Holstein Ready to Instill Pride of Craftsmanship in WHS Trojans

To say Rich Holstein has embraced Whitehall High School is an understatement - he's Trojan Pride to the fullest.

Holstein, who is the new Industrial Arts teacher at WHS, has always had a "god-given gift" working with his hands and is looking forward to sharing his gift and knowledge with the students in his classes.

Holstein has been in and around the Yellowstone area for the last 34 years and only recently settled in Whitehall after taking the IA position - his first teaching position ever. He began thinking about venturing into teaching nine years ago, even taking a teaching position at Rocky Boy in 2013. However, Holstein suffers from an illness hard to pinpoint by doctors.

"My bones just break," Holstein said with a hearty smile and a bit of a tear in his eye. " We don't know why - I've been to the University of Washington, Mayo Clinic, Salt Lake City - there are no answers." Holstein said that otherwise, he is a perfectly healthy 52-year-old. His pain levels spike before a break, which is a good warning to him, but otherwise, there's just a snap and a clean break. He's spent nineteen months of the last four and a half years in hospitals.

Holstein in nationally known for his work building reclaimed wood frames from the wood of the old Yellowstone Inn.

"I have been in the public light for the last 20+ years as an artist and master craftsman. I am forever a part of Yellowstone history and that is part of my legacy," Holstein said. Utilizing the wood from the Yellowstone Inn, Holstein has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars with the creation and sale of his custom frames. He has plans to utilize wood saved from the Fromberg floods in frame projects yet to be determined as well.

" I have thought of being a shop teacher since 2013, then this opportunity happened and it has been absolutely an amazing start," Holstein said. "To have Jason [Slater, high school principal] as a mentor has been amazing. I asked him to teach me to be a great teacher, and we're working on it."

Holstein credits the refining of his talents to his friend and mentor in Kenwood, CA. Hap Miller, who is illiterate, helped Holstein build anything and everything from the time he was tiny to about age 18.

"I had no idea of his illiteracy," Holstein said. "He could build helicopters from scratch. He was amazing."

Holstein prides himself on his craftsmanship, but also on his always being positive, always happy no matter what the adversity look on life.

"I want to be the adopted dad - the one available to all the kids," he added, noting that open shop time is 7 AM - 8 AM every morning, in which he provides refreshments and one-on-one shop assistance.

"I'm really looking for the students to take ownership in their community and at school. It's exciting to see where this is going."