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Today's Featured Biography

Robert Bowser

After graduation from New Trier, I went to Cherry Point, NC, with the VMF 121 Marine Corsair Squadron for two weeks. When I got back my family prepared for a move to Orlando, Fl. We moved to Orlando in September, 1947.

I attended Florida State University after Christmas until June and returned to the North Shore to spend the summer with classmate Bjarne Lund in Glenview. At the end of the summer, we three buddies, Bjarne, Bill Starkel, and I joined the service, Bjarne going into the Navy and Bill and I the Air Force. I spent four years in the Weather Service,mostly at Great Falls AFB in Montana.

On returning to Florida I attended the University of Florida for four years, finishing only three years. I went back into the Air Force and was sent to the Army Language School in Monterey, Ca, for Russian. After six months I was sent to Walker AFB in Roswell, NM. I worked in security there.

I went back to the University of Florida and graduated in 1961 credentialed to teach English. I taught one semester at Orange Park High School and then went to northern California for two and a half years at the request of a former Wilmette neighbornood buddy who was a superintendent.

From Esparto, Ca, I went to Banning, Ca, near Palm Springs for two years. From Banning I went to Orange County, Ca, teaching in the Fullerton High School District for 20 years.

From the Fullerton District I went to the Orange County Department of Education to start a drop-out recovery school out of a motorhome. I started with 11 kids from probation and ended up 17 years later with 6000 at 57 sites around the county, half from probation and half referred by the districts. Best job I ever had.

I retired in 2002 and moved to my present home in Flagstaff, Az. We just had our 65th NT reunion two weeks ago. It was awesome. And I had forgotten how beautiful the North Shore is in the fall. I miss it.

We had a tour of New Trier on Saturday morning with the great principal Timothy Dohrer. I would love to go to that highschool. Wow. We were privileged in 1947 and didn't know it. I wonder if the present students know it. There aren't many highschools like New Trier.

One final remark: it was two novels that brought me alive the junior year: "Giants in the Earth" and "Arrowsmith." Since then I have read about 4000 books. I became an English teacher.

Funny thing: I am in touch with only one friend from college. I am in touch with 12 friends from highschool. I loved New Trier and the kids I met there even though I was a poor student. I think I missed four days in four years. I think of my classmates as brothers and sisters. I don't know why there is that bond in highschool. Sadly, half of them are gone. Maybe more. We're 83.

Bob Bowser
Flagstaff, Az
Class of '47

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