Mr. Bill Smith
Mr. William (Bill) Smith, an AUHS English, Journalism and publications teacher and later AHS Principal, traveled a long way from his roots in the small farming community of Carpenter, Wyoming, to become a much beloved part of the history of our high school.
Bill was born on April 28, 1926 of Roy and Viola Smith. His parents were important members of their local community. He was second of two brothers, his older brother Charles is now deceased. He was a happy child living in a home filled with love. Their community was an area where everyone knew each other. Life was simple yet very happy.
As a youth Bill was involved in Boy Scouts and 4-H. His father worked in the town managing the General Store and Bookkeeping. Since the age of 13, Bill was responsible for driving the tractor and helping out the family in maintaining their 1300 acre farm.
He attended Carpenter High School, which consisted of 40 students. His graduating class of 1943 saw 12 graduates that year including Bill. In that school every student had to participate in everything (sports, band, drama, etc.) or those functions would simply not exist in his school. Bill was very active in Basketball, Football and played the Trombone in the band. To this day he looks forward and attends his class reunion every year.
With World War II upon our great nation there was a shortage of teachers and young men and Bill joined the Army Reserve at 17 at Iowa State. At 18 he joined the U.S. Navy and served from 18 to 21 years of age. He was a Sonar Man 2nd class; he saw action in the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. Our Nation honored him with the Purple Heart.
After the War he returned to his education. He attended the University of Wyoming, graduating in 1951 with a degree in English and World History along with his teaching credentials. He then went onto Oregon State to receive his Masters Degree. He received his Administration Credential from San Francisco State in 1965.
He married the love of his life, Phyllis Plambeck in 1948. They had three daughters together. Their first child Beverly passed away at the age of 41 due to complications with diabetes. Their second daughter Joyce is a retired teacher in Reno, Nevada. Their third daughter Peggy is a works for a school district near Tacoma Washington as a food service provider. They have 2 granddaughters and 2 grandsons. They also have 3 great-granddaughters and 1 great-grandson.
Bill’s first teaching assignment was in an Oil Camp in McFadden, Wyoming in 1951-53. He taught high school there and that year the school graduated one student. It was smaller than his hometown’s graduating class. From McFadden, Bill went to Burns, Oregon for three years where he taught English and Publications. Bill and Phyllis have returned to Burns every five years for a reunion with the class of 1956 at Burns High School and they still have a number of good friends there.
Then in 1956 he sent out a series of job resumes to different schools districts. He was contacted by telegram by Alhambra Union High School Superintendent Willard Knowles to come to Martinez California for a job interview. After meeting with Mr. Knowles’ satisfaction the next stop was to gain the approval of then principal Dr. Grenville Jones. He jointed the teaching staff at Alhambra Union High School in the fall of 1956 teaching English, Journalism, and Publications.
He taught at AUHS for ten years from 1956 to 1966. The following year he worked at the Martinez Unified School Districts office as a part time attendance officer and part time principal of the old Continuation School housed out of the old Vine Hill School building.
In the fall of 1978 he was selected by the Martinez Unified School District Board of Trustees to serve as the replacement Principal for Mr. Frank Walsh who had decided to fill a role at Alhambra in the Guidance Department. Mr. Smith took over as the 15th guardian of our high school.
But it was also the time of some of the most turbulent days of our high school. I would say it was not like sliding into a frying pan but more like being dropped into the hot oil of the fry pan. Enrollment of students had suddenly dropped from 1100 to 800, causing the Average Daily Attendance to drop, translating to fewer funds from the State of California. Because of less money 15 teachers had to be let go over the next two years, meaning less classes and choices, causing morale issues. The school was in a serious lack of repair with no money or authorization to correct it. This also brought down the students’ morale.
Mr. Smith served as Principal for three years, then moving back to his former position as Principal of the Continuation High School and served in that job until his retirement from the Martinez Unified School District in 1985.
He feels that his time in education was well served and left with a grateful and fulfilled heart. He felt then, as now, that Martinez is a wonderful place to live and that is why he has never left. He also feels that the schools in Martinez are truly Top Quality! And the students…the BEST!
These days life finds Mr. Smith loving his wife and family, enjoying the good life in Martinez, being invited to class reunions, enjoying Dixieland Jazz and working with his good friends in the Lions Club.
We your students, fellow educators, members of your community, and Alhambra Alumni offer you our heartfelt thanks!
In your life you have reached out and deeply touched all of us though your efforts in education, dedication, and with your love. You are a part of each of us, and you will live on through us for many generations of Alhambrans to come.
We collectively thank you…you will never be forgotten Mr. Smith.