Giese’s Legacy at LHS Remembered

The average high school principal these days stays on the job between three and four years.

H.C. Giese was anything but average.

Giese was the longest serving principal in La Grange High School history, leading LHS from 1951-1978 – a whopping 27 years.

His role at the school is now remembered in a special way. Monday, his children Cliff Giese and Linda Oltmann donated a framed photo of Giese that will hang at LHS.

Current La Grange principal John Pineda gratefully accepted the photo and thanked them for their father’s service to LHS.

“We want this to be the start of honoring not only great administrators but also great former teachers,” Cliff Giese said.

H.C. Giese was in the Army during WWII before his career at LGISD.

He then led the district during one of the most important times in its history – integration.

“He was a very humble man. If he was alive today and knew what we were doing I think he’d be embarrassed,” Linda said. “He never wanted attention.”

“He had the welfare of all students in mind. He did all he could to help everyone.”

And he was a jack-of-all-trades for the district. Cliff said he remembers his dad helping the custodians put new flooring in the school.

He drove the bus to away football games. He manned the ticket booth at home games – and then took the money to the bank night depository after.

Linda said she vividly remembers her dad being a constant presence in the hallways when students switched classes, watching over all the students.

“He was fair with every one,” Cliff said. “If they needed encouragement, he encouraged them. If they needed discipline, he disciplined them.”

H.C. Giese died in 2008 at the age of 87.