Admiral John Edward Gingrich – Class of 1914
John Edward Gingrich was an officer in the United States Navy who served as the first chief of security for the United States Atomic Energy Commission from 1947 to 1949, after extensive service in World War II. He retired from the Navy as a four-star admiral. He joins previous distinguished military Ring of Honor inductees: Lieutenant General Scott Kindsvater, and Major Generals Ferdinand B. Stoss III & Frank Scoggins.
Born in Dodge City, Kansas, to Edward Grant Gingrich and the former Bertha Allen, he graduated from Dodge City Senior High School in 1914. He attended the University of Kansas before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1915. He graduated from the Naval Academy on June 7, 1919.
During World War II, Under Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal released Gingrich to fight in the Pacific theater after Gingrich protested that he was being “kept out of the war” as he was serving the Under Secretary in a policy position. Assigned to the new heavy cruiser Pittsburgh, he served as the Pittsburgh’s first commanding officer from 1944 until 1945.
For outstanding service in that role, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit.
On March 19, 1945, the aircraft carrier Franklin was crippled by a kamikaze attack close to the Japanese mainland. Aflame and dead in the water, Franklin was still under attack by kamikaze planes and threatening to explode when Gingrich maneuvered Pittsburgh close enough to take the burning carrier under tow, protecting Franklin with antiaircraft fire until the carrier was able to work enough speed to proceed to Pearl Harbor under its own power. For helping to rescue Franklin at great risk to his own ship, Gingrich was awarded the Silver Star “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity”.
Gingrich became famous for sailing the Pittsburgh safely to port after 15 percent of the cruiser’s length was torn off by a typhoon, an act of seamanship dubbed a “miracle” by contemporary accounts. A week after Pittsburgh departed, the ship’s bow was discovered afloat and towed back to Guam. The 500-mile separation between the cruiser’s stern and bow led contemporary news accounts to dub Pittsburgh “the longest ship in the Navy.” Regaling the press after Pittsburgh’s safe arrival in port, Gingrich declared, “I’m sorry I can’t give you an immortal phrase to hand down to posterity. But all I said was ‘reverse engines’.”
Admiral Gingrich joins a distinguished group of military leaders in the Dodge City High School Ring of Honor. His service – like those before and after him – is honored here today!
Grace Jeannine Gwinner – Class of 1946
At some level every student dreams their words, achievements, or accomplishments will forever be remembered by their classmates and future generations of graduates. For Grace Jeannie Gwinner (Class of 1946), those dreams became a reality. Her words can still be heard ringing through the hallways of Dodge City High School 75 years later as the student body sings “her song” – Dodge High Forever.
Grace’s grandparents, Martin and Carrie Gwinner, moved to Dodge City in 1885 after hearing there were no bakers or candy makers in town. Martin planned to open his own shop but was surprised when he arrived to learn Dodge City already had five bakers. He eventually purchased and then sold a bakery and opened a confectionary, “The Palace of Sweets”. Decades later, in 1914, he turned the candy business into a cafe that served plate lunches and became a center of the town. The Gwinner Cafe was the family business. The entire Gwinner family – grandparents, parents, aunt and even a young Grace worked at the cafe and took all their meals there. Grace worked the cash register which may explain why she was a better businesswoman than cook!
Gwinner’s Cafe was the community center for Dodge City youth. It was a place kids needing money could find a job, the hangout place for high school students, and a place for courtships and making new friends. It was where Dodge City Junior High and Senior High school sports teams held their celebrations and banquets. It was during this time that Grace began considering writing a school song. Grace’s father, Donald, was a graduate of DCSHS and an accomplished musician. Grace learned to play the clarinet like her musical father (and grandfather – who played the clarinet in the Chalk Beeson Orchestra). Growing up in a musical family Grace loved singing in church and knew how much music could bring people together. The family story is that “Dodge High Forever” was composed in the living room of the family home at 711 Central on an Everett piano, with her grandfather’s and father’s support.
After graduating from Dodge City High School, Grace graduated from the KU School of Education. She was a firm believer that education was one of the most important things in life. After graduation from KU, Grace moved to Kansas City and joined Connecticut Mutual Insurance as a salesperson where she was repeatedly the top performing salesperson in her class.
In 1951, she met Joe Zimmerman when she sold him an insurance policy. They were happily married for 64 years. After marrying, she left the insurance business to start a family. They had two children – Jane and Jack, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Starting a family did not slow Grace down, as she played golf and won many titles showing her beloved Basenji dogs. She also managed the family farm and was a tireless volunteer – serving on the board of at least 45 different civic organizations.
Writing the DCHS school song was just one of many contributions Grace Gwinner made during her lifetime, many of which have changed people’s lives forever. And it all started in Dodge City!
