Philip Griebel talks about his life as an educator and a coach at Fruita High School. He remembers the fire that burnt down the first Fruita Union High School in 1934. He describes teaching topics in science and math for 28 years. He speaks about his career as a basketball, football, and track coach, remembers school and community involvement in the games, and rivalries between Fruita and high schools in Delta, Grand Junction, Gunnison, Montrose, and Palisade. He talks about aspects of local life, including the Interurban train, the rivalry between the towns of Cleveland and Fruita during Prohibition, and the Cowpuncher’s Reunion. He recalls the success of students who went on to college, students that dropped out, disciplinary issues in school, and the tendency of farm boys to register late for school and leave before the school year had finished. He speaks about projects he undertook as part of the Fruita Rotary Club, his one remaining relative in Missouri, his service in the Army during World War I, and the Fruita Hospital. The interview was conducted by the Mesa County Oral History Project, a collaboration of Mesa County Libraries and the Museums of Western Colorado.
*Note: The transcripts for this interview have been machine-created and do contain inaccuracies. In time, each transcript will be audited by a human being to ensure greater accuracy.
