Bill Podlich passed away on January 16, 2008 at the age of 92. He lived a remarkable life and here are a few pictures.

Here is a gallery of pictures he took in Afghanistan.

William "Bill" Frederick Podlich, professor emeritus, died on January 16, 2008 in Tempe, Arizona, at the age of 92. A 59-year resident of Tempe, Bill was born in Baltimore, MD, to parents William Frederick Podlich and Pearl Elizabeth Cook Podlich on September 11, 1915. Living near the Chesapeake Bay inspired Bill to a lifelong love of travel. After completing Towson State Teacher's College in 1936, Bill joined the International Seamen's Union of America, signed on as a kitchen helper and sailed to Brazil.

On his return he taught one year at the Campus Elementary School in Towson, then at the Brooklyn Ethical School in NYC and back to MD in a Towson school. During his years in NYC, Bill obtained a masters degree at Teachers College at Columbia University. In July 1941 he was drafted into the Air Corps of the U.S. Army. After the outbreak of WWII, the Army Air Corps brought him to Luke Field in Litchfield Park, AZ, where Bill happily discovered the dry air and purple mountain majesties of Arizona. In addition, during the war, he met and married the love of his life, Margaret Mary Elliott in Halstead, KS.

After the war ended, Bill was discharged with the rank of Captain, attained his Ph.D. from the State University of Iowa and moved his family to Tempe, AZ, where he began his 32-year teaching career in the Education department of Arizona State College, now ASU. He taught many subjects at first, but settled on teaching social studies in the elementary school. Over his years at ASU, Bill held many positions including Director of Student Teaching, President of the Faculty Assembly and President of the Faculty Association. He wrote and was awarded one of the first National Science Foundation grants at ASU. In addition, Bill held positions in the AZ Education Association and other professional organizations. He was an innovative teacher, always looking for new ideas. For example, to make an A in his class, the students had to complete course work and also do community service - a somewhat common requirement now, but very forward at the time

Beyond his work at ASU, Bill was one of the elected Freeholders charged with writing the Charter of Tempe. He was active in the First Methodist church and served as Chairman for the Building Committee for the current sanctuary.

In 1967 Bill took a two-year leave of absence from ASU and began a stint with UNESCO to teach in the Higher Teachers College in Kabul, Afghanistan, where he served as the Expert on Principles of Education.

Upon his retirement from ASU in August 1981, he continued to travel, volunteer in politics and serve in the United Nations Association, both locally and at the state level.