While I know I won't be alone in selecting Mr. Brugger as "Someone Special," I did want to introduce these pages by selecting him first. Mr. Brugger soon became much more than my music teacher and director. He was one of the first teachers I came to know as a friend.
    

  My other activities could have given him cause to question my interest in music. Mr. Brugger allowed for my other interests and held open a place for me in his plans. For these and countless other reasons, he holds a special place in my memories of those years at Wendell L. Willkie High School.

   Mr. Brugger . . . from ALL of us over the years . . . Thank You So Very Much!
    

Marvin Crim '57

  He didn't teach me English. He didn't teach me math. He didn't teach me science, civics, shop, drivers training, cooking, sewing, painting, typing or bookkeeping, home ec. or art.
   

  He taught me how to get through the stubborn times in life, the down times, the low times, the hard times. He gave me an appreciation of learning that no other person, teacher or family member had ever been able to do.
   

  As I look back over the years and think of our beloved band director and teacher, MR. CLIFFORD BRUGGER, I remember many things about him. He actually yelled at us and we loved it. Teaching music to kids was a passion for him that went way beyond "the call of duty."
  

  Any one of us could have quit in the tough times but he taught us "stick-to-it-ness." He taught us not to back away from a challenge, a hard time, no matter what it was. Hit it straight on and deal with it, know your course and...

  . . . JUST DO IT . . .    

   Yes . . . he, Mr. Brugger, taught me to just do it.

   MR. BRUGGER, I'M STILL PRACTICING. I WANT TO MAKE YOU PROUD.

Julie (Stout) Crim '57
former Elwood Panther Band Member