Harley Becker

2022 Distinguished Staff

Retired, Economic & Government Faculty, Topeka High Distinguished Staff

Harley Becker’s military career brought him to Kansas in the late 1950s. While stationed at Fort Riley, Mr. Becker graduated from Kansas State University with both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics. Soon after Mr. Becker and his family moved to Topeka when he was hired to teach by Topeka Public Schools, USD 501. For over 30 years, Mr. Becker taught economics and government classes at Topeka High School. He was also instrumental in the establishment of Topeka High’s photography program, a favorite hobby of his. Mr. Becker retired from Topeka High and teaching in 1996.

Patrick Ryan

2022 Distinguished Staff

Retired, History & Social Studies Faculty, Topeka High Distinguished

As the only child of two traveling teachers, Patrick Ryan received a diverse education early on. Their work took him from the prairie of Kansas to the desert of Nevada and back. After high school, Mr. Ryan attended Rockhurst College, before enlisting in the Army. Once his service of duty was complete, Mr. Ryan worked toward his teaching career. Attending Washburn University and receiving his master’s degree at the University of Kansas. In 1969, Mr. Ryan began his tenure at Topeka High. Teaching a multitude of history classes, including US and Kansas History, as well as Government. Since retiring in 1999, Mr. Ryan occupies his time traveling with his family and volunteering.

Anton Ahrens

2021 Distinguished Staff

Chemistry Instructor. A Topeka West graduate, Anton Ahrens’ college education background includes a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Science from K—State, Research Fellow at the Air Force Geophysics Lab, and Master of Science, Chemistry from KU. Teaching stints were at Highland Park HS (chemistry, physics, general science, and astronomy) and Topeka High (chemistry) from 1984 to 2016. In 2008 Mr. Ahrens was named Kansas Teacher of the Year (team), promoting public education across the state.

Ora McMillen

2020 Distinguished Staff

Shirley Huttenhoff

2020 Distinguished Staff

Michael Homan

2019 Hall of Fame Distinguished Staff

Security.

For 35 years Mike Homan was the face of security at Topeka High, making all feel welcomed and comfortable in the Halls of Troy. He graduated from Silver Lake in 1971, and soon afterwards entered the Air Force in the Air Police, stationed first at Lackland AFB, TX, then Eglin AFB, FL, and finally Lajes Field in the Azores. Returning home, after a brief stint at Kmart, Holman became a Security Officer in USD #501. As a member of Campus Police with law enforcement powers, he retired in 2013 as Coordinator of Campus Police for THS with the rank of Sergeant.

Donald E. Madl

2019 Hall of Fame Distinguished Staff

English faculty.

A native of Eudora, KS, Don Madl (1924-2005) received his Bachelor of Education degree from Pittsburg State University and his Master’s from Fort Hays State University after serving in the Army in the European Theatre, WWII, earning the rank of Master Sergeant. He began his teaching career at Plainville Rural HS coming to Topeka High in 1958, where he taught English, and later at Jardine Middle School, retiring in 1985. Over the years, like all teachers, he had added responsibilities; Mr. Madl often was either the Junior Class sponsor or the Senior Class sponsor.

Dewayne Dirks

2018 Distinguished Staff

Dewayne Dirks taught mathematics at Topeka High School from 1964 – 1997. He was a graduate of Durham High School and earned a Bachelor of Education degree from Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia with a double major in Mathematics and Physical Education and Recreation (1960). In 1966 he earned a master’s degree in Mathematics from Kansas State Teacher’s College in Emporia through the National Science Foundation Summer Institute. During his 33 years at Topeka High School he taught the full range of mathematics classes. He was the first teacher to teach a computer class and the first to teach a calculus class. He continued as Topeka High School’s calculus teacher until he retired. Dewayne was also the time keeper for all of the men’s JV and Varsity basketball games. In 33 years he missed only 2 games. Following his final game he was given an autographed basketball and a THS Letter Jacket. The Topeka High School Honor Society honored Dewayne for outstanding devotion to individual educational needs of students. The Kansas State Board of Education honored him for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching.

Pam McComas

2017 Distinguished Staff

Topeka High School has long been recognized as a national leader in debate and forensics, a major reason being Mrs. Pam McComas who taught at THS from 1978 – 2014. Mrs. McComas graduated from Shawnee Heights H.S. and subsequently received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Emporia State University (1972) and Master’s degree from there in 1973. Before coming to Topeka High she taught at Highland Park, Capper and Boswell junior highs and Highland Park H.S. During her 35-year THS career she was Director of Forensics and taught Speech, Acting, Debate, Forensics, History of Film, Humanities and pre-AP 9th English. Mrs. McComas had numerous other responsibilities including Co-chair for North Central Accreditation. Honors include: her teams winning 6A State Debate 5 times; winning 6A State Speech Championship 13 times; coaching 5 national champions; National Coach of the Year (1999) and Kansas Teacher’s Hall of Fame (2017).

J.W. Jones (THS Physics)

2016 Distinguished Staff

THS Physics.

J.W. Jones was and is a Topeka High legend, period. No student of his ever forgot his unique personality and mannerisms. A Nebraska native, he graduated from Peru State Teachers College, NB, later earning his Masters’ degree from Northwestern University. Jones was an instructor in Nebraska and South Dakota and Superintendent of Schools for Viborg, SD, before coming to Topeka High where he taught from 1935 to 1970. In his first years at Troy he oversaw biology as well as physics classes and for a time headed the THS Science Dept., also sponsoring JETS, the Junior Engineering Society. Many of J.W.’s students went on to science or engineering careers including the late Dr. James Gordon (1952), a nuclear physicist at Los Alamos. Known to all only by his initials, “J.W.”, a mystery has been recently solved: they stand for “John William.”