Faculty meeting

It started in the auditorium at the old junior high and ended when Claire said she was done at the Elks Club a few hours later. A faculty meeting of sorts was held yesterday in Sandpoint.

Its purpose: to say good bye to a leader.

Lots of good byes, lots of good memories, even a few confessions.

Mr. Sodorff probably grinned as his teaching troops rose to the occasion, each doing their very best to contribute to a dignified affair, fit for a high school principal who had a hand in starting many of their careers and, in his unique way, nurturing them along as a staff.

Paul Graves emceed the memorial service from the stage behind an array of memorabilia symbolizing the life of Dick Sodorff---Battle of the Bulge warrior, basketball player, educator, family man and civic leader. Paul talked of Dick's military experience defining him more than any event in his life.

Dick was injured in World War II. He was happy to come to history teachers' classrooms to talk of the experience.

Ray Holt did a masterful job of drawing from a range of staff members' experiences as they started their careers at Sandpoint High and always knew the high expectations of their boss.

Bob Hamilton reflected on a few personal experiences, including the day Dick called him into the office to tell Bob that his mother and step-father had just died in an auto accident. They don't teach for moments like that in administrative training, Bob noted. Nobody could have provided such news any better than Dick did that day, he said.

Trumpeter Tom Walton and piano player Bill Reed brought a touch of nostalgia to the moment with some Big Band favorites. Bob Johnson presented a folded American flag to Claire. Old soldiers stood saluting as Tom Walton played "Taps."

The meeting moved on for several of the old faculty guard and close friends at an Elks luncheon. A few folks who hadn't seen each other for more than 30 years needed some introductions. After that, the talking began. It felt like home.

Steve Sodorff thanked everyone for coming and asked if anyone had any more stories. Chris Lassen told of a moment when he first saw Dick sitting in the coaches' office. Chris hadn't met Dick yet because of coming on board at the last minute. He asked Mr. Sodorff his name along with "What's your role here?"

Dick looked at him while puffing on a cigarette (lots of smoking by lots of people occurred back in those days). "It was that look that only Dick could give you," Chris recalled. "And, then he said, 'I'm your boss.'" Chris told several stories of learning how important it was to tell the boss about room reconstruction and long-distance telephone calls---before acting rather than after.

Others concurred.

Bill Adams (with my help) confessed about absconding with boxes and boxes of "mimeograph" paper at the beginning of each school year, hiding it in his biology room cabinets and doling it out to his friends in need when "the paper supply in the office was running short."

Terry Bloxom Mahoney told of her high school cheerleader days, riding home from an away game with Dick driving a bit too fast and getting pulled over. The cheerleaders kept that traffic stop secret until yesterday.

Everyone concurred, however, that Dick had a tendency to put the pedal to the metal.

Others spoke of a general sense of respect for a boss who worked with his staff in an atmosphere of common respect and understanding. "Stability" was the word used by Duane "Woodie" Ward. After all, Dick served as principal of Sandpoint High School for 22 years, probably a record in the history of the high school.

Final confession came from Ray Holt. "I was the one guarding the door," he said. Most everyone in that room knew immediately what Ray spoke of.

It was Commencement 1973. As Ray turned to a fellow staff member to make a comment, a naked body raced past him and streaked on through Marian Ruyle's orchestra as hundreds of students, parents and teachers watched in shock.

Probably a No. 1 on a Letterman-type list of Top Ten's to ever occur at Sandpoint High School.

The meeting ended on that note because nobody else had anything to top Ray's Mea Culpa, and Dick's wife Claire said she was ready to go home.

A fond adieu for a good boss.