Remembering Mr. Blocker

When we started classes at the "new" high school in the fall of 1967, one of the classes was building trades.  The newly-hired instructor for that course was Mr. Blocker.  That was a very practical class, and he taught 34 years, retiring in 2000.  The students would actually build a house, and then auction it off at the end of the school year.  I believe many of his students later used those skills to begin their own construction businesses.  Mr. Blocker passed away recently at the age of 71.  Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to his family.  His daughter was one of our students when she was in Middle School.  She always seemed to be so cheerful and positive, and had an ever-present smile.  A complete obituary can be found at http://rudesfuneralhome.com/sitemaker/sites/RudesF1/obit.cgi?user=684746Blocker or http://www.brookingsregister.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=15198&page=80

The high school has been remodeled extensively since we have graduated.  There are additional classrooms, a new lunchroom, new music rooms, a new girls locker room, a new weight room, and an auxiliary gymnasium.  The auditorium has recently been remodeled, also. The entire school must be at least twice as big as when it first opened.  We should be able to arrange for a tour at our next reunion in 2014.