|
Long-time volunteer marking 80th with read-a-thon at PreK-4 school
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · February 22, 2018
More than 16 years ago, the retired Rev. Richard Paulus cracked open his first book in front of a classroom of kindergarten pupils and started to read to them.
He enjoyed it so much, he returned over and over again, watching those same children grow up and walk out the high school doors with diplomas.
On Friday, to mark Paulus’ 80th birthday, Hoover Elementary decided to recognize this reading volunteer by inviting him to read to every preschool to fourth-grade child in the building.
Normally, Paulus visits individual classrooms. Yet from 9 to 10:30 a.m., he will sit in the school’s library to welcome larger audiences visiting at 20 minutes at a time to hear him read.
“It’s going to be a fun time,” he said.
Reaching age 80 — which he will do on Saturday, Feb. 24 — is somewhat of a surprise to Paulus as both his father and brother passed away far younger.
“Making 80 is something I never expected,” he said, noting that heart disease is prevalent in his family.
However, he said he benefitted from the “excellent doctors” at the University of Iowa Hospitals and clinics for cutting-edge technology that rebuilt or replaced his heart valves.
Paulus said he likes to read Winnie the Pooh stories and Mo Willems’ Pigeon books.
The retired Methodist minister said the school district once estimated that he has read to 75 to 80 percent of all of the district’s children during his time.
A former member of the West Branch Board of Education, he said the school’s staff also plays a part in why he keeps returning year after year.
“They have an exceptional staff in this town,” he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
