Tag Archives: Veterans

CA educator and highly-decorated veteran Ernest Robles

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California educator Ernest Robles also served as a highly-decorated veteran in the Korean War. Photo Credit: Legacy.com

Many excellent classroom teachers have also served their country as military veterans. One of these was Ernest Robles, a California educator who was also a highly-decorated Marine in the Korean War.

Ernest was born on Feb. 16, 1931, in Pirtleville, Arizona. As a young man, he lettered in football. After high school, Ernest served his country in the US Marines, where he saw combat in the Korean War. While there, he earned a Bronze Star, a Navy Commendation Medal of Valor, and a Purple Heart.

Once he was discharged from the military, Ernest earned his Bachelor’s degree in History from University of California, Los Angeles. He earned his Master’s degree in Education from the University of Redlands in Redlands, California. After completing his education, Ernest spent many years teaching school, working as a school counselor, and serving as a principal and administrator in the Riverside School District in Riverside. Later, he moved to San Francisco where he accepted a position as an Assistant Regional Administrator for Equal Educational Opportunities in the US Office of Education.

Ernest also supported education by founding the National Hispanic Scholarship Fund. Starting the effort out of his own home in 1975, he headed the organization for more than 20 years, distributing $30,000 in scholarships in the first year alone. Over the next 20 years, the Fund distributed a total of $31 million to more than 30,000 outstanding college students. Under his direction, the scholarship fund was named the Nation’s Best Fund Charity by Worth magazine in 1987. His legacy continues even today, as the Fund has now awarded $50 million in scholarships.

For his contributions to the Hispanic community, Ernest was honored at the White House by President Ronald Reagan, President George Bush, and First Lady Hillary Clinton. He has also received the Education Leadership Award from the College Board and the Hispanic Higher Education Award from the National Hispanic Corporate Council. In addition, he was named one of the “100 Influential Hispanics in the United States” by Hispanic Magazine.

After his retirement from education, Ernest enjoyed traveling, reading, and cheering on his favorite team, the San Francisco 49ers. Sadly, Ernest passed away on Sept. 5, 2022. He was 91 years old.

US veteran, American hero, and teacher Carl Kimmons

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US veteran, American hero, and long-time Social Studies teacher Carl Kimmons. Photo Credit: United States Naval Undersea Museum

I always enjoy sharing stories about courageous servicemen who were also classroom teachers. One of these was Carl Kimmons, a Navy serviceman who was also a long-time public school teacher in Connecticut.

Carl was born on April 10, 1920, in Hamilton, Ohio, the great-grandson of a Mississippi slave and a slave owner. As an African American youngster, he was raised in poverty, racial discrimination, and segregation, from which he longed to escape.

In 1940, at the age of 20, Carl enlisted in the US Navy, during a period when opportunities for African American servicemen were limited. He inaugurated started his military career as a mess attendant, cook, and steward. Later he was assigned to the destroyer USS McFarland, where he completed administrative duties such as typing reports and updating the ship’s log. From 1942 to the end of the war, he served submarine duty on the USS Plunger, the USS Parche, and the USS Cobbler, where he saw action on no less than seven war patrols. For his bravery in battle, he earned a Navy Commendation Medal and a Presidential Unit Citation.

In 1961, Carl completed officer training school in Newport, Rhode Island. He then moved to Washington, DC, where he accepted a position in the US Hydrographic Office. His duties there included administration, security, and top secret control. He also served in these roles at the submarine base in New London, Connecticut. By the time he retired after 30 years of service, he had climbed to the rank of full lieutenant.

After his discharge from the military, Carl decided to settle in Connecticut. He went back to school, and at age 53, earned his Bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, in History from Connecticut College in 1973. He went on to earn his Master’s degree in History from Southern University of Connecticut.

After earning his degrees, Carl launched a new career as a Social Studies teacher at Waterford High School in Waterford, Connecticut. His career as an educator spanned 22 years. “I was a tough teacher, too, I guess because of my military background,” Carl once confessed. “In study halls I told them ‘Either study or fake it!’,” he said. “But many of my old students thank me now and say I really taught them how to study,” he concluded.

Carl Kimmons passed away on Aug. 4, 2016, in Waterford, Connecticut. He was 96 years old. He was interred in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1987, this American Hero and Chalkboard Champion was inducted into the Booker T. Washington Community Center’s Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ohio. He is also pictured in an exhibit at the World War II Museum at Pearl Harbor.

To read more about Carl, see this feature article published on page 30 of the Connecticut College Magazine in 2011.

Former teacher Evelyn Bowles served in the Illinois State Senate

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Former elementary school teacher Evelyn Bowles served in the Illinois State Senate, and is also a US veteran. Photo Credit: St. Louis Dispatch

Many times, competent educators dedicate themselves to public service. Evelyn Bowles, an elementary school teacher from Illinois, was an educator like this. She served her community as a State Senator for many years.

Evelyn was born on April 22, 1921 in Worden, Illinois, although she was raised in Livingston, Illinois. During World Water II, Evelyn served as a yeoman in the US Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPAR) Intelligence Division. Her military service spanned the years from 1943 to 1945.

To further her education, Evelyn attended Greenville College, Illinois State University, and Southern Illinois University. While working as an elementary school teacher she taught first at Edwardsville CU #7 and then at the Elementary School in Livingston.

