Santa Clara County
Biographies
WALTER L. BACHRODT
Superintendent of San Jose Schools
SURANAMES: Doerr, Clark,
Active among the educators of California fortunate in an excellent record in the
past and now giving the greatest promise for the future may well be numbered
Walter L. Bachrodt, the newly-appointed superintendent of schools of San Jose. A
native of the great Hawkeye State, Walter Bachrodt was born at Des Moines on
April 22, 1890, the son of H. C. Bachrodt, a substantial merchant and assistant
postmaster at Des Moines, who died when our subject was a mere boy. Four
children made up the family, and three are still living; the others being a
sister, Frances, who has become the wife of Fred Doerr, dealer of electrical
supplies at San Jose, and a brother, A. L. Bachrodt, who resides in Nevada,
where he is the manager of the Pilt Mill & Elevator Company.
On Washington's Birthday, 1892, Mr. Bachrodt came to San Jose with his mother,
and there attended the Lowell Grammar School; and later he entered the San Jose
high school, from which he graduated in 1907. His next four years were spent in
Nevada, where he worked for both the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and the
Verdi Lumber Company; and on returning to San Jose he entered the Normal School
in 1911, and was graduated with honors from that excellent institution in 1913.
For five years he was a teacher in Fresno County, and during that time he became
principal of the Oleander School.
In 1918, Mr. Bachrodt, responding to naturally patriotic sentiments, enlisted
from Fresno County for service in the World War in defense of his country; and
he was made sergeant of Company G., Thirteenth Ammunition Corps. and in
February, 1919, he was honorably discharged.
Once more enabled to take up the occupations of peace. Mr. Bachrodt entered
Stanford University, where he majored in pedagogy and followed educational
courses; and in in December, 1920, he was granted the Bachelor of Arts degree,
and the following year was made a Master of Arts. His standing entitled him to
Phi Bata Kappa, and he was also made a Teaching Fellow of Stanford University.
On May 24, 1921, Mr. Bachrodt was appointed superintendent of the city schools
at San Jose and his jurisdiction extends over the nine elementary and the one
high school in the city. In national political affairs an independent. Mr.
Bachrodt is essentially nonpartisan when it comes to supporting heartily the
best local measures and men.
In August, 1916, at Fresno, Mr. Bachrodt was married to Miss Edna M. Clark, of
Fresno, who is, with him, a member of the Congregational Church. He belongs to
the Blue Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., of San Jose, and he is also a member of Selma
Chapter No. 119, R.A.M., at Fresno. Mr. Bachrodt's grandfather died from wounds
received while he was a soldier in the Mexican War, and he keeps up his military
associations by membership in the American Legion. He is a man of fine presence,
a winning personality, and will not fail to carry on to high attainment the
far-reaching work in which he is so successfully engaged.
December, 1920, he was granted the Bachelor of Arts degree, and the following
year was made a Master of Arts. His standing entitled him to Phi Bata Kappa, and
he was also made a Teaching Fellow of Stanford University. On May 24, 1921, Mr.
Bachrodt was appointed superintendent of the city schools at San Jose and his
jurisdiction extends over the nine elementary and the one high school in the
city. In national political affairs an independent. Mr. Bachrodt is essentially
nonpartisan when it comes to supporting heartily the best local measures and
men.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara
County, California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 519