My favorite teacher at Harrison, and anywhere else for that matter, was Eugene M. Swetin.  Gene Swetin taught at Harrison from the early 1950's until 1968, when the riots drove him to the relative safety of East Lyden High School. Gene was not only one of the best English teachers I ever knew, but he was the sponsor of the Student Council and the Debating Team for many years as well. A consummate educator and a dedicated role model, Mr. Swetin was a friend to scores of students who otherwise might never have pursued further education. He was my best friend, and a surrogate father, until the day he died, in October, 1992. I will never forget him, or what he did for me, and many others like me, who were suffering from an inferiority complex caused by a bad home life, an inner city school system, and an overall lack of opportunity.

Roger D. Surbaugh (June, 1965)