Ben and Wilma Briscoe celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on February 2, 2004!
Congratulations from us all!
Click here for a great newspaper article about their anniversary.

Benjamin Edward  Briscoe
Class of 1939



 

Ben Briscoe
101 Santa Clara St.
Avenal, CA   93204
(559)386-9641
bbriscoe@kings.k12.ca.us

Born to Benjamin E. Briscoe, Sr. and Ruth (Hollingsworth) Briscoe, in
the South Brookside Park area of Indianapolis, he attended Public School #54 and
Arsenal Technical High School graduating in June, 1939. He attended Indiana
University in Bloomington, Indiana from 1940-'42 when he was called  by the
military draft and served in World War II.

Ben married Wilma Bussey in 1944. She also attended Indiana University
Bloomington, but was from Marysville, Indiana where her father, Perry
Bussey, owned Marysville Hardware store. Ben and Wilma moved to Southern
California soon after they were married.
 
Ben received his B.S. degree in Education from the University of Southern California in 1950
and moved to Avenal, CA , a Standard Oil town, where Wilma worked in a
field office for that company and Ben taught school for thirty years. While teaching he was
also working weekends in dance bands and on a cattle ranch in the local area.
During summer vacations from 1952-'58 Ben worked as a Park Ranger in Yosemite
National Park. In 1959 he received his M.A. degree in Science Education from
California State University at San Jose, CA.

Ben retired from teaching  in 1977 and went into the real estate business.
He was also involved in a commercial aviation business which he owned and flew
air taxi for hire for several years. He also retired as a search and rescue
pilot after twelve years service with the Civil Air Patrol.

Today Ben works with a university, teaching graduate students who are
in the process of qualifying for a California Teaching Credential, and he also
plays in the Fresno Shrine Band for recreation.

(See below for a list of just a few of Ben's lifetime achievements.)

Ben and his wife, Wilma, accepting presentation of the Hiram Award from the Masonic Lodge for his work on college scholarships for high school students.

Ben with his cowpony, Blackie.  Blackie was a Morgan and had a lot of heart. 

Known as the "Flying Educator," Ben flew all over Central California giving talks for the California Teachers Association and the N.E.A.  Ben also has a commercial pilot's license.

A Partial List of Ben Briscoe's Achievements:

Life member of CTA and NEA and holder of several offices

Ted Bass Memorial "Teacher in Politics" Award -- 1972

Life Member Phi Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity in Education

Central Valley California Mensa International

Letter of Congratulations from Governor Gray Davis for his long years of service in California Schools

Life credentials in Elementary and Secondary Education as well as credentials in Administration and a Master of Arts degree in Science Education

Sigma Pi Collegiate Fraternity

Masonic Lodge -- 32nd Degree Scottish Rite

Order of Sciots in Arizona and California

B.P.O. Elks

Tehran Temple Shrine - Fresno

Kings County Democratic Central Committee

Board of Directors -- California Agricultural Dist. Fair

Governor's Advisory Committee on Aeronautical Education

Committee to acquire a Mental Health Clinic for Kings County

Boy and Girl Scout drives for funds and troop committeeman

Red Cross First Aid Instructor

Many different capacities in P.T.A. organizations

Professional musician in dance bands, marching bands  and small combos

Ranger, Yosemite National Park

Commercial Pilot

and much more . . .
 

Congratulations,  Ben, on all you have accomplished!