9/15/25 I graduated from Littlestown High School in 1965. I packed up my warm weather clothing and headed to Michigan as a college freshman. I played college football and baseball and was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. I graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in German, with an English minor along with some sort of certification specializing in Latin. I was a college graduate and I had the piece of paper to prove it, but I didn’t have a job. I was visiting my parents in Littlestown when my dear mother suggested I contact the Carroll County School System to maybe, just maybe find a job as a school teacher. I balked at her suggestion but she said “it won’t hurt to try.” I called and spoke with the director of personnel, a fine gentleman. He told me there were a few teaching positions available and then he asked about my degree. I told him I had a degree in German. Upon hearing this, he screamed “What did you say”? I told him I had a degree in German and he broke into a loud, continuous, maniacal uproar of laughter. He continued laughing for at least five minutes and he finally stopped and apologized for his behavior. He told me that the entire Carroll County School System had but one German teacher, that being at South Carroll High School in Sykesville. Then he said, “He resigned this morning, do you want a job”! I quickly responded “Yes, I do”! He later stated that South Carroll was considering a beginning program in Latin but they had yet to find an instructor. I told him of my college accreditation in Latin, he laughed and asked me how soon could I be at his office. So, it worked out for me. I was a high school teacher, thanks Mom!
9/8/25 On Tuesday, September 11, 2001 I was on vacation visiting one of our daughters in San Antonio, Texas. While we were having our breakfast, another of our daughters called, telling us to turn on our television. We, like millions of other horrified Americans watched the screen as the second plane flew into the second tower. Our eyes were fixed in disbelief as we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. I said to my daughter, almost right away, that she would be getting another telephone call, and at that moment, it rang and the call was for me.
5/4/24 Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on November 22, 1963 and what about September 11, 2001? Surely these two days will be ingrained into our minds forever. But where were you, what were you doing on May 4, 1970? It was a Monday, a little past twelve-thirty. I was teaching a German class at South Carroll High School, in Sykesville, Carroll County. The news hit the TV and radio stations – – – – calling the event “The Kent State Massacre.” Four Kent State University students were killed and nine others were wounded when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire during a student rally opposing our involvement in the Vietnam War, the National Guard’s presence on their campus and the military draft. Neil Young of the folk-rock singing group, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young wrote a protest song in reaction to the Kent State shootings. You can hear the song this Saturday on Nick Brady’s Brady Brunch, only on Cool Oldies 1450THU and WTHURADIO.COM
This week on the Brady Brunch, Jaunary 27, I would like to focus on the top hits of the year, 1962. There was not one single song that was the top song according to the Billboard charts. Actually, there were three songs, all of which held the top spot for five weeks each and two of the songs were performed by the same artist