PARDUE REMEMBERS HIS HOMETOWN AND GIVES BACK



Kerry Pardue speaks to students
at his old alma mater Strassburg

By Joseph Wiszoway

SAUK VILLAGE |  Kerry “Doc” Pardue, author of “Poems in the Keys of Life” Reflections of a Combat Medic served from 1968-1969 in the U.S. Army’s 9th Infantry came back to his roots in Sauk Village Thursday morning.  Pardue donated two paintings and copies of his book to District 168. 

 

 

Pardue grew up in what was then a new village delivering the “Sauk Village Review” and shoveling snow to make some extra money.  He graduated 8th grade from Strassburg Junior High School in 1962, as there was no Rickover Jr. High School at the time.  Strassburg was completed in 1959.

Following his military service in Vietnam, Pardue came back to Sauk Village where then Police Chief Marion Young asked Pardue to join the Sauk Village Police Department.  Pardue served on the Police Department from December, 1971 to June, 1972 at that time there were 10 police officers.  Pardue continued on in his career in law enforcement and later went to work at the U.S. Postal Service.

Joining Pardue were former District 168 teacher, Dr. Donald Stevenson who spoke to the children at Strassburg about his students during the day.  Stevenson taught at District 168 from 1958 to 1963.

 

 

Pardue spoke and encouraged the children to continue their educations.  “You need more than just a bachelor’s degree now” he said.  But if higher education isn’t your thing, then Pardue suggested going on to learn a trade or special skill.  “Never stop” Pardue told the students you’re never too old to learn.

Superintend of Schools Dr. Donna Leak was very excited about the donations of Pardue’s artwork on

behalf of the Class of 1962.  “We are very pleased for Mr. Pardue’s donation.  We want every child to reach their maximum potential and the artwork depicts the spirit of soaring high” Leak said.

 

 

Also attending Thursday’s morning’s event were classmates of 1962 Patrick Mullen, son of the late and former Village Trustee Robert Mullen who served on the Village Board from 1962 to 1968.  Retired Sauk Village Police Sergeant Theodore “Ted” Sanders whose father Theodore Sanders served on the Village Board of Trustees from 1960-1962 and also as Superintendent of Schools.  Also from the 1962 class were Charles “Walter” Lynch and current resident Barb Stearns.

Pardue and Leak unveiled the paintings in the old gymnasium of Strassburg Thursday morning after Pardue spoke to a group of students at Rickover Jr. High School earlier.

 

 

A reception was held at Strassburg following the unveiling.  “This was a perfect example of someone giving back to their community and remembering where they came from” Village Trustee Derrick Burgess said following the event.

District 168 certainly had its challenges during those first few years too Stevenson remembered.  Stevenson who began teaching students at Katz Corner School in 1958 was moved to Strassburg Jr. High School in 1959 until 1963 remembers the district was so broke their science room had no Bunsen burners, no beakers virtually nothing.  “We had to make do with what we had available.  The school district was so broke at the time and was growing so fast” Stevenson remembers.  “I remember Superintendent (Theodore Sanders) was using a scrap desk from Katz Corner because the district couldn’t afford to buy a descent desk” Stevenson said.

Pardue remembered that his class buried time capsules back then too behind the first of three trees.  The one furthest west was one from the Class of 1962, the middle tree from the Class of 1963 and the third tree to the east was from 1964.  It’s unlikely the glass time capsules survived and unlikely that the trees will be removed according to Leak.  “We like the trees there, but it’s even more important that we know now there was a special purpose for them” Leak said.  The time capsules were suppose to be opened 10 years later but now 52 year on people just forgot about them.