From 1975 to 1994, Evelyn served as the County Clerk for Madison County, Illinois. In this position, she managed election processes, kept the county’s vital records, and supervised 25 employees. Although she was a Democrat, Evelyn developed a reputation for running a nonpartisan, no-nonsense office.

In 1994 Evelyn was appointed to fill the seat of Democrat Sam M. Vadalabene in the Illinois State Senate, who had unexpectedly passed away while in office. There she represented the 56th Senate District until 2002. During her years in the Illinois State Senate, Evelyn worked diligently on numerous projects of vital importance, including one to protect lands surrounding the site of the Cahokia Mounds. In 2000, the former teacher received the Illinois Archeology Public Service Award for this work.

Evelyn spent a lifetime supporting educational causes. When she retired from public office in 2002, she used her unspent campaign funds to establish a scholarship for future public servants at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. “I can’t think of anything that would mean more to me than encouraging others to take an active role in public service, the electoral process and government,” the former educator explained.

The many awards Evelyn earned are too numerous to list, but here are the some of the most prestigious: In 1979 she garnered the Alice Paul Award from the Alton-Edwardsville Chapter of NOW. In 1984 she received the Girl Scouts Service Award, and she was recognized among the Outstanding Working Women of Illinois by the Illinois Federation of Business and Professional Women in 1986. In 1987 she received the Social Security Administration Service Award.

Evelyn Bowles passed away in Edwardsville, Illinois, on April 8, 2016, just two weeks shy of her 95th birthday. To read more about her, see this obituary published by the St. Louis Dispatch.

Matt Nielson: STEM teacher, veteran, and finalist for 2022 Minnesota Teacher of the Year

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Science educator Matt Nielson from Valley City, Minnesota, has been named a finalist for the honor of 2022 Minnesota State Teacher of the Year. He is also a member of the National Guard. Photo Credit: US Army

There are many dedicated, and, I dare say, heroic teachers who work diligently in American schools. One of them is Matt Neilson, a science teacher from North Dakota who is also a member of the Minnesota National Guard.

Matt currently teaches chemistry, physics, and STEM courses to 11th and 12th graders at Valley City High in Valley City, North Dakota. He also serves as the Head Coach for both the boys’ and girls’ tennis teams. His work in his school is so highly respected and appreciated that Matt has been named one of four finalists for 2022 North Dakota Teacher of Year honors.

Matt’s curriculum emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration. For example, he developed one lesson that required students to create a periodic table based on fictitious elements. In collaborative learning pairs, the students looked for a pattern, debate their proposed solutions with each other, and then justify their conclusions. This Chalkboard Champion also promotes the value of relationships. “The more adults that they know that care about them, that kind of helps them along their path,” declares Matt. 

In addition to his work in the classroom, Matt serves as a Captain in the North Dakota National Guard. His military occupational specialty is a chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear officer. For his service, the exemplary educator has earned a Meritorious Service Medal for completing 20 years of service. “I served over in Iraq in 2003-2004,” reveals Matt. “In 2006, I re-enlisted, and in 2009 I talked with my wife and we decided, you know what, we’re going to make a career of it and stayed in for 20,” he continues. “I believed in what we were doing. I believed in the mission. I believed in our state and our country,” he says.

 

CA’s Robert Brooks: Teacher, veteran, and outstanding athletic coach

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Outstanding high school athlete Robert Brooks of Southern California went on to teach and coach at the high school level, and then became an excellent athletic coach at UC Davis. Photo Credit: Legacy.com

Many outstanding high school and college athletes go on to become excellent coaches and teachers. One of these was Robert Brooks, an outstanding athlete from Southern California who went on to a stellar career as a high school and college coach for wrestling, rugby, track, and football.

Robert was born in August, 1931, in Chino, California. As a young man, he attended Chino High School where he excelled as an athlete. He lettered in football, basketball, tennis, and track.

After his high school graduation, Robert attended Mount San Antonio Junior College in Walnut, California, where he played football. In 1949, his team captured a state championship, and Robert was named Player of the Year. In 1951 and 1952, the outstanding athlete attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played football.

Once Robert earned his Bachelor’s degree, he enlisted in the US Navy and was sent to Pearl Harbor. There, while stationed on the submarines USS Green Fish and USS Caiman, he played football for the Navy between his tours of duty. His team was crowned the Island Champions and played in the Hula Bowl versus the College All-Stars from the mainland.

After his discharge from the service, Robert returned to UC Berkeley and earned his Master’s degree in Education. He inaugurated his career in the teaching profession at Miramonte High School located in Orinda, California. There he served as the Head Football Coach, an Assistant Coach for the track team, and wrestling. His stint at Miramonte spanned five years. During these years, he also played rugby on a team that won a National Club Championship.

In 1962, Robert left the high school to accept a position at UC Davis as an Assistant Coach for football and track. In 1964, he founded the school’s rugby team, and from 1967 to 1990 he coached the Davis wrestling team.

For many years, in addition to his work with college students, Robert also worked with younger athletes. In the 1960s, he hosted a summer camp for children in foster care, pairing each child with a student mentor from Davis High School for a week of adventure in the Sierra Mountains. Beginning in the early 1970s, Robert also participated in the Davis Kids Summer Sports School program. For the program, which ran for ten summers, he taught wrestling and football. He even drove a bus to transport the kids back and forth to camp.

Robert Brooks, a true Chalkboard Champion, passed away in March of 2022. He was 91 years old.