Harold "Dutch" Creason was the principal and eight grade teacher at Fall Creek Heights elementary school during the mid-1900s in southern Madison County, Indiana. The nearest community was Ovid/New Columbus. I went to the school from 1951 to 1958. All of older siblings went to this school as well and had Mr. Creason as a teacher. He had nothing but good things to say about my family especially since three of the boys were great basketball players. Mr. Creason was the coach as well.

We often heard stories of how Mr. Creason would discipline students -- he would smack them out of their seats. Also, there were stories of he and a parent getting into arguments and fist fights. How true, I don't know. I do know that he was feared and respected. Teaching in this school was the only job he had since he graduated from High school in the early 1900's, so I was told. He taught here from about 1917 to the late 1960's, I believe.

I liked Mr. Creason very much and I never saw his anger in our class except on one or two occasions with one or two students. I thought he was not like what I had heard. He was a good teacher and a kind person. We learned much from him and none of us were afraid of him.

He would tell me about Shirley, an older brother of mine, who died from lockjaw at age 13 in the mid to late 1930's. Mr. Creason said Shirley was the best basketball player he had ever seen. And then he showed movie pictures from past classes and pointed out Shirley to me in front of our whole class.

I remember one time when my brother next oldest to me went to a fall party at Mr. Creason's home on Indiana 36 near Mechanicsburg.

Interestingly, the one thing I most remember that he taught us was to begin each day by drinking a large glass of water. He said it was the best thing we could do for our health. I practice this still to this day and have read recently about the benefits of this practice for weight loss and health -- drink plenty of water!

In my opinion this man was well known and liked by most people in that community. He taught through many generations. It was a privilege to know him and his influence for good on my life and that of my family, as well as on countless others and their families for over 50 years in the community of Adams Township, Madison County, Indiana.