The Dallas County Area Retired School Personnel Association (DCARSPA) held a dedication ceremony Tuesday morning outside of Perry High School, where they placed a bench in honor of longtime PHS Principal Dan Marburger, who was murdered in January.
Karen Einck, president of DCARSPA, led the dedication ceremonies. She welcomed the group of about 30 people and opened her remarks with a quotation from the actor, author and activist Christopher Reeve, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”
“I would say that pretty much sums up what Dan was that day,” Einck said. She explained the placement of the bench outside the Performing Arts Center and near the rock and tree that honor Dr. Eugene Brady, who preceded Marburger as PHS principal. She noted that Marburger and Brady were great friends and were also the only two principals to lead Perry High School in the last 50 years.
“Des Moines has a Principal Park,” Einck said, “but where we all are standing is our Principal Park.”
The bench was manufactured by John’s Welding in Wisconsin, and the company also sent along a special gift for Elizabeth Marburger, which was presented to her during the ceremonies.
Emily Einck, a former PHS student under Marburger and now a teacher at the high school, read a poem she composed in honor of the Dan Marburger bench dedication.
Teachers, students, faculty, staff
Look to our leaders to lead us on a path.
PHS has the best. We all knew it was true.
Mr. Marburger captured the heart of education though and through.
His legacy is cemented. His heart was in these walls.
We were blessed to have him caring for us all.
Today we celebrate a father, a husband, boss and friend.
May this bench be a reminder his legacy will never end.
The DCARSPA members raised about $1,800 more than the cost of the bench, so they presented the balance in a check to PHS Guidance Counselor Tami Valline, asking her to use the money for causes at the school that were dear to Marburger, such as the Student Needs Fund, the Food Pantry and the Giving Tree.
