Page 6 - Newsletter_Spring_2022

HHS Student, Alum, Teacher and

Benefactor – Roger M. Rines -

a Modest Man

By Jon A. McLaughlin '73 - Research by Rachel Fitpatrick '93

Roger Michael Rines was born May 10, 1934, in Houlton, Maine to Cecil and
Mary (Myshrall) Rines. He attended the Houlton Schools, graduating with
Houlton High School’s Class of 1952. While in High School he participated
in the annual production of the school’s yearbooks from 1949 thru 1952. His
1952 yearbook quote was “Modest man, never talks of himself.” This was
most assuredly an astute assessment of himself which would play itself out
some 68 years in the future.

Roger, after graduating from Houlton High School, continued his post-
secondary studies at Ricker College where he earned his BA. He continued
his education at the University of Maine and earned his master's degree in
education. He also attended Boston University, Dartmouth College, and the
University of Rhode Island, returning to the halls of his former alma mater in the fall of 1971 as a social studies
teacher and continued where he left off as the North Star Yearbook advisor. In 1990, Roger retired from teaching,
having spent 18 years in the social studies department at Houlton High School.

Upon retiring, he moved to Bryant Pond located in Woodstock, Maine in Oxford County.

Roger had one sibling, a younger sister, Glenna Rines Cunningham '53, who passed away in 2018. Roger was not
married and had no children and upon his sister’s passing in early 2018, he updated his will naming the Houlton
High School Alumni Association as sole heir of his estate upon his passing. He passed away April 28, 2020.

Having no knowledge of Roger’s bequest, the Association was surprised when the estate’s personal representative
contacted them to let them know of Roger’s wonderful gift. Among the first items to come into the Association’s
accounts were life insurance policies, sale of home proceeds and property resulting in almost $300,000 of value.
Wow! All HHSAA Board Members thought this was astonishing and were
greatly surprised at Roger’s generosity. But this was not all. Some accounts are
still outstanding, and paperwork is being drafted to allow them to be released.
With bank accounts, annuities, other accounts received, and those still to be
collected, it is estimated that Roger’s bequest to the Houlton High School
Alumni Association will be about $1.2 million!

Funds have been sent to the Maine Community Foundation where an
Endowment Fund has been established in Roger Rines’ name. The first
scholarships from this endowment are expected to be given out at HHS Last
Chapel on May 31, 2022 to students of the Class of 2022.
What can be said other than, “We thank you Mr. Rines! Your legacy of
educating students will live on!”

Roger during his teaching days
Photo courtesy of Karen Eleiott Donato ‘69

PAGE 6 www.houltonalumni.com