My name is Eric Ringling Meibers and Im a 2002 graduate of McNicholas High School. I wanted to share a story with both the McNick family and her family as well about Mrs. Stowe that I think folks will enjoy. Please feel free to share as you see fit, or forward this on to whoever might be interested. I'm writing today regarding the late former photography teacher, Marjory W. Stowe. While I did not personally have Mrs. Stowe for any classes during my four years at Rocket High, I wanted to share a story about how far a teacher's reach can be felt, even by a student she never met. As I began my senior year in the fall of 2001, I enjoyed limited success on the varsity football team. My best friend, Ryan Druffel ('02) was one of Mrs. Stowe's photography students at the time. I can't recall if he had ever taken a photography class prior to that fall, but Mrs. Stowe's influence on his interest in the subject was readily apparent. Ryan began parlaying his newfound pastime into all sorts of extracurricular activities - he could always be found with his Nikon camera around his neck. Whether it was documenting our various shenanigans on the weekends or snapping pictures for the Rocket yearbook, Ryan had obviously taken the lessons Mrs. Stowe had bestowed upon him to heart. As the football season carried on, Ryan's photography skills began getting noticed by the powers that be and he was asked to grace the sidelines of Rocket football games to assist with capturing the action for various media outlets. While I never really noticed he was there, he always had a penchant for being in just the right spot at the right time. My assumption is Mrs. Stowe's tutelage was in full effect while he was on the sidelines "working." We made it our tradition after Friday night games to descend upon the local Buffalo Wild Wings to fill our teenage bellies with all that is deep fried and smothered in wing sauce. Since my parents were a little more lenient with curfew at the time, Ryan would typically spend the night at my house so we could stay out a little later and enjoy ourselves. One particular evening, we came back to my house and were getting ready to call it an evening; after all, I had to get up early and go watch film the next morning. As Ryan was preparing his weekly slumber on my futon, I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth. That's when he decided to pull out his camera for one more picture. Much to my surprise (and embarrassment,) Ryan called my name from the other room then proceeded to snap a picture of me right as I turned my head to see what was the matter - while standing in my underwear. We both laughed it off and I didn't think much of it at the time, knowing how juvenile we were at age 17. Fast forward exactly one year and we had both gone our separate ways to college that fall - 100 miles apart from each other. Little to my knowledge, Ryan had taken the photography skills he learned from Mrs. Stowe that year and created a collage of photographs to take with him to college. There were pictures of his friends from grade school (St. Andrews) who hed grown up with, scenic shots of places he had visited, pets from home all the good memories to keep him company while away at school. Since Wright State University operates on quarters instead of semesters like Denison University does, Ryan had a 6-week break from Thanksgiving until after New Year's. Being the good friend I am, I offered to come help move him back home for their extended break. I hadn't seen him in a few months and I thought it would be a good time to pay him a visit anyway. It was at that point he proceeded to tell me that a curious blond co-ed who lived in his same dormitory had taken a liking to a picture of me, and she had inquired as to when I was coming to Wright State for a visit. Being oblivious to the situation, I again didn't think much of it and made the trek up I-75 to meet him. That was until I arrived as his dormitory and noticed the collage hanging on his wall and lo and behold, I saw the picture of me in my underwear, front and center. Well, that's one way to make an impression! I was so embarrassed, but just chalked it up to Ryan being Ryan. I did actually end up meeting the lovely lady who had noticed my candid underwear shot and even began dating her a short time later. Almost 16 years later, Brittany and I celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary this summer. We have two wonderful children together and live in Charleston, South Carolina. I think she may even still have said underwear from that infamous photograph stashed away somewhere as a memento. As corny and juvenile as this story may seem, I can unequivocally say that I would not have the wife and family I have today if it weren't for that photograph. It was Mrs. Stowe's caring and patient guidance that allowed Ryan to discover a hobby that he may not have found otherwise. And that direction and influence she provided (coupled with Ryan's sophomoric sense of humor) forever impacted a fellow student's life in a way that cannot be taught in the classroom. Mrs. Stowe indirectly gave me two gifts: it was because of Ryan's presence on the sidelines that season I now have an entire scrapbook of memories in which I can share with my children (back when Daddy played football!), and the fact that I have a wife and children to share those memories with in the first place. Not too shabby considering I never had the pleasure of having her as a teacher. I hope my story has elicited a couple laughs from those who have read it, but has also served as a real-life reminder to both aspiring teachers and current educators alike - never underestimate the reach you have with your students every day. You never know how the little things you do in the classroom could end up impacting someone you've never met. I guess that's the whole point in becoming a teacher, isn't it? Sincerely, Eric Ringling Meibers, PMP ('02)