The Thorp Courier

Thorp High School Alumni Letter

December 20, 2006

 

Greetings to Thorp Alumni

Thorp Alumni Association Loses Long Time Leader

Angeline ‘Angie’ Teclaw graduated from Thorp High School in 1941. After graduation she went on to Gregg Business College in Chicago and earned a degree in accounting that led to a very successful professional career.

Volunteering was a big part of Angie’s life. In 1993, upon her return to her home town, Thorp, she continued volunteering in several organizations including the Thorp Alumni Association. She took over as secretary for the TAA in 1993 and continued until she stepped down in 2005. However, she remained active with the TAA through the alumni reunion in July, 2006.

In 2002, the TAA presented Angie Teclaw with an award recognizing her for her career successes and her lifetime of volunteering, despite living with a handicap her entire life. The award, named in her honor, is called the ANGIE AWARD, and has been awarded to other deserving recipients.

Ann Huls, longtime friend of Angie, says, “We in the Historical Society, the Legion Auxiliary and the Alumni Association will surely miss Angie’s presence among us. She was a true leader and we felt comfortable and confident with her in control. People seemed to want to give their best to any project Angie was in charge of. I will always cherish the memories of the personal friendship I was privileged to share with her.”

There is no device made that can measure what Angie has accomplished in her life nor measure what she has meant as a volunteer to so many organizations.

Thank you, Angie. You will be sorely missed and long remembered.

 

Thanks to Thorp Alumni Basketball Players

Recently, the Thorp High School basketball court was named JACK TETZNER COURT. The lettering on the court was completed prior to November 25th, the night of the dedication ceremony. The dedication preceded the Cardinal boys’ basketball game vs. Chippewa Falls McDonell. A number of players were in attendance at this dedication.

Former Thorp High School boys’ basketball players, those who played for Coach Tetzner between 1954 and 1988, have donated money to purchase a memorial plaque for their coach. The alumni will donate the plaque to Thorp High School to be hung in the multi-purpose room near the entrance to the gymnasium.

Many of the players who contributed to the Jack Tetzner Memorial Fund commented on the impact he had on their lives. Some of those comments follow:

“I was just a farm boy with average ability. Coach Tetzner was able to recognize the strengths of each of his players. He worked us hard and got us to give our best. He was tough, but fair.” George Lato ‘63

“Coach Tetzner! He gave his heart and soul to all of his basketball teams! No one was more dedicated than he was. I have a lot of memories of Jack and they were life long lessons that he taught all of us. It was like it happened yesterday. Thank you, Jack.” Tony Welgos ‘65

“Throughout my life I have thought of Jack many, many times. I thank him for a big part in how my life turned out; Jack was more than the best coach to all of us.” Denny Haas ‘62

“The coach was larger than being an advocate for basketball; he was also concerned about helping a person find his way in life.” Phil Pabich ’61

“It is remarkable that although this man was only involved in most of our lives for a brief time at the end of our teenage years, the effects of his coaching, teaching, and counseling have remained a part of us as we continue through the various stages of adult life. I know that the lessons that I learned while being a ‘Tetzner’ basketball player have been applied throughout my life and have resulted in a greater level of success and effectiveness than if I had not received such an important education from him. As a principal, I see first hand the problems associated with students who do not have a positive and influential male role model in their lives and I feel very blessed that have had two such men in my own life, my father, and Coach Jack Tetzner.” Jon Fleming ‘76

“After I officiated my first WIAA state tournament basketball game, I got a phone call from Coach Tetzner. He said, ‘I watched your state tournament game, you did a good job.’ This simple statement, coming from a man that I respect and admire, still has a powerful message for me today.” Bob Lesniewski ‘66

“Jack Tetzner was one of the most respected high school coaches in the state of Wisconsin. He was a coach ahead of his time. He was respected by opposing coaches. He was respected and loved by his players. He cared about his players and was a great motivator.” Don Soderberg ‘57

“He was a key figure in my going on to college following six years in the military and working in Thorp. He was a large figure in helping mold what I am today.” Aaron Mattes ‘60

“I played in Jack’s first year at Thorp. We were the first team in the area required to wear white shirts and ties to the games. He received many compliments on how neat it looked to see a team dressed up like that. If you look at the lives and careers of his players after graduation, you8 might be amazed at their successes and accomplishments. I believe Jack had a great deal to do with that. Rex Schmidt ‘56

“I was a second generation for Jack! He coached my father (Rich Boie ’61), and he always reminded me or razzed me that ‘Your dad wouldn’t have done this or he would have done that.” Kert Boie ‘83

My memories include, “Playing in his 500th win game (cutting down the nets), his banquet when he received the golf cart, and being able to play a few rounds of golf with him after I graduated from high school, and being able to spend time with him other than in the coach-player setting.” Corey Brunett ‘76

“I only had Coach Tetzner for one year but, I always like the way he would discipline the team.” John ‘Huntz’ Maier ‘55

“Coach Tetzner initiated the ‘Drake Shuffle’ on offense that allowed me to be ‘center’ when the shuffle took its course and I achieved my dream from 4th grade on to make a hook shot like I had practiced for many years in our backyard. The ‘Shuffle’ made my day. Rich Alger ’55

 

Volunteers

During 2006, there were many volunteers who helped in some way with the different projects conducted by the TAA. We have a wonderful alumni organization because of the help and participation of:

Tash Stuesser, LaNore Anderson, Cretia Paff, Dean Hubbard, Joe Pawlak, Bob Hmielak, Ed Kosik, Cora Kosik, Mike Schmidt, Marge Schmidt, Lenore Giwojna, John Stewart, Carol Stewart, Kathy Soderberg and Ron Gjerning.

…………………………………………

The officers and staff of the Thorp Alumni Association wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We thank you for your support during 2006 and look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the All-Thorp alumni Reunion, Saturday, July 7, 2007.

Don Soderberg ’57, Norb Teclaw ’53, Ann Sniegowski Huls ’46, Jeanette Palmer Kodl ’81, Geraldine Dudansky ’58, Clarice Warner Hubbard ’38, Corinne Hubbard Gjerning ’67, and Armon Schmidt ’53.

TAA Scholarship Fund: Thorp Alums, remember the TAA Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to THS seniors each year. You may send your tax deductible donation to TAA, PO Box 75, Thorp, WI 54771
 

 

 

 

Submit a Response

 

**This Clark Co., WI Internet Library, ALHN & AHGP website is dedicated to the free sharing of information by researchers, local historians, genealogists and educators.  Because of our non-profit status, submissions are not to be used for profiteering of any kind.   Our representatives cannot accept gratuities beyond the basic expenses (i.e. postage, copying, courthouse or rental fees) for obtaining requested information.  We reserve the right to ban the involvement of anyone who intentionally disregards these policies.   Please show your appreciation for this database by Becoming a Clark County History Buff or making a contribution to our Support Fund and Perpetual Preservation Account to help keep this Clark Co., WI database freely available on the World Wide Web and free from commercial enterprise.

 

*** This copyrighted Clark Co., Wis. genealogy and history material is used by permission of the submitters.  Contact us if anyone is using this data inappropriately.  It may not be copied and posted to any commercial/.com genealogy sites such as Genealogy Trails, Family Tree Maker or the merged companies Ancestry.Com/RootsWeb/MyFamily or sold for profit.

 

Report Broken Links

ALHN & AHGP HOME PAGE

 

This page is a part of the Clark County, WI Internet Library Project

Every submission is protected by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998.

~~The Clark Co., Wisconsin History Buffs maintain these pages in support of Free On-line History & Genealogy~~