George Nelson Tremper (May 30, 1877 – February 23, 1958) was an educator and principal of

Kenosha High School Bradford High School is a high school located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States, that serves students in grades 9 to 12. It is the main high school for students on the north side of the city. History Bradford High School was named after M ...

from 1911 to 1944. Kenosha Tremper High School is named in his honor.

Biography

Early life and education

George Nelson Tremper was born May 30, 1877, in

Pontiac, Michigan Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County, Michigan, Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Located roughly northwest of downtown Detroit, Pontiac is part of the Metro Detroit, Detroit metropolitan area, and is vari ...

. He married Metta Robins on September 19, 1901. After completing his education at the

University of Michigan The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...

, the Trempers taught for three years in then unsettled Philippines. Following their return to America, Tremper taught in

Franklin, Indiana Franklin is a city in Johnson County, Indiana, United States. The population was 23,712 at the 2010 census. Located about south of Indianapolis, the city is the county seat of Johnson County. The site of Franklin College, the city attracts ...

, and later went on to become a principal in a Cincinnati high school. He also taught at the

University of Illinois The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC, U of I, Illinois, or University of Illinois) is a public university, public land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Champaign–Urbana metropolitan area, Illinois, United ...

School of Education while he worked toward his master's degree.

Kenosha

Tremper and his wife then moved to

Kenosha, Wisconsin Kenosha () is a city in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of cities in Wisconsin, fourth-most populous city in Wisconsin, with a population of 99,986 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. S ...

, in 1911, where he headed a 13 faculty staff as the new principal of then Kenosha High School. The school had just 300 students. Tremper resigned as principal of Bradford in 1944. Tremper joined the Kenosha Chapter of DeMolay, served as president of its council, was a member of the Scout Court of Honor, and was commissioner of

Boy Scouts Boy Scouts or Boy Scout may refer to: * Members, sections or organisations in the Scouting Movement ** Scout (Scouting), a boy or a girl participating in the worldwide Scouting movement ** Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America ...

. He was also a member of the Kenosha County Historical Society, president of the Wisconsin Society, and was active in the

Sons of the American Revolution The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), formally the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), is a federally chartered patriotic organization. The National Society, a nonprofit corporation headquartered in Louisvi ...

. He was county chairman of the Citizens Military Training Corps, active in the Rotary and Elks clubs, and chairman of the Kenosha County Civilian Aid Committee. Tremper died on February 23, 1958.

Legacy

A contest was created for the name of the Kenosha high school built in 1964. It was named Tremper in honor of George Nelson Tremper.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tremper, George Nelson 1877 births 1958 deaths People from Kenosha, Wisconsin People from Pontiac, Michigan University of Michigan alumni Schoolteachers from Wisconsin