Honoring Our BHS Veterans

Thanks to Bill Early, Class of 1988, former BHS faculty member and Army veteran Pat Beveridge finally felt appreciation for his military service. Early, himself a veteran who entered the service right out of high school, kept in touch with Beveridge over the years. When the opportunity arose for Bill to participate in the Honor Flight program, he reached out to former teachers and fellow veterans Beveridge and Ed Showman.

Honor Flight Network, a national organization whose mission is to celebrate America’s veterans by inviting them to share in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials, has a vision to have all of America’s veterans experience the honor, gratitude, and community of support they deserve. Although both Beveridge and Showman had planned to be part of a recent Honor Flight, Ed had to cancel at the last minute.

During his Honor Flight visit Beverage visited the WWII Memorial, remembering his father, a WWII veteran. At the Vietnam War Memorial, Beveridge looked for the names of friends and neighbors and was deeply touched by the words of thanks he received from visiting school groups during his visit. Drafted into the Army at the height of the Vietnam War following his graduation from Memphis State University, the 6’6” former basketball player secured a position in Army intelligence. His military journey took him from basic training in Massachusetts to a crucial role at a Radio Research Field Station in Thailand, before ending with the NSA in Maryland.

Beveridge’s service to Bexley students began in 1978 following a return to Ohio and Ohio State to complete requirements needed to teach Industrial Arts at the high school level. Beveridge was welcomed into the Bexley High School community by then Principal, Don Wynkoop (a former mentor who had been one of his high school teachers at Walnut Ridge) and Superintendent Dr. John Blough, a fellow veteran who had also served in Army Intelligence. 

Beveridge taught Industrial Arts as well as coached basketball and football at Bexley for 24 years. According to Bill Early, “everyone who ever played basketball at Bexley during that time thought the world of him.” That includes former students who fondly remember “Bevo” - especially for his cowboy boots, jeans and mustache. As a teacher, Beveridge successfully navigated an ever evolving industrial/allied arts curriculum that went from instruction in woodworking and drafting, to photography and film developing to computer-aided design and drafting. Beveridge retired from Bexley in 2002 only to spend 15 more years as a wiring tech on control systems for Honda. Today, he is fully retired and enjoying life with his wife, Pam in Gahanna.