Old School

As part of my training for the big bicycle trip across Iowa I need to do at least two back-to back 80 mile trips in two consecutive days. I've got only 40 more days to get in shape! Today I rode a measly 54 miles. Part of my journey took me to the town where I grew up: Villa Park, Illinois.
As I rode past the middle school that I attended some 48 years ago, it reminded me of how much fun 5th grade really was. Back then it was called Villa Middle School, but now it is named after Mr. John E. Albright.

I remember Mr. Albright back then. He was the principal of the school and he would often visit the classes and ask questions. It sort of reminded me of this guy on TV named Art Linkletter. Linkletter had a show called 'Kids say the darndest things'. He would ask these kids questions on TV and the kids always said the darndest things. I guess that's how I saw it back then when Mr. Albright asked his questions. An opportunity to say the darndest thing!
So I stopped in to visit John E. Albright Middle School and snapped a picture of Mr. Albright's portrait.

John E Albright

And then, just for comparison, I have here a picture of Art Linkletter:

Art Linkletter

Maybe they look a little bit alike?

The school let me look through some of the old yearbooks, but there were none from 1960. I found a picture of Mr. Dollinger, the Industrial Arts teacher in the 1973 yearbook. He was the only teacher that I can remember form the '73 book. Note: When he would show the class movies of classical paintings, he would put is hand in front of the lens whenever a painting of nudes appeared!

Robert Dollinger

Note: Yes, that's a cigarette in his mouth!