Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 121, Number 4, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 28 January 1998 — Page 7

Building A Better Community... (This continues the series of articles highlighting individuals in our community who give willingly and freely of themselves for the betterment of all who live here. I hope you will come to know and appreciate each of them as I have.) By Merrie Chapman Meet Frank Hartman—the driving force behind last fall’s Bulldog Reunion. That first ever Campus notes... AT MANCHESTER Manchester College has released its dean’s list for the fall 1997 semester. To be eligible, students must rank in the upper 10% of their class, and carry at least 12 semester hours, with at least nine semester hours for grades. Included among those honored are Amos Frye, son of Robert and Gale Frye, 1205 E. Marion St., Nappanee; Stephanie Neff, daughter of Stephen and Rebecca Neff, 68272 CR3, Nappanee (4.0); Matt Peterson, son of Thomas and Kathleen Peterson, 72192 CR9, Nappanee (4.0); Kara Scheumann, daughter of Wayne and Sandra Scheumann, 1400 Wood view Drive, Nappanee (4.0); Scott Schmucker, son of Robert and Faye Allen, 970 E. Woodview Drive, Nappanee and Jason Ulery, son of John and June Ulery, 1354 Penny Lane, Nappanee (4.0). Manchester College, an independent, liberal arts college located in North Manchester, offers more than 45 areas of study to more than 1,080 students from 26 states and 29 countries. AT HUNTINGTON Marla C. Schrock, a student at Huntington College, has been named to the dean’s list for fall term 1997. , The dean’s list is published at the end of each semester, recognizing students for outstanding academic achievement. Honorees must be classified as regular students, be enrolled full-time with a load of S 2 hours or more in graded courses, and must achieve a semester grade point average of at least 3.50, based on a four-point scale. • Ms. Schrock is working toward a BS in science (biology), at the four-year, Christian liberal arts college. ! A graduate of North Wood High School, she is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Adlai Schrock, •Wakarusa. AT PURDUE ! About 5,900 Purdue University students earned academic honors ■for the fall 1997 semester. To earn honors,, students must have at least a 3.5 semester or cumulative grade-point average on a fourpoint scale. ■ Among those honored: • Nappanee —Heather A. Brandt, ■1306 Pickwick Court, liberal arts; Amy R. Rogers Brant, 5949 W ;1300N, education; Rachel D. : Gaut, 658 S. Nappanee St., liberal : arts; Mark E. Germann, 1400 Northwood Dr., education; Derek L. Herr, 26867 CRS2, liberal arts; Nicci J. Mullet, 72800 CRII, nursing; Sara S. Stickley, 26545 CRS2, consumer and family science; Stephanie J. Templeton, 1409 McCormick Drive, education; Eric J. Tompos, 26225 CRS2, civil engineering; Diane M. Whelan, 555 E. Woodview Drive, pharmacy and pharm. science; Joe W. Wollmann, 605 N. Williams, science, and Nathan G. Yoder, 26046 CRS4, building construction and contracting. Wakarusa —Heather H., Beck, 64140 CR3, nursing; Alicia R. Berger, 66887 CRI, education; Tamra K. Brown, 215 Appletree Lane, management; Janelle C. Hostetler, 28718 CR3B, Consumer and family science; Colleen M. McMichael, P.O. Box 451, science; Courtney L. Moore, 10650 New Road, health science; Jeffrey A. Schrock, 28177 CR42, civil engineering and Kristen L. Weldy, 30368 CR3B, health science. EARN DEGREES Purdue also announced the awarding of degrees during commencement ceremonies held in December, to the following local students: Amy R. Rogers Brant, BA in education; Robert K. Gal breath, 23115 CRS4, Nappanee, AS in Comp. Integ. Manuf. Tech.; Mark Germann, BA in education; StephanieJTempleton, BA in education; Bouavanh Inthivong, 65294 CR3, Wakarusa, BA in liberal arts; Ned E. Stoller, 304 Wabash Ave., Wakarusa, BS in agricultural and biological engineering.

Driving force behind Bulldog Reunion shares love for community

event was the culmination of months of planning by Hartman and his host of helpers. But more than that, it was a dream come true for him. For many years Frank thought about a 1950s reunion—an opportunity for not only he and his classmates to gather but also those students before and after his class. “I wanted to see all these people I had grown up with,” says Hartman. He and his friend Rev. Janet Brown discussed the possibility on many occasions. Then nearly a year ago Frank decided it was time to quit talking about it and start doing it. As word spread a committee was formed and Hartman decided to attend the committee’s first meeting as an interested party. When the chairman didn’t show up the group asked Frank to lead them and the project was off and running. The idea kept growing and soon it wasn’t just for the students from the 1950s but rather anyone who had been a part of the Nappanee High School at any time during its existence. People from different classes were found and asked to make contact with their former peers and invite them to the big event. Newspapers carried information about the upcoming reunion and former teachers, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and maintenance personnel were called to join them. “We only expected maybe a 100 people,” says Frank. “But we were really hoping for 200. We had no idea it would end up being as big as it was.” For the group who planned the event watching RSVPs coming in was quite exciting. When the first 200 flooded through the doors they were amazed as they realized more were still to come. In the end over 700 people crowded through the doors at their former high school. Plans are in the works for another such event this fall. As word of the successful first reunion spreads it is hoped (and highly possible) that 500 could only be the start of this year’s attendance. But to Frank Hartman, having achieved the first goal was enough to make him happy. “Wearen’t out to top ourselves every year with attendance,” he says. “If we only get 500 this year I’ll still be happy.” That modest approach and sin-

