Tag Archives: Veterans

Chet Blalock: Teacher, veteran, and Montana State Senator

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Many talented educators have also made a name for themselves in the political arena. Such is the case for Chester Merle Blalock, better known as Chet Blaylock, a history teacher, veteran, and state senator from Montana.

Chet was born on Novembr 13, 1924, in Joliet, Montana. He served his country well as a member of the United States Navy during World War II. He earned four medals for his service in the South Pacific.

After the war, this heroic veteran earned his Bachelor’s degree in History in 1951 and his Master’s degree in Education in 1957, both from the University of Montana. He then worked as a teacher and school administrator for over 30 years in both Laurel and Chinook, Montana. He retired from the teaching profession in 1991.

During his long career as an educator, Chet served as a delegate to the Montana State Constitutional Convention in 1972, and as a member of the Montana State Senate from Laurel, Montana. He believed that every Montana child was entitled to a free, quality education, a livable environment, a good job, and affordable health care. He a spent a lifetime pursuing that objective.

In 1996, Chet became the nominee for governor of Montana. He ran on the Democratic ticket against incumbent Marc Racicot.  Sadly, on October 23, 1996, on his way to a debate with his opponent less than two weeks before the election, the former educator passed away of a heart attack at Deer Lodge, Montana. He was 71 years old. Chet Blalock was cremated and his ashes interred at Rockvale Cemetery in Rockvale, Montana. In his memory, a scholarship in the amount of $600 has been established to be awarded to a full-time student at Montana State University at Billings.

Francis Wayland Parker: Pioneer of the Progressive Movement in Education

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New Hampshire’s Francis Wayland Parker, educator and Civil War veteran, was a pioneer in the Progressive Movement in education.  Photo credit: Public Domain.

At the turn of the of the 20th century, one of the most celebrated pioneers of the Progressive Movement in education was Colonel Francis Wayland Parker of New Hampshire.

In a time when modern ideas were not popular, this innovative educator promoted a philosophy that education should not emphasize standardization, rote memorization, and isolated drill. Rather, he advocated a curriculum that addressed the development of the whole student, including the child’s intellectual, physical, and moral growth. He created a model program that was strong on language development and geared towards teaching students to think and make decisions independently. Today we would recognize his strategies as teaching critical thinking skills and creative problem-solving.

Francis Parker was born on October 9, 1837, in Bedford, New Hampshire. At the tender age of 16 he became the village teacher, and when the Civil War broke out seven years later, this young educator enlisted as a private in the 4th New Hampshire Volunteer Army. It wasn’t long before he was promoted to lieutenant, then to lieutenant colonel, and then to commander. In May, 1865, Colonel Parker was captured by Confederate forces and held as a prisoner of war in North Carolina.

When the war was over, this Civil War veteran resumed his teaching career, first as a classroom teacher, and then as a principal. In 1872, the continuously evolving educator traveled to Germany to study pedagogy at the Humboldt University of Berlin. When he returned, he became the coordinator of a highly-acclaimed teacher-training institution In Chicago, Illinois.

Colonel Parker is an American hero in so many ways, and is undoubtedly a Chalkboard Champion in the truest sense of the word. You can read more about this remarkable historical figure in my second book, Chalkboard Heroes: Twelve Courageous Teachers and Their Deeds of Valor, available from amazon.

PA’s Christine Houlahan: Educator, veteran, and politician

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Christine Houlahan of Pennsylvania: Educator, veteran, politician. Photo credit US Congress.

The Teach For America program has produced some very fine educators. One of these is Christine Houlahan, a high school science teacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also serves as a representative in the US Congress.

Christine was born on June 5, 1967, at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Her father was born to a Jewish family in Poland, and at age four, he emigrated to avoid the Holocaust. After serving as a naval aviator, he became a historian and author.

As a young woman, Christine completed the requirements for her Bachelor’s degree in Engineering at Stanford University in California in 1989. She earned her Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Christine also served three years in the United States Air Force and 13 years in the Air Force Reserve. She retired from the military in 2004 after earning the rank of captain.

After completing her military career, Christine accepted a job in the private sector. While there, she completed 40 hours of paid community service working with young girls in a local Science, Engineering, and Technology (STEM) program. Later she enrolled in the Teach for American program. Through this program, she taught eleventh grade chemistry and other science courses at Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia.

