By BRUCE AULD News Review Correspondent– This is the first in a three-part series on Burroughs authors. It was a two-part series until I learned of three authors from the Class of 1965.
`I can assert with full confidence that Burroughs teachers have created a multitude of proficient writers. Burroughs legends, Louise Rife arrived in 1948 first as the librarian and Merle Rizer arrived in 1953 first as a speech teacher. Both taught English and journalism for decades. Led for decades by the English department’s high standards, writing instruction is emphasized across the full spectrum curriculum at Burroughs. “Why am I writing an essay in art class1?”
Possibly the first Burroughs graduates to publish books were Dr. Jerry Hough (BHS 1951) and Andrew Hoyem (BHS 1953). Both published books in 1969. Dr. Jerry Hough’s first of many books was The Soviet Perfects: The Local Party Organs in Industrial Decision-Making. Dr. Hough would be for many decades the premier expert on US and Russia relations, seen frequently on the then three major television networks of the time. Jerry left China Lake for Harvard University at age sixteen. At Burroughs, Jerry might be the only Burro to serve as editor of both the Blockbuster and the El Burro. Dr. Hough was the James B. Duke Professor of Political Science at Duke University. (Wikipedia)
His last book, and according to Amazon I bought the last available used copy, was Changing Party Coalitions, The Mystery of the Red State-Blue State Alignment. (Algora) Dr. Hough passed away on May 24, 2020. Dr. Hough is likely Burrough’s first academic scholar. His sister, Suzanne (Hough) Basden (BHS 1958) was a highly respected Sierra Sands educator. His father was a machine shop foreman at China Lake and his mother owned Ridgecrest’s iconic Mary Sue’s women and children’s clothing store, just a few steps from the China Lake main gate.
Andrew Hoyem published a compilation of his poetry, Articles, written from 1960 through 1967. He would later become a printer of fine books, really fine books. Museum quality books.
My parents, Howard and Barbara Auld, loved books. They bought books of every genre, especially Shakespeare. While sorting through their vast collection, I happened upon Andrew’s book. They paid $2.50 for it, discounted from $4.95 list price.
Andrew graduated from Burroughs in June 1953. I started kindergarten at Burroughs in September 1953. At that time, our families shared an old duplex on Dibb Road. The Hoyems were in the A unit and the Aulds in the B unit. At Burroughs, Andrew was a member of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), later graduating from Pomona College and serving in the US Navy. His father, Dr. Al Hoyem, was a scientist and head of China Lake’s Aircraft Projects Division.
Articles, might be Andrew’s only published book, yet, Andrew Hoyem may be one of the most unique of Burroughs graduates. Andrew “is a typographer, letterpress printer, publisher, poet and preservationist. He is founder of Arion Press in San Francisco. Arion Press is considered the nation’s leading publisher of fine-press books.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) Hoyem’s work in preserving the nation’s last type foundry has been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“In 1989 Hoyem acquired and saved Mackenzie & Harris, the oldest and largest remaining type foundry in the United States, established with equipment displayed at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in 1915, thereby creating a workshop where all of the traditional crafts of bookmaking are practiced under one roof, from making type out of molten lead, to letterpress printing, to binding books by hand. Printing Museum director Justin Knopp wrote from Oxford, England “There is now no other business like it anywhere in the world. You are truly unique in the literal and only sense of the word.” Hoyem’s activities made him a notable figure in the book arts renaissance that began in the 1980s, as well as in industrial preservation. Writing in Presevation Magazine, art critic Martica Sawin said “The collaboration among Arion Press, M & H Type, and the Grabhorn Institute is a model for preserving historic manufacturing equipment, keeping alive disappearing crafts, and printing beautiful artifacts—all in one enterprise.”
In 2000, Hoyem’s operation was threatened by eviction, requiring the logistical challenge and expense of moving over 140 tons of equipment and metal type to a suitable new facility. In response, Hoyem founded the nonprofit Grabhorn Institute to preserve and continue the operation of one of the last integrated facilities for type founding, letterpress printing, and bookbinding. Hoyem retrofitted a 1924 steam plant in the Presidio of San Francisco, where his operation opened to the public as a cultural tenant of the new national park. As executive director of the Grabhorn Institute, he took on the role of educator, presenting an apprenticeship program, college courses, and a series of gallery exhibitions and lectures. In 2000, Hoyem’s operation was designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as part of “the nation’s irreplaceable historical and cultural legacy” under its Save America’s Treasures program.” (Wikipedia)
Considered two of his greatest print works are Moby Dick and the folio Bible, both found in numerous libraries and museums. Working into his 80s, Andrew is now retired and has relocated to in South Dakota.
