From the left: Pete Barnum, Robin Peck, Phil Peck, Ken Forbes, Janet Hiltz, Dick Stevens, and Rip Richards.
The man who built Holderness—or a good chunk of it, anyway.
K
EN
FORBES wasn’t
exactly a school staff
member, but for
many years it felt like he was: first as the
foreman in charge of the construc-
Contributions to Holderness School.” Also present—along with Robin Peck and Ken’s daughter Janet Hiltz—were Plant Manager Dick Stevens, Director of
tion of Weld Hall in the early
Leadership Giving Pete Barnum,
1960s, and then in subsequent
and Ken’s old friend and profes-
decades as he oversaw the construc-
sional associate (and former Plant
tion of school facilities on Mt.
Manager), Rip Richards.
Prospect Street and several residential dormitories on the South Campus. He also carried out many
Norm Walker, Lew Overaker, and Pete Woodward.
Ken is a World War II Navy veteran who went down with the destroyer Meredith off Utah Beach at Normandy, and who spent three
smaller jobs on campus over the
days in the water before being res-
years. The buildings that Ken built
cued. He remembers one summer
Icons, and also life-long fans.
T
HREE GREAT
educa-
tors, now retired from
their service at
“What a treat to catch all three of you together today!” wrote Phil in email
have proven as durable and well-
years later during which another
built as they are handsome. These
war vet, former history teacher and
days he lives in retirement in
ski coach Don Henderson, worked
big Holderness sports fans:
thanks to the three of you
for him.
English teacher and football
for continuing to stay so
Bridgewater, NH, though he’s still building. He’s growing more and more well-known around
“Don was one of those guys who went ashore on the Aleutian
Holderness, continue to be
to them the next day. “Many
coach Norm Walker, lan-
closely connected and sup-
guage teacher Lew
portive of your Holderness family.”
Bridgewater as a master furniture-
Islands, spoiling for a fight, only to
Overaker, and Headmaster
maker and repairman.
find that the Japanese had already
Pete Woodward. Phil Peck
gone,” Ken said. “But that summer
took this photo of them at
had to leave at halftime,
he gave me a Japanese-style chisel
the quarterfinals of the NEP-
“You’ll be pleased to know
Head’s residence—come to think of
that I found useful. Don was a good
SAC championship boys
the kids came back in the
it, that’s another house Ken built—
worker. I’d be glad to have him on
basketball tournament,
second half, tied it up, and
and accept an award from Phil
a job any time.”
But last January he took a break from that to appear at the
Peck: “In Appreciation of Lasting
which was the Bulls.
a home game for
Phil added to Pete, who
in the last couple minutes went on to win by 15!”
Holderness School Today
35