Sunday, December 2, 2018

30for30: Most Memorable Teachers/Staff #30

In just 119 days, the LHS Class of 1989 will celebrate its 30th high school reunion (on Saturday, March 30, 2019 at 7pm in the back room of the infamous Downtown Lounge) ... and to get us excited about that milestone, I'll be presenting four special TOP 30 lists -- a different one for each of the months ahead.

The December list will be the top 30 most memorable teachers/staff (see rules below), and kicking us off is none other than the late THOMAS D HEILMAN (seen here in his 89 yearbook faculty photo, obituary link below).

Mr. Heilman was special to our class because he "came up" with us -- first tormenting us in Junior High with coed square dancing, and then joining us at the High School the same year we all did when he got promoted.  He was known for his mash-up sports -- I still remember playing kickball/basketball (where the outs came from the other team getting a basket before the kicker made it around the bases in the gym).

And on a personal note, I owe him the fact that I actually graduated, as I'm pretty sure I failed gym class my senior year due to excessive absences in his first period class.  I'd like to think that he did so because he knew there was a non-gym-class-influenced future in front of me ... but it's probably because I was bringing down the school's Presidential Fitness score average.

Here's to you, Mr. Heilman!

RULES FOR THIS TOP 30 LIST:  Honorees must be one of the ninety individuals listed in the faculty pages of the '89 yearbook (which means two thirds of the list are already not going to be referenced).  Honorees may also be selected from the photos of support staff as well (so long as they are on the surrounding pages of the same section).  Honorees must be memorable (if there are no stories, then there will be no post about that person).  Honorees are chosen and ranked by me (if you disagree, start your own list on your own blog).  All memories are believed to be accurate (but are being told through the lens of thirty or more years, so ... you know.)

THOMAS D HEILMAN's OBITUARY:  
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ldnews/obituary.aspx?n=thomas-d-heilman&pid=18206960&fhid=6450

NEWS FROM OUR CLASS ON THE FACEBOOK (IF YOU ARE A MEMBER):
https://www.facebook.com/groups/189980661939188/