Garrett High School

Where Character Counts!

Jack Clark Class of 1950

Jack Clark graduated with the class of 1950. After graduation, Jack enlisted in the Navy and served during the Korean Conflict. He was a decorated veteran and honorably discharged in April 1954.

Jack graduated from Ball State University in 1957 with a B.S. in Education. He later earned his M.S. in Education from Western Michigan University.

Jack made his mark in education as a teacher at Lincoln Elementary School in Kalamazoo, Michigan as the Community School Leader. He was one of the first to start an after school program for inner city youth. Due to outstanding relationships with people from the inner city, Jack was a bridge during the turbulent racial riots of 1967. Jack was one of a few individuals allowed into the area to help stop the rioting.

Today, many of those youths from that era give him credit for getting them through school.

After graduating from Garrett High School in 1926, George E. Mountz attended DePauw University and Harvard Law School, and then joined the Mountz Law Firm in Garrett. He was an attorney for the City of Garrett, Garrett State Bank, B&O Railroad, Pennsylvania Railroad, Creed Chubb Bait, Garrett Telephone Co., and a DeKalb County prosecuting attorney.

He served in the US Navy, commissioned as an Intelligence Officer and appointed to the Japan War Crime Commission of Lt. General Yamashita in Manilla, Philippines.

He was the only Navy officer in charge of the prosecution. George received the commission of the Lt. Commander. He returned to the Mountz & Mountz Law Firm, and then formed Hunt & Mountz in Fort Wayne.

Upon his death in 1951, DeKalb County Bar Association said, “He had the respect of the courts because of his respect for the courts.”

Strongly grounded in the physical and social sciences at GHS in the class of 1960, Dr. Carolyn Ridenour earned degrees from Indiana University and the University of Akron.

Her numerous published studies have been largely devoted to issues of educational inequity, with a focus on urban schools, but also across the lines of gender, race, ethnicity and social class.

Recognized as a research methodologist through her co-authorship of several research methods books, she has been an innovator in exploring new ways of mixing qualitative and quantitative research designs.

Dr. Ridenour teaches courses in education research and cultural diversity to graduate students at the University of Dayton where she holds the Dr. Joseph J. Panzer, S.M. Chair in Education.

Ellsworth K. Saxer Class of 1932

Ellsworth was born May 2, 1915. After graduating from Garrett High School in 1932, he joined his father in the painting and decorating business.

In 1940, Ellsworth was one of the first young men in DeKalb County to enlist in the Army. He was stationed in Fort Knox, Kentucky in the 6th infantry first armored division as a sergeant.

Regretfully, he was the first casualty in the World War II effort on November 19, 1941 from Garrett.

The community of Garrett felt the deep sense of loss; over 600 people attended the services held at the old Garrett School gymnasium.

Raymond (Bud) was born December 11, 1920. He graduated in 1939 from Garrett High School. Bud enlisted in the Army in 1942 and a medic with the 49th General Hospital Unit.

Bud founded the DeKalb County Boxing Club in 1952. Bud turned his two-car garage into the boxing club for many years. Bud served as coach, father figure, and mentor to over 2,000 young men who were members of the club. His only payment came from friendship, respect and pride.

For the next 40 years Bud was the coach of the DeKalb County Boxing Club, earning him Garrett’s Citizen of the Year Award in 1969. His motto: Winners never quit, quitters never win!