Harryet Snyder was born in Norwalk, Ohio, on July 28, 1913. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University and a master’s from Ohio State University. She taught first at Butler High School. Miss Snyder arrived at SHS in 1942 and taught biology through 1980 -38 years. While at SHS, she led the Biology Club and inspired numerous SHS students to pursue careers in education, medicine and the sciences. Says a former student, “Miss Snyder created and encouraged interest in so many of us for both biology-related fields and sci-fi nee in general. She was expert in her fields and was exemplary in her treatment of others. She was not only an outstanding teacher but also a good leader and an ‘example setter.’ She not only tolerated but supported and assisted with some unusual interests and experiments under her supervision. I am aware of several of my own 1960 classmates who feel they owe much to Miss Snyder’s dedication, as do I.” Miss Snyder also served as an advisor to SHS junior classes, and the 1960 Scarlet S was dedicated to her. She lives in Shelby.
Nominators: Carl ‘Chip’ Koontz ’60 who lives in Columbus, Indiana and George ’52 & Sally Stevenson Hays ’60 who live in Shelby.
On November 22, 2005, just 6 weeks after Miss Snyder was inducted, she passed away from congestive heart failure. Her health had been fragile for the previous 15 months, and in the autumn of 2004 she moved from her home on West Main Street to Crestview Care Center. Still, on the night of her October 8 induction at Hunsinger Park, she walked across the floor and, aided by George Hays, climbed the steps to the stage where she gave comments that were both moving and funny.