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cere love for those around him has been a driving force in Hartman his entire life. Bom and raised in Nappanee he knows most everyone here, their parents, grandparents, grandchildren, and extended families. Those close ties have left Frank with a strong commitment to his fellow man. Before his work with the Bulldog Reunion he was perhaps best known not only for his smiles and laughter but also his work as a local fireman. Prior to that Hartman was involved in community work through the Nappanee Jaycees Club. In the early 1960s he and his fellow Jaycees sponsored the annual Sunrise Service and Easter Egg Hunt, as well as the Christmas decorations all over town, and trips to Ft. Wayne to chaperone bus loads of third grade students to the Shriner Circus. “You should have seen it,” says Frank. “It was nothing but a convoy of buses with police escorts from clear west of here all the way to Ft. Wayne. We just kept traveling and each school district would join us as we passed by —it was really neat!” He admits all the Jaycee activities were as much fun to participate in as they were hard wo ( rk to host. Frank joined the Nappanee Fire Department in 1964 and was

WELCOMING FRIENDS—Last October, Frank Hartman greeted old friends as they gathered for the first ever Bulldog reunion, held at the former Nappanee High School. The event took months of planning by Frank and a committee of volunteers and grew from an expected 100 guests to over 700 in attendance. See related article for more details about this civic minded fellow. (AN photo by Merrie Chapman)

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immediately caught up in the work of the department. His dedication to the Smokcy Stovers led him to help write the bylaws for the department, as well as work his way through the ranks of offices. Hartman watched many changes over the years including the location of the fire station. It began he says in the-small building on East Lincoln Street which now houses The Ice Box. Then fire fighters and their equipment moved to their present location adjacent to city hall. “I remember when we had just one old tanker, one town pumper and one country pumper,” says Frank. “Now' they have two grass fire rigs and newer trucks.” There was no training required of fire fighters when Hartman first began working on the department. “We took a Red Cross First Aid class and taught ourselves the rest by using common sense,” He says. With that limited training the fire department went on to provide emergency medical service to the best of their abilities until 1975 when Nappanee established an EMS Department. Nearly half the Smokey Stovers left to join the new medicaj team and Frank and the others began to recruit new members. Hartman worked alongside Police Chief Bruce Thorton to establish an emergency 911 num-

Nappanee Advance News Wednesday, January 28, 1998

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FAMILY MAN—For the past 40 years Frank and Rosemary Hartman have supported one another through the trials and triumphs of raising two children —David and Ann —as well as owning their own business—Hartman's Furniture. In addition, Frank has spent the past 30 years serving his community in many ways. See related article for more details about his civic duties. (AN photo by Merrie Chapman)

ber in Nappanee. It was something he felt very strongly about and neither he nor Chief Thorton gave up until it was implemented. “And we had our 911 service before the county did,” says Hartman with pride. In 1984, after 20 years of service and working his way from wh# he calls “grunt work” to the chief’s position, Frank Hartman retired. But even today he keeps up with the latest happenings within the department through the many friends he has made over the years. According to Frank, his fondest recollections of his years spent as a Smokey Stover were all the fami-ly-oriented activities. “When we had fish fries the wives and even the kids were right there helping out,”he says. The department also hosted Port-A-Pit Chicken fundraisers, Halloween and Christmas parties, and Gospel Concerts during Frank’s time as chief. “We had an annual picnic and the kids got to ride on the fire trucks so they knew what it was like for their dads when a fire call came in,” says Hartman. “It was really a lot of fun and we loved each other like family.” Hats off to Frank Hartman for his sincere love and hard work for this community over the past 30 years! Those seeking to meet, gain insight, or just pass the time chatting with this unique man can find him at Hartman’s Furniture Monday through Friday, Ba.m.5p.m., and Saturdays, Ba.m.-lp.m.. Or watch for him at annual cele-

brations. He and his wife Rosemary travel to many area parades with their 1957 Chevy convertible. They have been known to haul such celebrities as Miss Indiana Shelly Yoder and Ronald McDonald. Be watching to see who they offer a ride to next! School menus... NORTHWOOD MIDDLE Thursday, January 29—pancakes, sausage, tri-taters, fruit juice/applesauce and milk. Friday—roast beef sandwich, tater tots, pineapple/mandarin, oranges, rice Krispy Squares and milk. WOODVIEW Thursday—chicken noodle soup, bologna sandwich, buttered com, grape juice and pears. Friday —Hamburger, potato rounds, dill slices, mixed fruit and shape-up. NAPPANEE ELEMENTARY Thursday—chicken soup, bologna sandwich, com, grape juice, pears and milk. Friday—Polish sausage sandwich, potato wedges, pineapple or applesauce, fudge bar and milk. WAKARUSA ELEMENTARY Thursday —chicken noodle soup, bologna /cheese sandwich, grape juice and pears. Friday —pizza burger, peas, Rosey applesauce, mandarin orange and spice bars. Monday, February 2—pancakes, smokies, tri patties, applesauce, orange juice and milk. Tuesday, February 3 —sloppy joes, tater tots, pineapple, peach cobbler and milk.

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