By William “Ed” Wyatt
Welding Instructor
McKenzie Career Center

In 1968, Ball State University graduated a great teacher.  Mr. Verner Jan Conway has been teaching welding at the secondary level ever since.  Jan is retiring this year following many years of influencing young welders.  In my opinion, he is one of the best vocational high school welding teachers in the nation.  I have known Jan for 47 years and I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about him.

Jan has his Master’s Degree and is qualified to teach in Industrial Technical, Trade and Industrial, Welding and Cutting in Vocational Trade4 and Industrial Education, Cooperative Teacher Coordinator, and Physical Education in the State of Indiana.  He has had his teaching license for 40 years.  Jan helped begin the Midwest Welding Tournament, now in its 28^th year, with 140 welding students from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio competing for the best welder in five areas.  He has helped to write the welding standards for Indiana and has been instrumental in mentoring many new welding teachers as they began their careers.

A BIT OF HISTORY

In 1968, the company for whom I worked needed welders.  They contacted Hobart Welding School to set up a twelve-week specialized class for three people.  Mr. Conway was asked to conduct some initial training to screen the three best welders to be sent to Hobart.  Those three resulted in some of the best pipe welders ever at the Central Indiana Gas Company.  I was not one of the three, but I did receive training from Jan that influenced me to later receive Hobart training and inspired me to become a teacher.

A MAN OF MANY TALENTS

Jan will continue to be active following his retirement from teaching.  He is a man of many talents.  A licensed pilot, Jan currently flies ultra-light aircraft.  He is a basic flight instructor who teaches “Trike” flying. 

He is an avid runner.  In high school, Jan was a member of a state championship cross country team and has continued to log 25+ miles each week.  His personal accomplishment this past year was that he ran every day outdoors throughout the entire year, which can sometimes be a challenge in the cold Indiana wintertime!

Jan’s true passion is music.  In the 1960’s he sang with a group in Muncie, Indiana, called the Originales, a very popular local group that made a recording in 1960.  He formed the ETC band in 1983 that continues to play old time rock and roll.  Jan is the lead singer, harmonica and saxophone player in the band that plays in east central Indiana nearly every weekend. 

It is indeed an honor to write this article about a wonderful and dedicated individual who has contributed so much to welding through his influence on the lives and careers of others.  Jan, we wish for you the good health to enjoy many happy retirement years!