Volume 1, Issue 14 SEPTEMBER 1, 2023
Cunninghams named 2023 Lifetime Pirate Award winners By Amanda Dodge The Oceana Echo Community Contributor “In 1963, a couple of days ago, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. That same week, a 27-year-old kid, Air Force veteran and graduate of a small college in Iowa, came to Hart to start his first teaching job, his last teaching job and his only teaching job.” These impactful words were part of the speech retired Hart Public Schools teacher Jim Cunningham gave as he accepted the Lifetime Pirate Award that was presented to both him and his late wife, Alice, Wednesday, Aug. 30 at Hart High School. Jim added that he retired in 2003, after 40 years of teaching. Since 2014, Hart Public Schools has enjoyed the tradition of presenting the Lifetime Pirate Award to honor an individual or individuals who have been of service to the school by making it a better place for students, staff and the community. In a statement released by the school, the decision behind this choice was given, “Jim and Alice have given their time and talents to Hart Public Schools in some capac-
ity for over 60 years. They genuinely are lifelong pirates; we, as a district, cannot thank them enough for their lifelong contribution to Hart Public Schools.” The school also provided the nominations submitted in support of the Cunninghams being chosen as this year’s recipients. “My name is Mark Saari, an 18year veteran teacher of Hart High School, and I am writing this letter to nominate Jim Cunningham for the honor of the 2023 Lifetime Pirate Award. Mr. Cunningham served as a high school social studies teacher at Hart High School for, I believe, at least 37 years and possibly over 40 years. I was never a student of Mr. Cunningham, nor did I ever teach with him, but I’ve run numerous clocks at football and basketball games, and for my first 12 years or so here at Hart, Jim was the P.A. announcer at every one of them. I asked him one time how many games he announced, and while he couldn’t give an exact number, he did say it was over 1,000, beginning in the 1960s. That means he was calling games in Hart for parts of six decades. I find those numbers to be astonishing, and combined with his many years of service to the district as a teacher and union representative, along with being the voice of Hart Pirate athletics, I feel he would be a wor-
thy candidate for this award.” During the awards presentation, Superintendent Mark Platt invited Beth Smith and Rebecca Nicholson to come up and read the nominaton they wrote and present Jim with a plaque. Before they began, Smith said that sadly, two weeks after they submitted this, Alice passed away. “In 1959, when Spitler School was a brand new building out in the middle of a field, Alice Ekerle started her first teaching job, teaching home economics in the old Hart High School on State Street, where the city hall now stands. The following year, she sponsored the Future Homemakers of America Club for Hart students and continued in that role for three years. She also sponsored the Sewing Club during that same time. In 1962, the new Hart High School was built on its current site. In 1963, The Hartian was dedicated to Mrs. Ekerle with the following dedication: ‘For a highly successful banquet and memorable prom. She has always been willing to volunteer her services whenever she realized we had problems to overcome.’ “In 1963, Jim Cunningham started teaching American History and Mechanical Drawing at the new Hart High School. He immediately became the Auto Club and Camera Club advisor. Mr. Cun-
J im C unningham ningham is mentioned in several yearbooks for contributing photos. At the time of the publication of the 1966 Hartian yearbook, Jim and Alice had gotten married. In 1975, Mr. Cunningham started the National Honor Society at Hart High School, and remained the advisor for the next 28 years. In 1976, the Hartian yearbook was dedicated to both of them for their service to the students. “Over the next several decades, the Cunninghams continued their dedication and service to the students at Hart. Mrs. Cunningham was the junior class advisor, and for over twenty years she coordinated the mother/daughter senior banquets. Mr. Cunningham became the class advisor for the journalism
class and the “Hart Beat” newspaper advisor, as well as the senior class advisor. He also became known as the voice of Hart sports, announcing football games, basketball games and track meets. He announced all the home games for years. Mrs. Cunningham worked admissions at those home games taking and selling tickets. They volunteered their time, staffing these athletic events for over 50 years. “Mr. Cunningham served the Hart Education Association as president for over 35 years and continued to do so even after retirement. After her retirement, Mrs. Cunningham continued to sub at Hart for several years, and they both continued to represent the retired MEA members at the annual State Representative Assembly for years after. They continued to serve the Hart community by volunteering on elections and other committees. “Jim and Alice Cunningham have dedicated over 60 years to the staff and students of Hart Public Schools and to the greater Hart community. Quite literally a lifetime. We can’t thank them enough for their incredible contributions and service, and we can’t think of anyone more deserving of this award.” After the emotional presentation, Jim added, “Alice would have enjoyed this.”
Oceana Antique Tractors club tills up 25 years By Sharon Hallack The Oceana Echo Community Contributor
PERMIT NO 62
PRE-SORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE
RESIDENTIAL POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID ECRWSS BIG RAPIDS, MI 49307
Carl Wiegand of Mears has been a tractor enthusiast for as long as he can remember. He officially became a collector 55 years ago with the purchase of his 1939 John Deere back in 1968.
Then, 25 years ago, in 1998, his friend, Gordon Anderson, was restoring one of his many tractors, and Anderson, along with friend Ken Purdy, asked Wiegand what he thought about forming a tractor club. A few weeks later, the three met, and Anderson asked, “What should we call our group?” Without skipping a beat, Wiegand suggested, “I think the Oceana Antique Tractors sounds good to me - sounds like OATS.” The three agreed, and the group was born. Their Facebook page sums up their purpose by stating, “OATS is a group of antique and tractor enthusiasts and friends who are dedicated to celebrating the agricultural heritage of Oceana County, Mich. and surrounding areas. Their common bond is a love of old tractors and the West Michigan area they call home.” At one time, the OATS boasted a membership of 90. Currently, the group includes approximately 40 members from all across West Michigan.
Carl Wiegand, one of the founding members of Oceana Antique Tractors (OATS) stands inside the Transportation Museum in Mears. • Sharon Hallack/Echo Annually, the group hosts a Plow Day at a local farm each spring, two group rides each spring and fall, and an occasional pulling event. Members also bring their antique tractors to a number of local parades each summer. Throughout the years, the group has had various other tractor shows and events; however, with a smaller membership, they are keeping activities to a minimum. One of
their annual events used to be the Oceana Memorial Tractor Ride, which benefited the Crystal Valley Care Fund. Nowadays, the group uses their spring ride as their main fundraising ride, with all proceeds going to Roy’s Kids. Headed up by New Era Police Chief Roy Strait, this group is dedicated to providing gifts and needed items to area children and families each Christmas.
“Our fall fun ride is where we raise funds to maintain our club. We used to have an annual two-day event at Woodland Farm Market, but with the cost of insurance, we only hold pulls once in a while,” Wiegand said. Some of the nicest riding is coming up this month when the group plans to host its annual fall ride Sunday, Sept. 17, starting at Crystal Valley
Park at 9:30 a.m. “The planned 17-mile ride will take us through the Crystal Valley countryside. It will last anywhere from two to three hours, depending on the roads,” Wiegand explained. “The best place to see the tractors will be as we are leaving or returning to the park. We plan to be back from the ride around 12:30 p.m. for a potluck lunch. It’s just a bunch of us tractor boys out for a ride,” he said. Their last event of the season will be a tractor pull scheduled to take place at Woodland Farm Market Saturday, Sept. 23, starting at 1 p.m. and all are invited to enjoy this family-friendly, funfilled event. More members are always welcome, and membership dues are $15 a year. The group meets three to five times each year on the second Thursday of selected months in the Transportation Museum at Mears, starting at 7 p.m. For further information, please contact Wiegand at 231-301-1403.