It was always a thrill to be in his classroom as he brought the past to life with his pictures, music of the time period we were studying, relics and other teaching aids he used to instruct the class on the history of the time. He wore his WWII fatigues to class when we studied the world wars and demonstrated how he and other men jumped into France one June night in 1944. Mr. Oyler was able to bring any period of history to life to let the student understand the culture and times of that era. He always had a smile to share and time to give. He was a hero for education in Topeka.
Hero is a term that tends to be overused in today's society.
However, a real hero has helped guide me through my life. Mr. Oyler, I just want to say thank you on behalf of myself and thousands of others you touched during your life. Sherman Oyler, a real American hero, will be missed but never forgotten. Retreat was the point I would like to comment on the two articles written by Mike Hall that appeared in The Topeka Capital-Journal on May 3. His articles were informing all of us that the Topeka City Council was planning a retreat at the Barn Bed and Breakfast Inn, in rural Valley Falls.