After she left the Teach for America program, Christine joined Springboard Collaborative, a Philadelphia-based non-profit focusing on early childhood literacy in underserved populations nationwide. She served as both President and CFO/COO of that organization before leaving to focus on her political campaign.

In 2018, Christine was elected to the Democratic ticket to serve as a representative in the US Congress from Pennsylvania’s 6th District. During the one term that she served, her platform  included an emphasis on health care, campaign finance reform, and the creation of more jobs. She also stressed the importance of education, veterans’ affairs, and family issues. While in Congress, she was part of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Small Business Committee, and the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Christine Houlahan: Veteran, politician, and Chalkboard Champion

Vocational ed teacher and US veteran Leland Huff

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Vocational education educator Leland Huff of San Bernardino, California, was also a US veteran. Photo credit: Lori Huff.

Many fine educators have also served our country in the United States military. One of these was Leland Huff, a vocational education teacher from San Bernardino, California, who served in the US Army during the Korean War.

Leland was born on March 18, 1932, in Inkster, Michigan. As a young man, he attended Western High School in Detroit, where he played football, ran track, and worked part-time at the Coca Cola Company. Once he graduated, Leland entered the US Army. During the Korean War, he served for two years in Hokkaido, Japan, as part of he Military Police.

Upon his discharge, Leland returned to Detroit and enrolled at Wayne State University on the GI Bill. There he earned first his Bachelor’s and then his Master’s degree in Special Education, with an additional Master’s in Industrial Education.

After teaching for several years in Michigan, Leland and his wife Mary decided to relocate to California. There he taught high school courses in wood shop and other subjects. He also conducted summer school instruction in working with wood, metal and plastic, and drafting. He also taught vocational education courses in the adult education program. As a teacher, Leland was appreciated for his encouraging words, advising his students to make all that they could of their lives, and he was well known for his sense of humor, telling jokes his students called “Huff Duds.” In all, Leland’s career as an educator spanned 41 years.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away on May 7, 2021. He was 89 years old. Because he was a veteran, he was laid to rest at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California. To read more about Leland Huff, see this obituary published by Bobbitt Mortuary.

Educator DeWayne Bunch survived a war, but not a brawl

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Educator, politician, and veteran DeWayne Bunch survived a tour of duty in Iraq, but not a lunchroom brawl at his school. Photo credit: Ballotpedia.

As Memorial Day approaches, let’s take a moment to remember educator, politician, and veteran DeWayne Bunch, the Chalkboard Champion that survived the Iraq War, but not a lunchroom brawl.

For 17 years, DeWayne Bunch was a beloved teacher of mathematics and science at Whitley County High School in Williamsburg, Kentucky. DeWayne was also a member of the Kentucky National Guard for 23 years, and had served in the Kentucky Army National Guard as a First Sergeant. His service sent him on a tour of duty in Iraq. His valor there earned him a Bronze Star. A multi-talented individual, DeWayne was elected in 2010 to the Kentucky State House of Representatives on the Republican ticket. There he represented the 82nd District. As a legislator, he served on House Committees for Education; Veterans’ Affairs; and Transportation.

Sadly, DeWayne’s story does not have a happy ending. One morning in 2011, a brawl between two students broke out in the school cafeteria. DeWayne was the first of three faculty members who rushed in to quell the fray. Unfortunately, DeWayne took a direct punch meant for another student, was knocked to the floor, and hit his head on the hard surface. A surface described as “like slate.” Suffering from severe head and spinal cord injuries, DeWayne was rushed to the nearest hospital. What followed was a year of extensive rehabilitative therapy, during which time DeWayne resigned his position in the Kentucky House of Representatives. His wife, Regina Bunch, a special education teacher at Whitely County Middle School, was elected to fill his vacated position.

Sadly, DeWayne died as a result of his injuries just over a year later, on July 11, 2012. He was only 49 years old. Our country lost a true hero and Chalkboard Champion that day.

DeWayne was born on February 22, 1962, in Williamsburg, Kentucky. He graduated from Cumberland College in 1992 with a degree in Education. He earned his Master’s degree from Union College in 1995, in Principal Certification.

To learn more about this Kentucky veteran and educator, see his biography at Vote Smart.