This month, we’re taking on two tasks. The first is to make good on a promise that appeared in this column last November. We introduced a Floyd Central Hall of Famer, who was actually a graduate of Georgetown High School (Rick Miller, class of ’65). In that same issue, we pledged to tell you more about the fourth public high school in our community: the fully segregated Scribner High School, (opened in 1880 and closed in 1952). And we promised to spotlight the one and only NAHS Hall of Famer who attended that school: Mr. Edgar (“Eddie”) Abell, class of ’43.

The second task is this: let’s create a new November tradition for Veterans’ Day, featuring the former students, faculty or staff who have served our country. We’ll make it the second recurring theme, devoted to a specific month. In February, this column profiled a “lovebird duo”: a Bulldog grad and his Highlander wife. Don’t remember that? Click here to go back and read it again. As you revisit their story, please help us by telling us the names of your favorite NA/FC couple for 2022!

In this issue, we’ve intentionally chosen four veterans from all walks of life. None of them pursued a military career. We’ll change that next year. And we know that a single sentence mention of Scribner High School does not describe it adequately. We’re committed to telling more of its story in a future issue.

Introduction by Rex Bickers, FCHS 1970

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Joe Dean (1930-2007) NAHS ‘48

Rex Bickers, FCHS ’70 and Dave Brinkworth, NAHS ’52

Ken Stiller had an affiliation with three of the four high schools in this column. He graduated from NAHS in 1950. He was a teacher and counselor at Georgetown from 1960 to 1967. But the greatest portion of his career was at Floyd Central, from its opening in 1967 through 1993. He was a senior high counselor and subsequently taught business courses in his final decade there. But he belonged solidly in the hearts of the Floyd Central alumni community. We only need to look at the sentiments expressed on Facebook, when he died earlier this year, to see that.

Ken served in the US Air force from 1952 to 1956 as a cryptographer, requiring the highest level of security clearance. Following his Air Force years, he went to Ball State, earning his bachelor’s degree in education (1960) and subsequently, a master’s degree in counseling. Floyd Central’s first High-Q team was coached from 1968-69 through 1973-74 by the trio of Ken, Bettye Hall Weber and Mildred Morrison. To many colleagues across the school system, Ken was a key part of the leadership of the New Albany Schools Credit Union, serving as its treasurer for many years. Ken and his wife Marilyn had three children, all FC grads: Jodi ’82, Tony ’85 and Terri ’87, and they adored their six grandchildren. In retirement, Ken and Marilyn became very fond of summer Switzerland vacations, sometimes lasting several weeks in the Bernese Oberland area.

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Ken Stiller (1934-2021)
GHS 1960-1967, FCHS 1968-1993

Rex Bickers, FCHS ’70 and Wanda Barnett, FCHS ’76

Ken Stiller had an affiliation with three of the four high schools in this column. He graduated from NAHS in 1950. He was a teacher and counselor at Georgetown from 1960 to 1967. But the greatest portion of his career was at Floyd Central, from its opening in 1967 through 1993. He was a senior high counselor and subsequently taught business courses in his final decade there. But he belonged solidly in the hearts of the Floyd Central alumni community. We only need to look at the sentiments expressed on Facebook, when he died earlier this year, to see that.

Ken served in the US Air force from 1952 to 1956 as a cryptographer, requiring the highest level of security clearance. Following his Air Force years, he went to Ball State, earning his bachelor’s degree in education (1960) and subsequently, a master’s degree in counseling. Floyd Central’s first High-Q team was coached from 1968-69 through 1973-74 by the trio of Ken, Bettye Hall Weber and Mildred Morrison. To many colleagues across the school system, Ken was a key part of the leadership of the New Albany Schools Credit Union, serving as its treasurer for many years. Ken and his wife Marilyn had three children, all FC grads: Jodi ’82, Tony ’85 and Terri ’87, and they adored their six grandchildren. In retirement, Ken and Marilyn became very fond of summer Switzerland vacations, sometimes lasting several weeks in the Bernese Oberland area.

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Lawrence Moore (1907-2004)
GHS 1929-1967, FCHS 1967-1973

Rex Bickers, FCHS ’70 and Judy Waltz, GHS ’65

Countless Georgetown residents know one thing for certain: Lawrence Moore WAS Georgetown High School, or simply “the Georgetown School,” home to students from grades 1-12. From 1967 to 1973, he served as Floyd Central’s (first) principal, including the legendary Superhicks’ trip to the 1971 state basketball finals. Yet he continues to be the most revered figure of the GHS alumni organization. The group remains very active, 54 years after its last senior class graduated.

They still oversee the Lawrence Moore Memorial Scholarship Fund. It attained full endowment in 2019.

Mr. Moore had completed just one year at Indiana Central when, at age 19, he began teaching at Mt. Tabor Elementary. He took summer courses, well into the 1930’s, to complete his degree and subsequently, earned a master’s degree from Indiana University. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army (at age 35). Due to his maturity and teaching experience, he primarily served as an instructor, stateside.

After the war, he returned to Mt. Tabor and by 1948, he was offered the opportunity to teach in Georgetown. He became principal in 1951, and also took on a role in coaching basketball with Wilbur Richard and John Patterson. Two former Bearcats, Joe Pezzullo, Jr. and Joe Hinton went on to coach during Mr. Moore’s tenure.

Mr. Moore left behind a broad swath of memories: He had six nieces and nephews in his extended family. Some got to enjoy his long summertime fishing trips in Minnesota. Equally important were his former students who went on to teach or coach. Several began at Georgetown, then continued at Floyd Central. Just try to find anyone who didn’t like Mr. Moore… it’s nearly impossible.

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Edgar Abell (1924-2010)
SCRIBNER HIGH SCHOOL ‘43

Rex Bickers, FCHS ’70 and Wilbert (“Junebug”) Hunter, NAHS ’71

To tell the story of Edgar “Eddie” Abell… properly… is something that simply cannot fit into this column. There is an overwhelming urge to paint an accurate picture of the Scribner High School. It would be easy to think that too much of the information has been lost, or that it was never captured as it really was. Here’s the good news: it turns out that an amazing collection of Eddie’s memorabilia actually does exist. The bad news is…it provides much, much more than a snapshot.

It’s more like a wall-sized mural. We plan to organize it into an archival system soon. This profile is not intended to be a litany of the things that the school did not have. It’s about the life that Eddie made for himself and others with the education he did get.

Discarding the usual writing style of this newsletter… what follows is a glimpse of Eddie’s adult life in brief telegraphic fashion: three years serving in the U, S. Navy, then two years at IU Bloomington as a history/political science major. Joined the NAFD, serving as a front line firefighter and officer, 1952-72. Became a specialist in fire and arson investigation. Rose to the rank of Major, heading the Fire Prevention Bureau. Served as Advisor to the New Albany Human Rights Commission. Active in Kiwanis and St. John’s Masonic Lodge. Assisted in organizing the first Harvest Homecoming with Cora Jacobs and Mayor Garnett Inman. Served as a tutor at the William O. Vance Center in an after-school program that he created.

Mr. Abell was inducted into the NAHS Hall of Fame in 2015. It is quite unfortunate that unknown to the Hall of Fame committee, he had died five years earlier. One gratifying revelation emerged as this profile was being prepared: it’s the pride of family members who became partners in this retelling of Eddie’s story. It had not been possible to locate them for his induction six years ago. It means a lot to shine a new light on Eddie’s life, with the involvement of those who knew him directly.

Read the entire November 2021 Legacy Ledger (Issue 15).

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