2013-2014 Bus Transportation Form

Gale Howard

Gale Howard, Dunkirk class of 1912, played a very important role in the early years of education in the Hardin Northern school system and he influenced the lives of many people in the Hardin Northern community. Over 275 friends and former pupils attended his retirement banquet to honor him. He was born July 19, 1892 into a farming family and attended the one room school (Beech Grove) in Pleasant Township. Years later he would teach in this same school for seven years. He completed his college requirements at Ohio Northern University in Ada. In 1927 Howard began teaching in Dunkirk where he was also the principal for 17 years. He taught six periods and watched a study hall along with his principal’s duties. He also coached basketball. Gale received his 50 year pin in the Masons in 1979. He learned two 3,000 word Masonic speeches (Apprentice and Master Mason Degrees). Several newspapers ran stories about him and the Dunkirk Town Council honored him with a “Gale Howard Day” when he turned 90! He was a very modest man who always had a thirst for learning.

Tom Mcnutt

Tom McNutt, Dunkirk class of 1951, received his B. S. in Agricultural Education in 1955, and an M. A. in Agricultural Education in 1962, from The Ohio State University. In 1963, after teaching vocational agriculture at Belle Center and Dublin High Schools for seven years, Tom became a 4-H Agent in Franklin County. He was promoted to Agriculture Agent, County Chairman and Professor at The Ohio State University. He retired December 31, 1988, with the title of Professor Emeritus. He then served as NBC4 TV News Garden Expert for more than 20 years. From 1989 to 2004, he served as Executive Coordinator of the Ohio Council of Cooperatives. He also served as Executive Director of the Ohio Agricultural Council from 1990 to 2003. Tom has received numerous state and national awards for his work with cooperatives, community service, public relations, leadership, horticulture management, and media work. In 2003, he received the Cooperative Educator Award. He has been inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame, the Ohio Agricultural Hall of Fame, the Ohio 4-H Hall of Fame, and the Dublin City Schools Hall of Fame. He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of KaTaTim, Inc., a marketing and consulting company he created. Over the years, Tom has written many magazine and newspaper articles. In December 2009 he published a book, “Tom’s Green Thumb – Advice To Grow On In A (Mc)Nutt Shell”. Even with all his accomplishments, Tom recognizes his greatest treasures to be his family.

Dean Pees

Dean Pees, Hardin Northern class of 1967, graduated from Bowling Green State University in 1972, then became an English teacher and head football coach at Elmwood High School. He became the defensive coordinator at Findlay College where he helped the Oilers win a National Championship and two conference championships. He spent a total of 25 years as a college football coach including stints at Miami of Ohio, the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Toledo, the University of Notre Dame, Michigan State University, and the head coach at Kent State University. As a college coach, Dean won two MAC conference championships; one at Miami of Ohio and one at Toledo and went to Bowl games four straight years; 3 at Michigan State and one at Notre Dame. In 2004, he became the linebackers coach then defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots. In 2010 he moved to the Baltimore Ravens and served as linebackers coach before becoming the defensive coordinator. While in the NFL he has been a part of 7 divisional championships, 3 AFC championships, and three Super Bowls; 2004 and 2007 with the New England Patriots and 2013 with the Baltimore Ravens. He has been a part of two World Championships, 2004 with the New England Patriots, and 2013 with the Baltimore Ravens. Besides football, Dean is also an accomplished pianist and musician, a love he developed as a student at Hardin Northern.

Download May, June, July 2013 District Newsletter

Polar Bear Tracks Apr. 13

Polar Bear Tracks Jan.13

Polar Bear Tracks Dec. 12

Polar Bear Tracks Nov. 12

Polar Bear Tracks Sept.12

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2012-2013 Yearbook Order Form

1. Senior Picture

• Wallet-sized
• Portrait style
• Preferably with no name printed on it, or only printed small in the bottom corner.
• If a school picture is on file, it will be used unless another Senior picture is brought in.

Bring to Ms. Andrews in room 1507 by May 1, 2013.

1. Baby Picture

• No larger than 8×10
• Write your name on the back

Bring to Ms. Andrews in room 1507 by May 1, 2013.

(All photographs will be returned by the end of the school year.)

November, December, January 2012-13 Newsletter

Dunkirk is home of the 2004 Football State Championship winners. What you may not know is there used to be an old school building built just about a couple blocks from the Marathon gas station from 1854 to Early 1950s.

Moses Louthan taught at the first school in Dunkirk which was built in 1854 where the Trinity Methodist Church (corner of Main and South streets) now stands. In 1866, a district school was organized and in 1867 a brick four-room schoolhouse was built. M. Friedly was the first superintendent. The building wasn’t sturdy enough to hold, so they added three frame buildings. In 1883, they built a new building, three stories high with a full basement. The first and second floors each contained four rooms. On the first floor, the first through the fourth graders were set up. On the third floor was the fifth and sixth grade. The other half of the third floor was a literary hall. This was later divided with the northeast being the music room; the southeast was the typing room, and Latin room. The second floor had a big central hall with the office to the east. The chemistry, biology, library, and study hall rooms were also on this floor. The seventh and eighth grades and high school students were distributed among these rooms for their homerooms. The building was heated by hot air and was built at a cost of $21,670.

In 1935, an addition was built, consisting of a gymnasium and auditorium, home economics to the south, agriculture and farm shop to the north with a modern furnace and hallways leading to the newly remodeled basement turned into a cafeteria in the southwest corner. In the mid-1950s, Dunkirk and Dola schools went together, building the Hardin Northern School one mile west of Dunkirk.

The old school was torn down and a home was built there. The new addition was changed into a Laundromat to the south where the home economics room was, and the gym  was turned into storeroom for Oldakers Mfg. Co. This now is unfortunately falling down. A part of Dunkirk’s history will always be remembered.