HONORING TWO GREAT HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

Sometimes we forget the influence certain schoolteachers we had in our life. I was fortunate to have two great High School teachers that made a major impact in my life by getting me excited about Math and Science and encouraging me to go to college and major in Engineering. Mr. Haase and Mr. Germershausen (Mr. G) were both retired Military Captains who had fought in WWII and Korea and choose to become High School teachers as a second career. Mr. G taught Math and Mr. Hasse taught Physics. What made them great teachers was their ability to relate what they taught with their life experiences to the students. The impact they made on my life was so powerful that after I became successful in my engineering career, I promised myself that when I retired that I would pay it forward by becoming involved with High School teachers and students in the Math and Science studies.

I retired from the Oilfield Industry in 2018 after 44 years as an engineer and manager with great companies like Chevron and Schlumberger last year. I have kept the promise to pay it forward by working for Fort Bend ISD as a Substitute Teacher in their high school system. Our young people in school today need role models and need to see that what they are learning in school will help them be successful in life and the careers the choose to follow. I helped football players appreciate that a good understanding in Physics can make them a better football player. Teaching trigonometry, I demonstrated how this knowledge is used in construction and carpentry. I can only hope that I can make a similar impact on my students that Mr. Haase and G had on me.