I am thankful to be a Fremont High School graduate. Our school has kept a tradition for 128 years of hosting an Alumni Banquet. Each year we come together to welcome the new graduating class into our Alumni Association, with special recognition for graduates from the 25-, 50-, and 60-year classes. I’ve been helping Jo Crawford and Tammy Quick with the banquet for years, mostly because I see how important it is to our alumni and how proud they are to stand with their classmates as the roll call comes to their graduating year. It’s amazing to me that, for that evening, I have a connection with everyone in that room, and that’s pretty special. Many people have told me how wonderful it is that we continue this tradition and wish their school would have done this as well.
This year we are honoring another former teacher from Fremont, David Goodwin. He taught at Fremont schools from 1960 to 2001. He began teaching in the fall of 1960 after graduating from Michigan State. He taught seventh grade Indiana History and 10th grade World Geography. He told his daughter, Bridget Ehinger, class of 1980, there were so many signed up for the class that there were not enough desks. My sister, Lorraine Collins Throop, class of 1965, was one of those high school students. She said he was always very helpful and made the class interesting. She also credits him for her love of history.
David Goodwin coached football in its first year at Fremont in 1961. Looking through yearbooks, I see he also coached high school cross country that year, and he’s holding a trophy! He coached 7-8th grade track, cross country, basketball and junior high football as well.
Both of Goodwin’s parents and his sister were school teachers. He met the love of his life, Marlene Champion, class of 1958, on a blind date. In July of this year, they will celebrate 64 years as husband and wife. They have three children who graduated from Fremont High School. He loves spending time with his family, grands and great grands. He has painted houses, enjoys hunting and fishing and just being outside. He and his wife reside in the Fremont area.
In 1965, Goodwin taught fifth grade, that’s when he was my teacher. He was my first male teacher. I have good memories of that year. He set the classroom rules and the consequences for breaking them. Back then rules were rules, not just suggestions. He wanted you to do well which made us want to learn and do well. He was respected by his students and teachers as well. Goodwin had a love and desire to teach which was quite evident. Mary Farver Close, class of 1973, and I represented our fifth grade class in the spelling bee. Goodwin gave us each a corsage to wear before the competition started, I’m pretty sure that was my first corsage. We thought that was so special. Neither of us won that year, but we will never forget his kindness. Goodwin’s daughter, Bridget, was in his 6th grade class. She said he shaped the way she taught her preschool children. He influenced her teaching skills and her approach with them. He very much stressed reading; it was a big thing to him. He would always read stories at the end of class time.
When middle school changed to include fifth and sixth grades, he chose to stay in the elementary school and taught third grade until his retirement in 2001. My son, Benjamin Smith, class of 2005, said he was a fun teacher. One of the many things he remembered was Mr. Goodwin reading “Goosebumps” books at the end of the day. It seems he was one of many people’s favorite teacher. Thank you Mr. Goodwin for your 41 years at Fremont Schools.
I was fortunate to have many good teachers, ones I will remember the rest of my life. Some other memories I have from my school years are band and marching band, especially when we made formations on the football field, making both team’s initial and playing the school’s songs, and of course, the national anthem. We had a performance at half time too. I also remember the choir, musicals, fan buses, winning the basketball sectional in 1973 and the list goes on and on. But most importantly, are the friends made through the years. We may not see each other often, but when we do, we are transported back to our school days and the memories made there.
Well, these are a few of my memories — you have your own memories to share. A great place to do that is at the Alumni Banquet. Invite a classmate or two and share some of your memories with friends on May 25 at 6 p.m. at the Fremont Middle School gymnasium. Tickets are on sale at Fremont Village Foods and Patchwork & Sparkle Ceramics in Fremont through May 22 for $12 each, which includes being served a delicious meal. Tickets may be purchased at the door the night of the banquet for $15 each.
If you are not able to come this year, please mark it on your calendar for next year. The banquet is traditionally held the night before graduation.
