In the 1963 Bluff…
we find Wendell Pleis still teaching.
Mr. Wendell Pleis obtained his B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska and his M.A. degree from Colorado State College. He teaches general and advanced metal, basic electricity and is A.V. coordinator.
Wendell is still running The Projectionists/Audio-Visual group.
Originated as a civic organization in 1955 was the Audio Visual Club. This club assists the teachers in their classroom discussion by showing specially requested films. One of its first sponsors was Dr. Lauren Schwisow, who was responsible for starting the club.
Certain services performed by the club are playing records for dances, wiring the sound system for the cafeteria and the foul lights for the basketball games.
Wendell had a very special message for a student named Richard Jack.
I’m very happy that I have the opportunity to work with a group of boys who spend a great deal of the their time working for the good of the school system. I would like to express my appreciation to each member of the Audio Visual Club for his part in doing this job.
Very little recognition is given to these boys for the part they play in our school, but this year we have one who deserves more than a “thank you.” This individual not only did what he was asked, but also looked for ways to better our school. His willingness to work was accompanied by his ability to get the job done. A person who has these qualities deserves some type of recognition. On behalf of all who had a chance to enjoy working with Richard Jack we would like to acknowledge his sincere efforts.
Mr. Wendell Pleis
A-V Director
It says that it was created in 1955, Dr. Lauren Schwisow was one of the first sponsors and that he was responsible for starting the club. That seems to contradict what’s actually in the yearbooks. Audio Visual predates 1955. For example, the 1953 yearbook has Bernard L. Goerke listed as the “Director of Audio-Visual Aids”. Maybe things were changed on the back-end to formalize Audio-Visual as The Projectionists predated 1955 as well.
The Radio-TV production program was still in existence.
Originated in 1953, Radio-TV Production’s purpose is to act as a public relations link between the high school and the community. It provides radio and television program experience for students interested in these areas of mass communication.
Students compile the total show which includes engineering, continuity, and music. This experience enables students to become better public speakers and also choose a vocation.
This year is the second in which the program has been extended to include television. This enables the students to reach more of the community and inform them as to the events that are in progress at the high school.
This year an experiment was launched in cooperation with the dramatics department. This department furnished actors for short plays that were given.
Bruce R. Minteer is still running the program.
Mr. Bruce Minteer secured his B.S. of Education from the University of Nebraska. As a faculty member, he teaches journalism and is the adviser for Bluff staff, Echoes staff, Radio-TV Production and the Camera Club, Mr. Minteer is also the head sponsor of Quill and Scroll.
It says this program started in 1953. As we’ve seen, this goes back as early as the 1947-1948 school year. No idea why this has the different date. It doesn’t even lineup with when Radio Mechanics stopped and Radio Production continued as the only part of their radio program.
Wendell taught one more year at Scottsbluff High School, but this is the last yearbook we have. In his oral history Wendell said that he went and asked the principal about expanding the electronics program and was told no. This led him to call up family in California. He found out that Campolindo needed teachers. We’ll see Wendell next during the 1964-1965 school year at Campolindo.
Scottsbluff’s radio program would go for a few more years before disappearing by the school year of 1966-1967. Bruce Minteer taught there for a few more years after that before he ended up at Freeport High School, IL and continued into the 1980s. Why the program stopped is a mystery. If we had to guess, it would be that Minteer didn’t want to do it anymore. As you can see in his blurb, he had a lot on his plate.
As with all these posts, please feel free to share any information you might have.
For more on the Acalanes Radio Station KCEQ rabbit hole and other Lafayette History Rabbit Holes.
Leave a Reply