Tuesday, November 10, 2015
In 1978 I graduated from RCS. Although it had been several years since Mr. Place had retired, I did have the privilege of having him as a shop teacher, for a short time. I remember him as a kind, distinguished and gentle man, who always had a smile on his face. I distinctly recall that moment, during our class recessional, where Mr. Place handed me, and all of my classmates, a little red New Testament. Several years later while I was attending SUNY at Fredonia, I was on my way to class from the dormitories, and there stood Mr. Place, distributing the same little red New Testaments. To this day, I still have those New Testaments. Many years later, Karen brought him to my office to visit. He immediately noticed a small Butternut foot stool, which I had made in shop class. He was definitely one of those iconic teachers at RCS who made a difference; I wish he hadn't retired quite so early from teaching. His ministry definitely lives on.