2023 Hall of Fame Inductees
Dave Robb, Retired Teacher
Dave Robb was a beloved English and Journalism teacher at South High School in Pueblo, Colorado, where he taught from August 1963 to May 1996. Born on December 26, 1940, in Colorado Springs, he graduated from Centennial High School and worked at Florman's Paint before becoming a teacher. Mr. Robb was a member of the CEA, NEA, Retired Teacher's Association, and The South High School Alumni Foundation. He was also the Round-Up newspaper advisor at South High School from 1964 to 1988 and helped the paper transition from a traditional format to a news-magazine format, which was the first of its kind in the city. Mr. Robb brought Round-Up into the digital age when he introduced the staff to the Macintosh SE computer in 1988, which allowed for desktop publishing, enabling the staff to alter layouts, covers, and place copy directly onto the computer. This change allowed for more flexibility and creativity in the production of the newspaper. Dave passed away unexpectedly on October 12, 2019. He is greatly missed.
John Reinert, Class of 1964
John Reinert is a highly accomplished engineer and professional. He has had a lengthy career in microelectronics in Colorado Springs and has been a regional and national participant in the IEEE professional engineering organization. His work ethic, moral character, community representation, and national citizenship are evident in his career highlights. John established a series of in-house technical seminars at Motorola Semiconductor in Phoenix and received five patents for his design work in microelectronics. He organized an engineering rotation training program at NCR Microelectronics in Colorado Springs, which was instrumental in laying the foundation for the integrated circuit industry. At United Technologies Mostek, he led the product introduction and development of a brand-new wafer fabrication facility. He then moved to project and program management and ultimately to Director of Program Management under UTMC and Aeroflex ownership, where he ensured the quality and capability of microelectronics for harsh avionic applications. John also served as the first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE-USA) president elected by the IEEE membership and continues to support as a Committee and Region Coordinator for Region 5. John has consistently focused on helping others with career development, encouraging younger members of the profession, and working with youth in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). He has been involved with the Colorado Science Olympiad committee for many years and played an integral role in hosting several successful tournaments at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), including the prestigious National Science Olympiad Tournament in 2001. Reinert has been instrumental in advising the College of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS) at UCCS, where he served as the Chair of the EAS Leadership Council for nine years. Under his leadership, the college has achieved national rankings at both the Masters and Doctoral levels.
Lester Garrett, Class of 1964
Lester David Garrett had a remarkable career and life. After graduating from South in 1964, he served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, where he displayed bravery and was awarded the Purple Heart and Navy Achievement Medal. Les then went on to have a hugely successful career in the oil and gas industry, supervising and participating in the drilling and completion of over 400 oil and gas wells throughout North America. He was also a dedicated community servant, co-sponsoring an annual golf tournament to raise funds for young burn victims and donating his time to inspire and encourage those needing help. Despite facing numerous challenges throughout his life, Les never stopped striving to succeed and make a positive impact on the world around him. Sadly, Les lost his battle with Agent Orange-caused cancer in 2019. His dedication to his work, community, and country makes him a worthy inductee into the South High School Hall of Fame.