Looking Back: Grain Valley Is Home!

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
     Over the past few weeks, I have written about several “home grown” teachers who began, and in some cases ended their careers in Grain Valley. But I find it interesting that many fine teachers and administrators have come to Grain Valley and made it home; Barbara Murry, Mary Harper, Kay Bult, Donna Compton, Tom Hightower, David Hackett, and Carl Heuman, just to name a few.
     This week I would like to share with you some information about Carl Heuman, Superintendent from September 1948  until May 1952. The oldest of four children, Carl was born on August 25, 1912. His parents were Katherina (Jannick) and John Henry Heuman of in Blackwater, Missouri.  He grew up in rural Cooper and Saline County, Missouri. Carl attended college at Missouri Valley College in Marshall where he studied mathematics and science. He later studied at the University of Missouri, Columbia.
     On May 24, 1938, he married Ethel Fenwick, also from rural Saline County. When Carl registered for the Draft on October 16, 1940, he was employed by the Gilliam School Board. (Gilliam is a VERY small-town northeast of Slater, Missouri on MO. Highway 240). He also taught in Levasy and Blackburn before coming to Grain Valley in 1948. He was superintendent here from for only four years; fall of 1948 until May 1952.
     Mr. Heuman’s career was cut short when he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, the disease he succumbed to in 1968. He and Ethel shared a home on the south side of Walnut Street, a few houses west of Capelle. Although he retired in 1952, he stayed active in our community until his death. He was a Mason, a past Grant Patron in the Order of Eastern Star, an active member of the Grain Valley Methodist Church, a charter member of Lions’ International, and president of the Jackson County Teacher’s Association. His wife Ethel was a teller at the Bank of Grain Valley for 19 years, from 1957 until 1976.
     The 1951 Treasure Chest yearbook was dedicated to Mr. Heuman.
 
Visit the Grain Valley Historical Society to see school yearbooks, newspapers, and personal papers from Mr. Heuman’s years as Superintendent of Schools at Grain Valley.
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Photograph from the 1951 Treasure Chest yearbook dedicated to Mr. Heuman.
Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society

Photograph from the 1950 Treasure Chest yearbook. Mrs. Ethel Heuman was the school secretary. Photo credit: Grain Valley Historical Society