Ernest and Elsie Sugden were life-long residents of Edgar, Nebraska. They were married on November 22, 1904. Their first child, Myreta, was born in 1907, and their second child, Merton, was born in 1908.
While the children were still toddlers, Ernest and Elsie decided to move to western Colorado. Ernest suffered from breathing problems and doctors thought the dry mountain air might be beneficial.
Move to Colorado
Ernest went on ahead and purchased raw, uncultivated land near Austin, Colorado. Austin is located on the Gunnison River, about fifty miles east of the Utah state line. He cleared the land and built a four room farmhouse and began raising sugar beets. He also planted an apple orchard.
Elsie and the children then took the train out from Edgar to join him. Their third child, Wallace, was born in Austin on July 22, 1911.
Return to Edgar
Ernest continued to suffer breathing problems, so in 1918, it was decided that they should return to the lower elevation of Edgar. They leased the farm to family friends in Austin.
Back in Edgar, Ernest's health problems continued to plague him. He suffered from heart trouble and continued to have breathing problems. His doctor recommended that the Sugden family move to the warm, dry climate of southeastern California.
Move to California
So, in the summer of 1919, they set out for California in their Model-T Ford. It was a long, arduous journey. The 'highway' to California took them back along the same route as before, across Nebraska and central Colorado.
The Sugdens enroute to California
When they got as far as western Colorado (Austin), it was decided to settle there temporarily because the school term was about to begin. The family that had leased their farm was planning to move anyway, so they simply moved back into their own farmhouse.
During the cold winter months of 1919, Ernest's health continued to fail, and he passed away on April 24, 1920. He was 36 years old. Their move to California was not to be.
Wally, then age nine, along with his two siblings, Myreta, age 13, Merton, age 12, and his pregnant mother, Elsie, were persuaded to sell the farm and return to Edgar where family members could look after them.
Back in Edgar
Wally's younger sister was born on September 18, 1920, after their return to Edgar. They named her Ernestine in honor of the father she never knew.
Back in Edgar, the Sugden children flourished. Wally graduated from Edgar High School in 1929, where he lettered in football, basketball, track, debate and music. Wally was now a high school graduate, but very unsure of his future plans.
Professor Bosley
Then, on a warm Sunday afternoon in that summer of 1929, a fateful event took place. Wally received a visit that would change his life forever.
Professor Bosley, a faculty member at Edgar High School, arrived unexpectedly at their home and bluntly announced to a startled Sugden family, "Wally, pack your suitcase! I am taking you to Peru this afternoon, and I am enrolling you in college!"
And Professor Bosley did just that! He enrolled Wally in the State Normal School and Teachers College, now known as Peru State Teachers College, located in Peru, Nebraska (about 40 miles southeast of Lincoln).
In addition to that, he got Wally a job at a local drug store in Peru, where he would be serving refreshments at the soda fountain. Wally was now a "soda jerk". The job included a sleeping room above the store. Wally would also serve as night watchman.
Going to Peru
While working his way through college jerking sodas, Wally maintained an excellent scholastic record.
Wally's Soda Fountain
In addition, he found time for extracurricular activities on campus, including music, cheerleading and track. He broke all existing records in the high-jump despite the fact that he had only nine toes. He had lost the big toe on his left foot in a childhood accident back in Edgar.
Wally graduated from Peru in three years with high honors. Armed with a brand new degree, teaching certificate and a stack of application photos, Wally set forth.
His first job interview was unsuccessful. When asked if he smoked, danced, drank, or played cards, Wally honestly admitted that he liked to play bridge.
First Teaching Job
His next interview had a better outcome. He was hired to teach high school science and social studies in Ruskin, Nebraska. He taught there from 1932 to 1934.
While attending college, Wally had met Ellen Eunice Wilson, a fellow student and talented pianist. She accompanied him when he sang at various campus events at Peru. They were married in 1934 while Wally was teaching in Ruskin.
On to Superior
The young couple then moved to Superior, Nebraska, where Wally taught at the junior high level from 1934 to 1937.
