Oral history interview with Jack and Phyllis Streidl, February 6, 1998
Oral history interview with Jack and Phyllis Streidl conducted by Abraham Hohnke on February 6, 1998. Jack Streidl was a WMU granduate and an athletics coach at Plainwell High School from 1945 until his retirement in 1985. He recalls his background, being recruited to WMU by Mike Gary, meeting his wife Phyllis at WMU in 1940, his friends and influential professors. He recalls the affect of the Depression on the community, joining the army after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and post-poning his marriage to Phyllis until 1942. Phyllis Streidl describes attending WMU during the war, how the campus was affected by the war, and how Jud Hyames bought the property that would become the Main Campus. After World War II, Jack Streidl returned to Plainwell, Michigan where he was hired at Plainwell High School as coach. He received a masters from WMU in 1950. He recalls WMU’s influence on his life, his college friends, the racial tension on campus during the 60s, and dorm experience. In 1980 he was inducted into the WMU Athletics Hall of Fame. On October 24, 2008 the football field at Plainwell High School was rededicated as Streidl Field in his honor.