On September 8, 1975, Hamilton-Parsons Elementary School opened its doors for the very first time with 413 pupils attending. It was named after two teachers, Betty Hamilton and Elizabeth Parsons. They each taught in the Romeo Community Schools for over 40 years.
The September 25, 1975 issue of The Romeo Observer celebrated this occasion by highlighting the first faculty at the school on the front page. And yes, they named all of them. In the back row, there's Katherine Totcky, librarian; Judith Garrett, fifth grade teacher; Martha Pfaff; third grade teacher; Michael Phillips, fourth grade teacher; L. Louise Day, first grade teacher; and Timothy Propst; fourth grade teacher. The front row has Nancy Mohr, third grade teacher; Patricia Manery, first grade teacher; Julie Harwood; second grade teacher; Mary Jane Johnson; second grade teacher; Barbara Martinelli; kindergarten teacher; Ronald Wilcox, six grade teacher; and Paul Brown, fifth grade teacher. The only faculty member absent from the photo was Kay McKinnon, who was a sixth grade teacher. Ironically, Paul Brown wasn't mentioned in the original newspaper caption for the picture. Luckily, Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli's book A History of the Romeo Community School District 1824-1976 mentions him as part of that staff.
Another person missing from the photo is principal Gary E. Theut. He attended St. Clement Elementary School until he was in the fourth grade when he and his family moved to Mount Clemens. His education career began in 1964 when he taught at the Allen B. Shephard School in the Warren Consolidated School District. In 1971, he became the principal of South Elementary School at 12 Mile and Mound Roads.
When Theut assumed the principal role at Hamilton-Parsons, his philosophy was following: "When a child is sent to school the parent is trusting the teacher to properly educate and influence their most valuable possession. Because of this huge responsibility special attention must be given to the development of the total child. Academics are certainly important; the student should be exposed to material which will match and challenge his ability and interest. However, of equal importance is the time, understanding, and enthusiasm which must be conveyed to the child to assist him in the development of his personality, ideals, and values."
Let's hope Theut did just that while he was principal of that school.
For anyone who attended or worked at Hamilton-Parsons in 1975, feel free share your stories about your time there to the Romeo Community Archives.
Happy 50th Anniversary! Here's to another 50 years.
To learn more about the Hamilton-Parsons Elementary School, you can contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org or call (586) 690-4890 to check out the Romeo District Library Collection. If you want to search for articles on that topic, you can find the Romeo newspapers like The Romeo Observer on the Suburban Library Cooperative's Local History Digital Collection website.
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; A History of the Romeo Community School District 1824-1976 by Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli, p.231-232 and p.255 and Melvin E. and Joan D. Bleich Collection, The Romeo Observer, September 25, 1975, p.1-A