Wally earned his masters degree in 1937 from the University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. His advisor really made quite an impression on him. Wally collected and studied all of his advisor's publications. His advisor was James Michener.
A New School and a New Baby
Wally's next teaching position was that of Superintendent of Schools in DeWitt, Nebraska, from 1937 to 1940. While living in DeWitt, Ellen gave birth to a baby girl, Janet, born in 1938.
Four Years in Grand Island
Wally then served as elementary principal at Grand Island, Nebraska, from 1940 to 1944. Concerned about the financial future of his young family, he was attracted to the northern Illinois area, because of better teacher salaries and also, Illinois had a teacher pension system in place.
Moving to Illinois
In the summer of 1944, Wally applied for teaching jobs at two suburban Chicago communities. One was River Forest; they had been looking for a bright, young science teacher and immediately hired Wally on the recommendation of a Nebraska state school board member. He began teaching in River Forest in the fall of 1944.
In 1945, director of curriculum was added to his responsibilites, and in 1947, he became curriculum coordinator and also director of visual education.
In 1950, Wally was named Superintendent of Schools in River Forest. He was in charge of four elementary schools and one junior high school.
Life in River Forest
During the next 34 years, Wally became widely known as a dedicated, enthusiastic administrator, respected by board members, faculty and parents alike. He took great pride in knowing most of the pupils by name throughout the school district.
On July 16, 1952, he married Rose Conn, also an educator he had known professionally for several years. Wally and Rose have one son, David, born in 1955. Wally and Rose celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary in 2002.
During his years in River Forest, Wally served as president of the West Suburban Superintendents' Association, president of the Acorn Boy Scout Council, and member of the board of the Family Services and Mental Health Association of Oak Park-River Forest.
Wally also pursued his musical interests. He served as choir director at the River Forest Presbyterian Church, and later, sang in the River Forest Methodist Church choir.
The Four S's"
He also organized a barbershop quartet made up of fellow school administrators. They were known as "The Four S's"; Sugden, Sutfin, Steadman, and Slutz.
Retirement
In 1964, after 37 years as an educator, Wally took an early retirement and began a second career, creating the "Sugden, Blodgett, Claughbaugh Consulting Firm", which provided assistance to local school boards throughout the Chicago suburban area.
Wally also enjoyed activities at the Oak Park Township Senior Citizen Center at the Oak Park Arms Hotel. As a member of the Men's Club, he would attend their morning lectures and then play duplicate bridge in the afternoon.
Wally was a very outgoing person. He enjoyed taking long walks throughout Oak Park and River Forest and would greet and chat with everyone he met. This definitely added to his ever-increasing circle of friends and acquaintances.
Wally was a member of the Masonic Lodge which he joined in Edgar in 1934. He maintained his membership for 68 years. He held a life membership in the National Education Association, the American Association of School Administrators, and was active in other professional organizations.
Wally was also very active in the Oak Park and River Forest communities. He was a member of the Rotary Club (serving as president in 1959 and 1960). He was named a Paul Harris Fellow, a commemorative award given by Rotary International for philanthropy. He was known as their poet laureate.
Elderhostels
During their retirement years, Wally and Rose visited 61 Elderhostels throughout the United States, Canada, Hawaii and Bermuda. They also traveled to England, Argentina, and New Zeland.
Elderhostels are traveling, learning, and activity-based experiences for people
who are at least sixty years old. Unlike tour companies, Elderhostel offers in-depth,
behind-the-scenes learning experiences for almost every interest and ability.
Experts lecture on local history and culture. Outdoor activities are available,
such as guided walking tours, biking excursions, science trips and nature cruises.
After suffering from a variety of health problems in his later years, Wally passed away on September 1, 2002, at the age of 91. Wally was the pillar of our family, and is greatly missed by everyone who came to know him.
Memorial
In 2003, community leaders built a memorial garden just outside the River Forest school district administration building in honor of Wally and his years of service to the schools and to the community.
Wally's Memorial Garden
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