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School honors Paulus for years of support
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · January 26, 2022
“Oh … look at that space!” Rev. Richard Paulus said Jan. 19 when he came into full view of the new West Branch High School auditorium. “How marvelous!”
Moments later, he learned West Branch Community Schools offered him his own space — his choice of any of the more than 600 seats available and a plaque to mark it.
“Thank you!” he said, surrounded by fine arts instructors, school board members, and Superintendent Marty Jimmerson.
Board of Education Vice President Keith Schultes said the auditorium “was a long time coming” and Paulus had done a lot to promote and support the school and its $24.5 million addition and improvement project.
Now in his mid-80s, he and his wife, Ellyn, both worked to get “yes” votes on this project and the two previous efforts to upgrade the school. Paulus also served multiple terms on the Board of Education, spent 17 years reading to children at Hoover Elementary, and still announces for the marching band at home football games.
Schultes said the school district wanted to show their appreciation for “all you’ve done for the town of West Branch.”
Jimmerson presented him with a red sticker to place on the back of any seat in the house. He chose Row 6, Seat 110, in the center.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said.
The retired pastor looked around the room at the larger stage, the acoustic tiles, the new lighting and seating for twice as many as the previous auditorium.
“(Imagine) the experiences this will provide for hundreds and hundreds of people,” he said. “I had no idea it was this big!”
Ellyn said she liked that the school district made a point of investing in the fine arts.
Jimmerson said the auditorium has 594 fixed seats but can empty the orchestra pit to add 40 more, for 634 total seats.
Paulus said he had to stop reading to children because of coronavirus concerns and wished he could have told the pupils beforehand.
“But how do you explain that you can’t go to school because you might get sick?” he said.
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