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Libertyville High School early principal makes impact

Posted December 25, 2017 10:00 pm

By Dale Eggert on behalf of Libertyville High School

This portrait hangs in the Libertyville High School Library Learning Center. The library was under construction when Henry Underbrink died in 1978 and was immediately named for him. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

• The following is part of an ongoing series of articles in celebration of Libertyville High School's 100th anniversary.

With a 32-year career as principal in the early years at Libertyville Township High School, no one person has had the impact on our school as Henry Underbrink.

It is assumed by many that he was the first principal. Not exactly. Norris Throgmorton was hired as the first principal to open the school in the fall of 1917. But within a month on the job, Throgmorton was drafted into World War I and reported for duty early in October of that year.

Before he left for the war, Throgmorton recommended the board hire Henry Underbrink, a former college classmate, to take his place. Underbrink was working on finishing his college education degree, but the LTHS board hired him before he could finish.

After a successful first year, Underbrink was himself drafted into World War I and was not able to return to work at LTHS in the fall of 1918.

Once out of the war, Underbrink finished his college studies and went back into education. As he was finishing up the 1922 school year as the assistant superintendent in the Green Bay school system, Underbrink was offered his old position back at LTHS for the fall of 1922 school year, which he held for the next 31 years.

Even though LTHS was a small school, the responsibilities Underbrink performed were still amazing. In addition to his daily principal duties, there was no superintendent so he answered directly to the school board. There was no athletic director so Underbrink was doing all the athletic hiring and scheduling. He was the chairman of the Northwest Suburban Conference principals committee.

For a couple of years, he gave up his lunch period to coach the baseball team.

His final year as LTHS principal was 1953. Upon stepping down from the principal position, he spent the next three years as the first LTHS guidance counselor. He retired for good after the 1956 school year.

He would spend the rest of his life gardening at his house right across the street from the Brainerd Building at 106 Sunset Drive, and walking down Sunset to the Libertyville High School athletic fields as the day wound down to watch any athletic activity that was going on.

His wife, Margaret, taught for seven years at LTHS beginning in 1956, Underbrink's last year at the school. Their son Frank began a 31-year District 128 social studies teaching career in 1976 at LHS before moving to Vernon Hills High School to finish his career in 2006.

Underbrink died in 1978 at the age of 84. That year a new library was being built, which they immediately named the Henry Underbrink Library Learning Center in honor of our school's most influential individual.

The sign outside the entrance to the LHS Library, which was under construction when Henry Underbrink died in 1978 and was immediately named for him. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

The first Libertyville Township High School faculty with 25-year-old Principal Henry Underbrink. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

Henry Underbrink, right, riding in his last homecoming parade as LTHS principal with his successor, M.J. Bergfald. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

Henry Underbrink being honored on the sideline of a 1973 LHS football game, a place he spent many days during his career and in his retirement. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

Henry Underbrink's son, Frank, who had a 31-year Libertyville High School teaching career and was the 1952 valedictorian, shown, from left, with his father in 1935, in his 1952 senior year picture, and his 1987 LHS faculty picture. Courtesy of Dale Eggert

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