He was my high school English teacher. I would come in class and take my clipboard and run it down the radiator making a loud noise. He kept telling me not to do that. At 16 years old it went in one ear and out the other. He apparently had enough and one day told me if I did it again he would paddle me. So force of habit next day I popped it on the radiator. He yelled at me and said I warned you. When the class bell rang he called me to the front of the class, said bend over and gave me a good lick. At that time teachers never paddled anyone in front of the class. It was probably funny to watch because he was so short and I was over six foot by that time. He later told me he thought he was going to need a step stool to stand on to paddle me.
English was not my best subject. I struggled with writing my whole time in high school and college. My proudest moment was when I had my first paper published in an Engineering journal. I sent him a copy because I was sure he would have never believed it otherwise. Thank heavens for spell check.
He has been friends with me and my family over the years. I always enjoyed spending time with him. He was one of those people you could not see for years and just continue your last conversations. The last time I saw him was at my wife’s funeral. We talked on the phone several times after that because I think he was concerned about me.
I will miss him he was a great person who impacted a lot of lives.
Bob Barnett, PE
