Steinert donates wagon for fund-raiser
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Agnes Steinert of Hillsboro is a 1944 graduate of Tampa High School. She has many memories of her time there and, although the building has been demolished, she is doing something to keep its memory alive.
Agnes is donating a Radio Flyer wagon as a fund-raiser for a memorial which is in the planning stages and will be erected at the high school site.
"I am donating this wagon on behalf of my husband, Woody Steinert," she said.
The wagon is on display at Tampa State Bank in Tampa. Chances to win the wagon may be obtained by donating one dollar or more to the memorial.
Tickets also may be obtained at Tampa State Bank of Marion, where a picture of Agnes and the wagon is on display.
The name of the winner will be drawn during Tampa State Bank Hog Roast festivities in August. The lucky ticket holder need not be present to win.
Woody Steinert died in 1994. He graduated from Tampa High School in 1943 and was a popular barber in Tampa for more than 35 years.
He married Agnes Mueller in 1947. Shortly afterward, they went to Oklahoma City, where Woody attended barber school. He returned to Tampa as an intern and, after a year, took over the barber shop, equipment and all, from the retiring barber.
Agnes said her husband was offered a job as barber in Hillsboro, but he turned it down.
The couple rented a house for $15 a month. Woody charged 50 cents a haircut. Agnes worked at Tampa State Bank for two years before the couple's three children began arriving. The children all graduated from Centre High School.
Agnes moved to Hillsboro in 1998. Her two daughters are Debbie Beard of Loveland, Colo., and Vickie Beck of Whitewater. Son Randy lives at Wichita.
Agnes hopes that her donation will encourage others with connections to Tampa High School to come up with their own ideas to raise funds for the memorial.
