Mr. Uhrlaub was my principal at South Elementary.  

I met him on my first day of school when I started as a new student, right after Spring Break when I was in first grade.

I was a timid, shy, anxious little girl who would have been happy to just stay home for the rest of my life.  But Mr. Uhrlaub charmed me.

At that first meeting, I tried to blend into the cinderblock walls and let my mom do all the talking.  But then, Mr. Uhrlaub started talking to me.  OH!  PLEASE DON'T!

He asked me what I liked to do best.  

I shrugged.

He asked again.

Finally, through my cotton-lined mouth, I choked out the word "draw".

"You know, I was thinking...I have this old calendar page with a leopard on it but it's so old and tattered.  Do you think you could draw me a new leopard that would better show South Elementary spirit?

The man was my best friend.  Nearly everyday, I would drop off a new leopard for him at the office.  Finally, he chose his favorite and up on the wall it went.

He was the type of principal that made us kids think the principal's job was to wander the halls and playground and library and talk to kids all day.

Even my brother, who was a little hellion, came to love and respect Mr. Uhrlaub.

The last time I saw Mr. & Mrs. Uhrlaub was in the summer of 1986.  I ran into them in Vancouver Canada at the World Exposition.  

But even after all those years in between, he stopped and he looked at me and he called me by name.  

He asked if I was still drawing and if I had picked a college as I was between my Junior and Senior years in high school at the time.  He told me I should stop by and see him sometime and he gave me his address and phone number.

Sadly, I never did.

I am now living in South Carolina and could not attend the memorial service of this educator and dear friend.  But I asked a family member to go in my place to honor this man who didn't have a job or a career - he had a passion.

Thank God that his passion was loving little kids.



Graveside Service

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Chapel Hill

Julius Uhrlaub

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Julius George Uhrlaub Jr.

25 February, 1923 – 14 July, 2016

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery - Chapel Hill

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