1930s Yearbook Art Editors1931 - Richard Comins and 1932 - Robert EcklerApril 2022![]() 1931 Yearbook Drawing by Richard Comins and 1932 Yearbook Drawing by Robert Eckler Two students, 1931 Richard Comins and 1932 Robert Eckler, were the Art Editors of their respective yearbooks. They also competed against each other in various sponsored artistic contests.
The second page of the 1931 Yearbook contained Richard Comins's drawing and is featured as this month's cover story image. His senior yearbook caption reflected his talent as an artist.
Page 26 of the 1931 Yearbook contains another example of Richard Comin's art work. Richard Comins competed in many art contests as a youth. The March 27, 1930 Utica Observer Dispatch reported that Richard Comins won honorable mention in the New York State Diphtheria Prevention Poster contest. Frederic Hofmann, IHS 1930, won first prize. Second prize went to Edward Christiana, IHS 1930, and third to Robert Eckler, IHS 1932. The first three prize winners were entered in the state contest and competed for the following prizes: First, $320 scholarship; second, $75 in gold; third, $30 in gold. In addition a special prize, a $1,020 scholarship was offered by the Syracuse College of Fine Arts to any high school boy who showed promise of successful completion of a college course in fine arts
Village Seal - Winner The Utica Daily Press published a story on March 12 1931, that Richard Comins won the contest to design the official Village Seal. You can still see his design in today's official village seal. It later was adapted as the Official Ilion Central School District seal in 1964. - Source Utica NY Daily Press 1931 - 1193.pdf Testimonial Dinner Planned for Retiring Ilion Trustees The several designs for a village seal, drawn by high school students were shown and explained by Louis Z. La Forest, one of the committee. All seem to take as the theme, the name of Remington, which had so much to do with early Ilion. The winning design, that of Richard Commins, depicts the elder Remington standing by the forge with a rifle in his hand. The board accepted the recommendation of the committee for the design and also adopted the design as the official seal.
Richard Comins operated the Bennington gallery at 125 North St. in Bennington, Vermont with his wife. The November 15, 1965 edition of the Evening Telegram featured a story on an Art Exhibit Honoring the recently deceased art teacher, Miss Veronica Donnelly. She was the art teacher for nearly 40 years in the Ilion school system. "Among participating artists were Robert VanSteinburg, art director in Mohawk Central School; Richard Comins, Bennington, VT, serigraph artist; Edward Christiana of the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, and E. Steber Kerr, of Delmar, architect. One of the many exhibitors was David Bouck, a former pupil who now teaches art in the Ilion schools." source - Source Herkimer NY Evening Telegram 1965 03444.pdf
Robert Jarvis Eckler was born December 29, 1914, the son of son of Harry and Susan (Jarvis) Eckler, of Frederick Street, Ilion. He had three sisters, Mrs. Palmer (Janice L. Eckler) Gregg IHS 1935 and IHS 1945 twins, Mrs. William (Shirley Eckler) Meehan and Mrs. Donald (Phyllis Eckler) Jonas. Robert graduated with the Class of 1932 and eventually settled in Baldwinsville, NY.
The theme of the 1932 yearbook was described as the following: "From the life and activity of the former inhabinants of our beautiful valley --- the Staff has been inspired to use the spirit of the MOHAWK INDIAN". The 1932 Mirror contained a number of Indian theme drawings by Robert Eckler. One might mistakenly think this was a Mohawk yearbook. source - page 2 1932 yearbook His senior yearbook caption focused on his artistic talent. source - page 12 - 1932 yearbook
With a little bit of charcoal, Below are two samples of the Eckler sketches that appeared in the 1932 Yearbook.
Enters Artistic Competitions Robert Eckler won various art contests when he was a student at Ilion. Competitions sometimes involved competing against his high school classmates. The March 27, 1930 Utica Observer Dispatch reported that Robert Eckler won third prize in the New York State Diphtheria Prevention Poster contest. Frederic Hofmann, IHS 1930, won first prize. Second prize went to Edward Christiana, IHS 1930. Richard Comins, IHS 1931 won honorable mention. Village Seal Contest - Runner Up The Utica Daily Press published a story on March 12 1931, that Robert Eckler won second and third prize in the contest to design the official Village Seal. Richard Comins won first prize. Source Utica NY Daily Press 1931 - 1193.pdf Testimonial Dinner Planned for Retiring Ilion Trustees The prizes to Mr. Comins, for first awards, and Robert Eckler, for second and third prizes, will be made at the testimonial dinner to be given retiring Trustees Getman and Lory on next Wednesday evening; at which the boys will be guests. The prize winning designs will be placed on exhibition in the window of Powers news store.
First Prize Winner The Utica Daily Press published a feature on March 31, 1932, that Robert Eckler won first prize in the poster contest sponsored by the Sportsmanship brotherhood, a state wide organization. Source Utica NY Daily Press 1931 - 1506.pdf A large number of the schools of the state were represented and the exhibits spoke much for the talent of the students. Mr. Eckler's poster depicted a picture of Sir Thomas Lipton with a background of a yacht and the sea and bore the inscription, "Never be mastered by defeat" Mr. Eckler received a silver cup as the award. Students from the Ilion School have won the award, three out of four times, namely 1928, 1929 and 1932.
Robert married Carol Eloise McGibeny. They made their home in Baldwinsville, NY. He passed away February 14, 1992. Carol died August 8, 1998. They are buried in Armory Hill Cemetery Ilion, NY.
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