WALTER
L. BACHRODT
Superintendent of San Jose Schools
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA
COUNTY 519
SURANAMES:
Doerr, Clark,
Active among the educators of California fortunate in an excellent
record in the past and now giving the greatest promise for the future
may well be numbered Walter L. Bachrodt, the newly-appointed
superintendent of schools of San Jose. A native of the great
Hawkeye State, Walter Bachrodt was born at Des Moines on April 22,
1890, the son of H. C. Bachrodt, a substantial merchant and assistant
postmaster at Des Moines, who died when our subject was a mere boy.
Four children made up the family, and three are still living; the
others being a sister, Frances, who has become
the wife of Fred Doerr,
dealer of electrical supplies at San Jose, and a brother, A.L.
Bachrodt, who resides in Nevada, where he is the manager of the Pilt
Mill & Elevator Company.
On Washington's Birthday, 1892, Mr. Bachrodt came to San
Jose with his mother, and there attended the Lowell Grammar School; and
later he entered the San Jose high school, from which he graduated in
1907. His next four years were spent in Nevada, where he worked for
both the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and the Verdi Lumber
Company; and on returning to San Jose he entered the Normal School in
1911, and was graduated with honors from that excellent institution in
1913. For five years he was a teacher in Fresno County, and during that
time he became principal of the Oleander
School.
In 1918, Mr. Bachrodt, responding to naturally patriotic
sentiments, enlisted from Fresno County for service in the World War in
defense of his country; and he was made sergeant of Company G.,
Thirteenth Ammunition Corps. and in February, 1919, he was honorably
discharged.
Once more enabled to take up the occupations of peace. Mr.
Bachrodt entered Stanford University, where he majored in pedagogy and
followed educational courses; and in in December, 1920, he was
granted the Bachelor of Arts degree, and the following year was made a
Master of Arts. His standing entitled him to Phi Bata Kappa, and
he was also made a Teaching Fellow of Stanford University. On May
24, 1921, Mr. Bachrodt was appointed superintendent of the city
schools at San Jose and his jurisdiction extends over the nine
elementary and the one high school in the city. In national political
affairs an independent. Mr. Bachrodt is essentially nonpartisan
when it comes to supporting heartily the best local measures and men.
In August, 1916, at Fresno, Mr. Bachrodt was married to
Miss Edna M. Clark, of Fresno, who is, with him, a member of the
Congregational Church. He belongs to the Blue Lodge No. 10, F. & A.
M., of San Jose, and he is also a member of Selma Chapter No. 119,
R.A.M., at Fresno. Mr. Bachrodt's grandfather died from wounds received
while he was a soldier in the Mexican War, and he keeps up his military
associations by membership in the American Legion. He is a man of fine
presence, a winning personality, and will not fail to carry on to high
attainment the far-reaching work in which he is so successfully
engaged.
December, 1920, he was granted the Bachelor of Arts degree, and
the following year was made a Master of Arts. His standing entitled him
to Phi Bata Kappa, and he was also made a Teaching Fellow of Stanford
University. On May 24, 1921, Mr. Bachrodt was appointed superintendent
of the city schools at San Jose and his jurisdiction extends over the
nine elementary and the one high school in the city. In national
political affairs an independent. Mr. Bachrodt is essentially
nonpartisan when it comes to supporting heartily the best local
measures and men.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 519
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