Mr Bilek was one of the most memorable teachers I had. He was great!! Who doesn't remember his diagrams on the chalk board along with PDG!! (Pretty darn good). Great guy!!
What I will always remember about Mr. Bilek was that he would erase the blackboard by holding the eraser still against the board and he would jump up and down . . . instead of using his arm to erase up and down. Also, he would always say, "A-n-y-b-o-d-y-g-o-t-a-q-u-e-s-t-i-o-n?" so as to sound like all one word.
It's great to see the tributes to Coach Bilek. I never had him as a teacher, but I played on his 1961 City Conference championship baseball team. He was a terrific coach because he was knowledgeable and set the perect balance between having fun and being serious about playing well. I remember vividly early in the season when we were not doing so well. We had just lost a game at the Pumping Staton on Humbioldt and our record fell to 3-3. On the bus ride back to Washngton, Coach Bilek said quietly but firrmly that he had never been part of a losing team and he didn't want to start now. We went on to win 14 straight games.and clinched the championship at Wick Field when my teammate Aaron Sweet hit a line drive over the first baseman's outstretched glove. That night remains one of the most exciting, memorable events of my life.--Sandy Horwitt, Jan. '61
He was my track coach. Had a mild dispostion. I ran low hurdles and he noticed I took 9 steps between hurdles where normally you would take 7. I didn't chop my steps I wasn't very tall. But he let me run in heats. Never had him for math, but we talked beside an EE degree I also have a math degree thanks to his pushing me.
The only way I passed Geometry 1 was handing in designs with my protracter. Mr. Bilek was funny, and kind to someoel like me who had no idea what was going on in class. Thank heavens I had a teacher llike him
The memory of Mr. Bilek is one that I will never forget to my dying day. He made math fun and did so that I went on to college to become a math teacher. He challenged me so much in his special way. He always told us to call him "Honest Charlie" sometimes "Uncle Honest Charlie". He always told me the grade I got on a test was 100% deserved because he was a totally honest person.
My hat off to you "Uncle Honest Charlie" You did great while you were on this earth.
From Dr. Jack Nusan (Jackie) Porter, class of June 1962.
While I never had him as a teacher, he was my B-team basketball coach and it was fun working with him and playing for him. I was a bit short at 5' 6" and maybe not as good as Sol Lewin or Dennis Williamson or Sandy Horwitt (whose comments I loved above) but I got a few playing times. I especially remember when I made my first basketball score against a strong Lincoln team. I also remember playing with Henry (Hank) Wolinsky. Coach Bilek was memorable. I loved the guy.
Mr. Bilek was also an inspiration to me to become a Math teacher, and I went to UW-whitewater and earned a Bachelor in Science degree with Math major because of his impact on my life in the class room. By the time I graduated from college, however, I had committed my life to Christ, and was redirected to Christian ministry. But Mr. Bilek has always remained my favorite high school teacher at Washington. As Mr. Bilek would say,: "Pretty neat, hah" Keith L. Hunholz, Class of 68
I absorbed the higher planes of mathematics from Mr. Bilek for three semesters, waiting for the truth and the joy of discovery of "Groups & Fields & Rings & Things." I surmise his method of erasing the blackboard was due to his coaching experience in basketball.
Another teacher in the web of my education that was definitely NOT another brick in the wall. He allowed wonderful math to be laid in order in my brain. I got it! Thank you, Mr. Bilek
Bernice Nickolaisen (Kwan) (1955)
.
I seemed to have imbalance regarding right brain and left brain funct ions. I relished coursework
covering complex social issues where discussion could bend evaluations or even accept several conclusions
. I froze with the ONE CORRECT ANSWER aspect of mathematics.
Mr. Bilek's benign guidance overcame my anxiety. Bless him for that !
Barbara Geiger (Foss) (1969)
Mr Bilek was one of the most memorable teachers I had. He was great!! Who doesn't remember his diagrams on the chalk board along with PDG!! (Pretty darn good). Great guy!!
William Steele (1969)
What I will always remember about Mr. Bilek was that he would erase the blackboard by holding the eraser still against the board and he would jump up and down . . . instead of using his arm to erase up and down. Also, he would always say, "A-n-y-b-o-d-y-g-o-t-a-q-u-e-s-t-i-o-n?" so as to sound like all one word.
Sanford D Horwitt (1961)
It's great to see the tributes to Coach Bilek. I never had him as a teacher, but I played on his 1961 City Conference championship baseball team. He was a terrific coach because he was knowledgeable and set the perect balance between having fun and being serious about playing well. I remember vividly early in the season when we were not doing so well. We had just lost a game at the Pumping Staton on Humbioldt and our record fell to 3-3. On the bus ride back to Washngton, Coach Bilek said quietly but firrmly that he had never been part of a losing team and he didn't want to start now. We went on to win 14 straight games.and clinched the championship at Wick Field when my teammate Aaron Sweet hit a line drive over the first baseman's outstretched glove. That night remains one of the most exciting, memorable events of my life.--Sandy Horwitt, Jan. '61
Neal Ciurro (1957)
He was my track coach. Had a mild dispostion. I ran low hurdles and he noticed I took 9 steps between hurdles where normally you would take 7. I didn't chop my steps I wasn't very tall. But he let me run in heats. Never had him for math, but we talked beside an EE degree I also have a math degree thanks to his pushing me.
Neal Ciurro "57
Judith Afram (Kaiser) (1956)
JUDY KAISER CLASS OF JUNE 1956
The only way I passed Geometry 1 was handing in designs with my protracter. Mr. Bilek was funny, and kind to someoel like me who had no idea what was going on in class. Thank heavens I had a teacher llike him
Kenneth A Borgh (1963)
The memory of Mr. Bilek is one that I will never forget to my dying day. He made math fun and did so that I went on to college to become a math teacher. He challenged me so much in his special way. He always told us to call him "Honest Charlie" sometimes "Uncle Honest Charlie". He always told me the grade I got on a test was 100% deserved because he was a totally honest person.
My hat off to you "Uncle Honest Charlie" You did great while you were on this earth.
God Bless
Jack Nusan Porter (1962)
From Dr. Jack Nusan (Jackie) Porter, class of June 1962.
While I never had him as a teacher, he was my B-team basketball coach and it was fun working with him and playing for him. I was a bit short at 5' 6" and maybe not as good as Sol Lewin or Dennis Williamson or Sandy Horwitt (whose comments I loved above) but I got a few playing times. I especially remember when I made my first basketball score against a strong Lincoln team. I also remember playing with Henry (Hank) Wolinsky. Coach Bilek was memorable. I loved the guy.
Keith L. Hunholz (1968)
Mr. Bilek was also an inspiration to me to become a Math teacher, and I went to UW-whitewater and earned a Bachelor in Science degree with Math major because of his impact on my life in the class room. By the time I graduated from college, however, I had committed my life to Christ, and was redirected to Christian ministry. But Mr. Bilek has always remained my favorite high school teacher at Washington. As Mr. Bilek would say,: "Pretty neat, hah" Keith L. Hunholz, Class of 68
John W. Staples (1968)
I absorbed the higher planes of mathematics from Mr. Bilek for three semesters, waiting for the truth and the joy of discovery of "Groups & Fields & Rings & Things." I surmise his method of erasing the blackboard was due to his coaching experience in basketball.
Another teacher in the web of my education that was definitely NOT another brick in the wall. He allowed wonderful math to be laid in order in my brain. I got it! Thank you, Mr. Bilek