DAVID P. RANDALL ‘35,
West teacher, coach, and principal
Dave Randall was born November 27, 1917, at 236 N. Eureka Ave. to Mr. & Mrs. Cecil J. Randall. Two years later, the family moved to "the Randall Home" at 1989 W. Broad St. at the top of the hill. Dave attended Highland Ave. Elementary School and West Jr. and Sr. High School.

Following graduation, he attended The Ohio State University where he received his B.A. in June, 1939. In June, 1940, he married his high school classmate and sweetheart, Dorotha (Dot) Wiseman '35 and returned to OSU and received his Education Degree in June, 1941.

His first teaching job in the fall of 1941 was in Shelby, Ohio where he taught Social Studies and coached football. Randall applied for Officer's Training and received his commission into the United States Navy in October, 1943 during World War II. He served as a Gunnery Officer on merchant vessels in both the Atlantic and Pacific and was discharged in 1946. Their son Stewart was born 1943.

Randall resumed teaching and coaching following his discharge from the service. Their daughter Terry was born in 1945, and daughter Deborah in 1950. He became a Cadet Principal in 1953, Vice Principal at Crestview Junior High School and Eastmoor Junior and Senior High School in 1955. In 1956 he was named Principal at Franklin Junior High School and in 1957 Principal at Dominion Junior High School. He was principal at West High School from 1961-1969. Randall became Director of Classified Personnel from 1969- 1970, then Principal at Hilltonia Junior High School in 1970-1971.

In 1971, Dave taught at the Adult Day High School and retired in 1976. A member of Glenwood U.M. Church, he taught Sunday School most of his life.

A member of the West Gate Masonic Lodge, Randall was also in the Scottish Rite. Randall was diagnosed with cancer in September, 1979, and died on March 24, 1980.

Among the many accomplishments Dave Randall was responsible for at West were: Lighting the tower at night; the Weskets were started under the direction of Band Director Jim Hill; the Marching Band marched in the Rose Bowl Parade (however, the Administration and Board of Education denied Randall from having any part of organizing of the trip); "Doc" Severson performed with the Dance Band at the annual Variety Show; and Astronaut Donn Eisele, a graduate of West, visited the school after his NASA flight.

Dave Randall served at West and Hilltonia during a trying time of racial unrest in the public schools and conducted himself with reserve and dignity. He was very much liked by students at West - both in classroom and on the field. He received many, many letters from former students and was remembered for his humor. A fellow high school classmate, Lloyd Clark, remembers Dave Randall by saying, "He was outgoing and a friend of everyone. His father was a Judge and former member of the Columbus School Board. Dave attracted people around him and had an excellent sense of humor with a gift of knowing when to be serious and settle down. Our yearbook states of Dave - ‘Good nature and good sense, must ever join.'"

Update 2010: David Randall's widow, Dorotha Randall '35, died December 3, 2010 while living in Englewood, OH where her daughter, Terry, lived. Dot was 93.