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It is with the greatest sorrow that we prepare this special edition of the Class of '56 Newsletter. As we mentioned in the inaugural issue of the newletter, special editions would be published and distributed as necessary, but this is not one that is easy to do.

A note with the following information was received yesterday from Virginia Noble.

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Thank you so much for your support suring Noble's illness.

The fabulous 56'ers gave him more pleasure than one might think possible at such a time!

Combined with the great sorrow for the loss of such an individual, we share the deepest sympathy for Virginia. We all have been touched by Howard in one way or another in the past and we obviously made a difference in his last days. For that, we should all find some pride in who we are and what we did.

Mr. Nobel was perhaps my all-time favorite social studies teacher. What I remember most is that he recommended I NOT read Steinbeck’s “In Dubious Battle.” All of the Fifties witch hunts for communists had not made that the most popular book in the country back in 1959—60. After reading it, I think I read half of Steinbeck’s other books, too. He is the teacher I credit most with making me THINK, not just memorize and do. My on-going love of American history began in his class! My college American history class was a real bore after his!

Pat Larsen Schultz CLHS 1961

Many of us went to school to see how little we could learn and I was one who probably aced everything not necessary. We used to really work on getting Mr. Noble to start talking about his war experiences so we would not have to work so hard in his class. We might have succeeded once every one hundred tries and felt like we whipped the world at that....

I have two memories of Mr. Noble that still bring a tear to my eyes, including writing this... I think I was in 10th grade when I got sick and spent a week in the hospital in Mason City. To keep from jumping out of the window as I started feeling better the only thing I could do to pass the time was study for a test Mr Noble gave the class while I was gone. When I got back and took the test he called me into his room one day after correcting the test. At that point he became the JUDGE, JURY and the HIRED HIT MAN. He just knew someone gave me all of the test questions as I had scored way way over my abilities and he just knew I had pulled off the all time CHEAT OF C.L.H.S.. As I stood there shaking in my boots and maybe thinking of jumping out of the window I confessed to him I became bored in the hospital and actually studied for the first time in my life. Well, I am here to tell all of you I may have been the only student to ever leave Mr. Noble speechless.

The second memory is from my first year out of high school and stationed with the Air Force at the end of the world called Goose Bay, Labrador. I was there in a totally isolated base for one year to the day and for a 19 year old that was a tough year. One day though, I hit mail call and there was the neatest personal letter from Mr. Noble and the 19 year old tough kid could not hold it just as he is having the same problem writing this tribute to him.

Jerry L. Millard Class of '56

I, too, want to add to the remarks of Pat about this remarkable teacher. He truly did challenge us to think beyond our comfort zone. Every election that comes around I remember having to write a defense of a candidate that most assuredly was not my parents choice for election. It did cause some raised eyebrows in this one sided home. But it was good for all of us to think outside the box and I for one have never forgotten that lesson. My love for American history certainly was stimulated by him (and my mom) and in retirement am enjoying visiting all these truly amazing places.

Ellen Friday(Erickson) '57

There are only a few teachers that I credit with impacting my life. One of those was Howard Noble. He originated my ongoing interest in politics, government and public service. I knew that he, like Mr. Gillespie, was a vet. He either flew or flew on B-26’s, a notorious and unforgiving airplane. Had a tendency to roll suddenly to the right on take-off. The results of his teaching and the interest he generated, which I recognized in me early on ( even though I was a social studies bottom-feeder), is one of the little memorials that he left behind. Because of him, I began subscribing to Time Magazine while in the Army. From it, I learned not to accept a deal to fly helicopters with a Warrant Officer’s commission, which would have gotten me to Viet Nam, and most likely, become another name among too many, on a wall. Thanks Mr. N. (Don Stebbins- 1959)