Denfeld is a school built on tradition. The school's history has been so well documented with original artifacts that it's very easy for students to research something and plan theme days. They can also easily see what hasn't been done and test "the marketplace" of students and see if their new idea will be repeated in the future, thereby creating a "new" tradition. It'll be heartwarming for alums to hear, despite what you see and hear on the news about kids, that the students I've observed in my 20 years at Denfeld defend, respect and honor the tradition (and, rightfully so, add some of their own). Sometimes they'll raise a ruckus and protest "This destroys tradition!" and we'll have to remind them it's only been done three years. One young student stated, "I love the tradition at this school ... even though I don't know what it is." Well, by the end of their freshmen year, they do. By their junior and senior year, they lead what their siblings, parents and grandparents did. In a world where many families are broken, many students get a small part of that "family tradition" filled here.
Because of those traditions which have been practiced for years, different kids of different eras are united through time. Therefore, many stories are created through the years that are easily related to by different generations. I'll share a few over the next few weeks.
~ Written by Joe Vukelich, Denfeld economics teacher, alumnus and president of the Denfeld Alumni Association
Passing the can
Students raising money for innumerable causes happens frequently here (and at many high schools). Businesses in the Denfeld community contribute generously to many student groups. However, the origin of fund-raising at Denfeld started with one dramatic event in 1928.
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Alfred Sowl was bigger than most kids of his day and a welcome addition to coach Walt Hunting's football team. On the opening kickoff of the last game of the year, when kids were getting up after the tackle and going back to their respective huddles, Al Sowl got up, staggered and fell. He got up, staggered and fell again.
Finally, at the sideline, someone had the good sense to suggest to him that he needed medical attention. (For readers who are younger than 50, medical personnel weren't on the sidelines of athletic games until the 1970s.)
The physicians made the decision that they wanted to do an exploratory surgery to discover the reason for Al's pain. The surgery found the reason for his pain: Al had torn his kidney in half! He was unconscious from Saturday to Monday and had to have his kidney removed.
The Duluth newspapers gave periodic updates on his condition until he started to recover.
However, it was the Denfeld community that rallied behind the Sowl family with financial support. With the impending hospital bill about to hit the Sowl family, Denfeld area businesses put empty coffee cans on their counters for customers to contribute money. And Denfeld students passed around empty cans for students to contribute money.
This was the first recorded time that the Denfeld community came to the aid of a Denfeld family in need. It is the origin of why Denfeld students did -- and still do -- "pass the can" for a worthy goal.
Reminder: To celebrate the 100th graduating class from the high school in West Duluth, the Denfeld Alumni Association is sponsoring a double event from 2 to 4 p.m Saturday, Aug. 1, in the Denfeld Auditorium.
At that time, the previous 29 inductees into the Denfeld Hall of Fame, and/or their families, are coming back home. They have never been all together before.
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In addition, they are going to welcome 10 new people into the Denfeld Hall of Fame for their induction the same day.
The second event is an all-class dance in the Denfeld gym from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
Both events are free to the public; donations will be accepted.
