PIANO DONATED TO LP HIGH SCHOOL IN MEMORY OF THE COMPOSER OF RED & GREEN
A Starr Grand piano was recently donated to the LaSalle-Peru Township High School music department by Mrs. Milburn (Polly Ann) Rimmele. This piano belonged to the family of Dr. Ralph H. Woods of LaSalle and was the piano of Susan Jane (Woods) Hoelle, composer of our LP High School's "Red & Green". It was on this piano that the LP school song was composed.
The piano was made especially for Mrs. Laura Woods as a gift from her husband. Susan Jane (Woods) Hoelle graduated and composed the school song in 1934. Susan Jane & Polly Ann were daughters of Dr. Ralph and Laura Woods. Dr. Woods was a prominant ophthalmologist and practiced in LaSalle for many years. Susan Jane wrote the music to the school song, of which the words were composed by Vernice McHugh (class of 1932).
Susan Jane was born with perfect pitch and shared her talents and skills with the LPHS band, choirs and orchestra. After graduating LP High School, she attended Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, and the Oberlin Music Conservatory in Oberlin, Ohio. After college, she taught music in the area including LP High School during World War II for Donald Sellew who was in the service.
LaSalle-Peru Township High School and the LPHS Music Department are extremely grateful to Mr. & Mrs. Rimmele and the Hoelle/Woods families for their donation of this very special and meaningful gift to the school and the music department.
(February, 2008)