Verland Reavis turns 100

I interviewed Verland Reavis last year when he turned 99, on November 29, 2010. He was amazing. But, on Tuesday November 29, 2011, Verland turns 100 years old. That’s 10 decades. An entire century!

Even though more and more people are reaching the 100-year landmark, few are doing it with their minds and bodies as intact as Verlands’. During the last year he has continued his active lifestyle with travel and ballroom dancing along with his girlfriend Donna.

Horse power

A recent trip to a guest ranch in Washington revealed he can no longer go horseback riding. He could swing his leg over the horse, but could not sit down. He was going to ride for fun and pleasure but that’s not how it started.

Horseback riding in 1911 was function, not pleasure. It took a day to travel seven miles with a horse and wagon to retrieve ice. At seven and eight years old he rode his pony “Bonnie” four miles to a friend’s house, then continued with them to a one-room schoolhouse. Now, at 100 he still drives.

Horses powered all the work at the family farm. The family depended on what they grew, raised and bartered. The 20 milk cows were milked by hand. They had no powered agricultural machinery.

Generations

He is the eighth generation of Reavis in the USA. He is the first generation not to farm. The first three generations were slave owners. He says he is not prejudiced but can remember it being a big event to see a black family with three children having a picnic.

There has been an obvious culture change since his birth. Last year I asked him if he ever thought he’d see a black president and he responded he didn’t think he’d ever see a Catholic president. He believes he might see the first woman president.

Education and family

Education and family are important to Verland and is a mainstay in his life, past and present. He worked his way to his teaching degree by taking time off from school and obtaining a ‘One year rural school teaching certificate”, then back to school.

Multi-tasked

Around 1932 he took a job in the Rockies at a one-room schoolhouse but lived on a nearby ranch. He and three “cowboys” shared a room in an attic. The cowboys treated him like royalty. Back then, not only was he responsible for teaching, he was the janitor and he shoveled coal to keep the classroom warm.

While teaching at Marshfield High School for 30 plus years his day didn’t end at three o’clock. He taught in the evenings for students who wanted more time. He was also expected to chaperone events and work the concession stands at games, all without extra pay.

Respect was expected, but also given

While teaching at Marshfield he had a student named Frank who kept talking after being asked to quiet down. Frank didn’t stop, so Verland slapped him. Frank responded that he was going to tell his dad. Verland said “you better tell him before I do.” At the end of the day Frank was at the door pleading with Verland to not tell his dad what happened. The discipline and threats of discipline at school was usually less than what would happen at home. At parent/teacher conferences, both parents came.

Money doesn’t define success

Verland is sad that economic times have forced families to have two parents working outside the home.

He strongly believes teaching is a great profession because it affects students in the present and in the future. He didn’t get paid a lot, but the rewards were great.

His younger brother went to a trade school yet made more money than Verland and his two sisters with degrees. Money is not how he defines success, “but it sure helps” he laughs.

If he hadn’t been a teacher, he would have worked with the railroad. He did work for them during the war, but the men used a lot of foul language. There was room for advancement and it paid better than teaching but “if you’re a teacher, you can do so much for those kids, it’s a great profession.”

He likes when his trips are educational and recreational. He has enjoyed Elder Hostile trips for this reason. It is obvious he still loves teaching. He also continues to learn and keeps up with technology. He is happy to have recently upgraded to the fastest internet service possible. His grandson Chris introduced him to the site VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owners) where he has reserved a place to stay for his next trip, sometime around January.

Planting the future

He is grateful and acknowledges that he still enjoys good health and a strong mind. He is happy this has allowed him to continue to live independently in the home he and his wife built in the mid sixties. He is aware how great his quality of life is right now. It is hard to tell if his discipline and patience were what made him a great teacher, or if being a teacher is what taught him patience. Either way he silently commands respect.

He pointed to some saplings he planted a few years ago. “I don’t plan on harvesting them until I’m 200”.

With his attitude, he might make it.

Happy 100 Verland!

by Sheli Roe

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