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(Des Moines – August 10, 1999)
This morning Members of The Blue And Gold Alumni Association restored the
trophies to the center case of the Jasper (Jap) Farrow Trophy Cases on the second floor of
the old Des Moines Technical High School building. 
During the 10 days since the discovery by The Alumni Association of plans to remove the
trophy case, many anxious Tech Alumni have added their voice in protest of this action.
Central Campus had planned to remove the case and dislodge and move the memorial plaque
commemorating Tech High Veterans given by the Class of 1966 to a new location to make way
for a vehicle once built in the Ford Plant at 1800 Grand Avenue.
The Alumni Association initiated an effort to inform Graduates of Des Moines Technical
High School about the events at Central Campus. These efforts resulted in a grass roots
movement that was reflected in the numerous telephone calls to Central Campus and the
Administration as well as the individuals who visited the cases to view the car over the
floor emblem.
Conversations by concerned Alumni lead to discussions with the owner of the vehicle,
Living History Farms of Urbandale, and the Veterans Administration Office in Des Moines.
We are appreciative of their understanding and support. Additionally a petition was
written and has started to circulate to designate the area around the Floor Emblem and
trophy cases as being significant to Des Moines Technical High School, and should be left
as such.
After receiving numerous objections to the Central Campus plan, the Administrative
Staff at Central Campus requested the Alumni Association to restore the trophies to their
proper case. The Ford Model T was removed from the area to a temporary location until it
can be more appropriately displayed in another part of the building.
Robert Sandquist requested that the Association make periodic visits to the cases for
maintenance and cleaning of the contents. He said that the Standards and connecting chains
would be returned to protect the floor emblem before the beginning of the school year.
I wish to thank all the Alumni, Business Leaders, and concerned citizens who offered
their collective support to preserve the trophies, awards and memorabilia of Des Moines
Technical High School. I wish to extend well deserved "thanks" to Phyllis J.
Reeves Pryor (T’79), and her daughter "Merry" for their help with the
cleaning of the Trophy Cases and of the Floor Emblem.
As a personal note, I would like to thank Dr. McClanahan (Director), and
Robert Sandquist (Vice-Principal) for their time and help in resolving the Des Moines
Technical High School Trophy Case issue. I would also like to thank Superintendent of
Schools, Dr. Witherspoon’s Secretary, Deb Pendleton for her assistance and
understanding in this matter. And a special thanks to Connie Dornburgh, Paula Spinler, and
Shelia Sprague, the office staff of Central Campus, who greeted those who stopped in and
who telephoned their concerns about the Tech Trophy Cases.
L. Tovrea (T'70), President - The Blue And Gold Alumni
Assocaition |
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Promise Made...And Kept. |
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Some years ago, I received a telephone
call from Jasper "Jap" Farrow asking if he could come over and drop some Tech
memorabilia off. I was delighted to say, "yes." A couple of hours later, a car
pulled into the drive. A man climbed out, and gathering a few items and a plastic bag,
closed the car door. He then walked to my front door, a little shorter than I had
remembered him, and he was slightly stooped as he walked with his cane. He smiled that
smile that everyone who knew him, knew well. I invited him in, and we sat down to talk for
a while. It was a good conversation. We talked of old Tech High. We talked of Mr. Betz
and teachers, students, education and goals. We talked about the process of teaching, and
how the students learned by doing. We discussed how Tech built what it needed, when other
schools purchased what they did. We talked of Band uniforms and the Tech Glockenspiel
(made by Tech Students in Metal Shop). A little over an hour had passed, then it was time
for Mr. Farrow to leave.
But before he did, he handed me some photos and described the scenes. Then he opened up
that plastic bag he had brought in and removed a plaque. He handed it to me and said,
"When they closed Tech, they had a party for all the teachers who taught there.
They gave away some of the trophies to coaches and teachers for things they sponsored."
He explained how some of the footballs, basketballs or other awards were handed to the
appropriate coaches. He went on, "I was handed this plaque, and I was told that
they did not know what was going to happen to the stuff after the school was closed. They
wanted me to have it as a momento." He looked up at me and said, "Larry,
if you are ever able to secure the trophy cases, please put this back."
It has remained in my care from that day to this.
My next trip to Tech will fulfill my promise made to Mr. Farrow.
L. Tovrea (T'70), President - The Blue And Gold Alumni
Assocaition |
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