Hall of Pride recognizes student achievement

What started more than a dozen years ago as a project to honor students’ achievements at BGM and former neighboring schools continues to bring enjoyment and pride to graduates, teachers and the community.

The BGM Hall of Pride, located in the hallway near the elementary kitchen and gym, was founded in 2010 by former BGM teacher, coach and athletic director, turned historian/archivist/curator, Gary Schroeder.

The Hall of Pride features 374 posters of graduates of BGM, Brooklyn High School and former schools in Malcom and Guernsey with another 40 slated to be added soon.

The goal is to feature 600 graduates before the project is complete.

The oldest students featured in the Hall of Pride are four athletes and graduates of Malcom High School in 1906: Walter Vogel, Forest Carpenter, Carl Gilliand and Guy Early.

“I discovered them on the Iowa High School Athletic Association website,” said Schroeder. “They participated in the first sanctioned state track meet that year. There were no qualifying requirements at that time, so one could enter as many events as they wanted to.”

The most recent addition to the Hall of Pride is Chloe Etten, a 140-pound state qualifying wrestler in 2023.

A combination of three things brought about the creation of the Hall of Price, Schroeder said.

First, as athletic director at BGM, he was always interested in how area schools honored their students’ achievements.

“At the time, BGM had nothing displaying individual, group or team efforts other than trophies, plaques,” noted Schroeder.

Secondly, in order to earn the title of Certified Master Athletic Administrator, he was required to submit a project and have it approved by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.

“I chose to initiate a Hall of Pride,” he said.

And lastly, while reading a 2010 IHSAA magazine, Schroeder saw a story about North Cedar’s unveiling of a Memorial Wall of Fame in honor of Ashley Himes, a student-athlete who died of cancer in 2009.

“Financing for their wall displays came from her memorial fund,” said Schroeder. “I visited North Cedar to look at specifications. Their wall is displayed at North Cedar’s middle school in Clarence.”

All student and team photos in the Hall of Pride are featured in 10-by-13 black frames. They are strategically placed, male and female; black-and-white and color; team and individual; various activities and various decades.

The Hall of Pride features students who were recognized on the state level in sports, all-state band, all-state chorus, drama, speech, dance, cheerleading and FFA.

It features a section that honors BGM graduates who have earned All-American status at a post graduate college or university. This includes Kyle Gritsch, football; Jeff DeVilder, track; Gerardus “Geert” Boelen, cross-country; and Hueston Holder, swimming.

Also featured are two hall of fame inductees: Jill Hulsing, softball; and Corwin “Corky” Stuart, wrestling. Dick Pollitt, track and cross-country, is slated to be added soon.

Schroeder said he wanted to include all sports and activities in the Hall of Pride and not one area.

“Who is to say one activity has more clout than the others,” he said. “I hear from parents all the time how much they appreciate the hall not just recognizing athletics.”

Five districts are represented and color-coded in the Hall of Pride. The Brooklyn Bears are red; Guernsey Hawks, orange; Malcom Eagles, white; BGM Bears, blue; and shared schools, Grinnell, Montezuma and HLV, green.

When asked why the Hall of Pride and not the Hall of Fame, Schroeder said the word Fame, in his opinion, is self-serving and does not represent the majority of students’ accomplishments.

“Fame is great for representing a state champion or runner-up,” he said. “Think about this — students work hard for an event and qualify for the state track meet and end up 24th out of 24 places.

“There is no admirable fame in that,” said Schroeder, “but if they gave it their all, there is pride and honor as an end result. Let’s recognize his/her effort to get to state in the first place.”

Schroeder estimates that he has spent about 500 hours researching and building the Hall of Pride, and that’s a very conservative number.

“I will continue to research and update until I can’t,” said Schroeder. “Currently, I doubt there is anyone interested in furthering this project. All the documentation is 100% up to date, so that is not a problem.”

When asked how he finds names of students to feature in the Hall of Pride, Schroeder said he has researched yearbooks, newspaper articles, microfilm, personal interviews and submitted photos.

“I spent a couple afternoons at the IGHSAU office looking at their files,” he said.

“The IGHSAU also put out their own yearbooks in the late 50s and early 60s,” he said. “The IHSAA now has nearly all their programs and supplemental bulletins online also.”

Schroeder likens the Hall to antique hunting and finding that surprise he never would have guessed would be found.

“Like Guernsey having 11 All-State girl basketball players,” he said. “Also, just hearing the positive comments from people that have viewed themselves on the wall, some not even knowing their accomplishments. That is most gratifying and appreciative to me.”

Schroeder was athletic director, health and physical education instructor and volleyball coach and also taught K-12 art during his 21-year career at BGM. He retired in 2015 after 40-years in education.

Hall of Pride project contributions have come from Cory Hall Photography, which creates the posters, Corky Stuart, Ray Holder and Curtis Creps.

Josh Gerard, the Brooklyn librarian, has lent items to the Hall of Pride.

Monetary donations for the Hall have come from the BGM School District, BGM Bear Backers Booster Club, Poweshiek County Alliance, Brooklyn Ruritan Club and private donations.

Schroeder is currently raising funds to keep the Hall of Pride updated. He needs about $2,250 to purchase frames and work toward completion of the project.

“Donations are much appreciated,” he said. “Those can be sent to BGM schools in the name of Hall of Pride or to me personally. Donations cover the cost of frames, printing, and design consultation/documentation for the photo posters and my research time and efforts.”

For more information, check out BGM Hall of Pride on Facebook.