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 16, at Titus Funeral Home in Warsaw, with Dick Kehoe officiating. Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial is at Oakwood Cemetery, with military graveside service conducted by American Legion Post 49 and V.F.W. 1126.

For those who prefer, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate Memorial & Tributes, Lockbox 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674.

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Biography

Graphic by Richard A. Waugh, Class of 1960:

The CCHS Alumni Association hosted a registration booth for its first CCHS Alumni Days during Old Settler's Day, June 21~25. Several hundred alumni submitted their profiles on laptop computers for the new website and received CCHS Alumni Association stickers.  Steve Beck, owner of  B.E. Computers, provided internet connections for the booth.

Deb E. Bowie McClurg (1976) won CCHSAA's 50-50 raffle.  Ted Gruver (1957) Founder & President, and Board of Directors member Dick Phend (1951) presented Deb with $185.00 on June 25th.

The first CCHS Alumni Days was notable for its heat, with temperatures hitting 97 degrees at least two days.  A special thanks to the booth volunteers, who reported as scheduled & did a great job in spite of the heat, and to officers & board members who rode in the parade

L-R:  Dick Phend (1951), Vernon Trier (1943), Ruth Ann Bowie Davis (1957), Sue Gruver, Tom Felger (1957). Picture taken by Ted Gruver (1957), CCHSAA Founder & President, who also participated in the parade.

The Columbia City High School Class of 1946 held a reunion on April 29, 2005, in the back room of Old Country Buffet, 5507 Coldwater Road in Fort Wayne.  It was an all-you-can eat buffet dinner with a variety of food for $6.79 plus tax & tip.  All members of the class for any of the four years, whether graduating or not, along with spouses & guests were welcomed.

 Berneice (Sutton) Herr and Martha Long were in charge of the reunion. Contact Long at 260-244-6801.