Ronald Refior

Ronald Refior was the best teacher at PHS! I took every wood shop class he offered, sometimes against my guidance counselor’s recommendations.

I still have many of the segmented bowls I turned, even some that my brother turned. Giant maple cutting board for processing deer. The ceader chest I made is the only piece of furniture I brought with me when I moved south, I’ll end up passing it it one of my kids. Truly an heirloom.

Reef was so popular with my graduating...

I had him for several high school drafting and architecture classes. One of my favorite instructors. Enjoyed his sense of humor. Saw him a few times around KVCC when I was teaching there.

Great Gramps

One if his favorite holidays- St.Patrick’s Day!

Just a note to say I knew your parents way back when----your mom
Roxie lived across the hall from me in Smith Burnham Hall at Western.
Your mom and dad were a cute couple. Very confident in who they were and what they did. I had very little contact with them over the years. I have a sister that lives in Kalamazoo and attends the church they attended. "Roxie" always told my sister to get in touch, I regret that I never did. They sound like they were great people. May they rest...

Reef was truly a cornerstone @ PHS , I had some aspect of drafting all 4 years , & still draw blueprints by hand. Everyone got so much more from his classes , history, learning of Dachau. Always seemed to more push ups with Reef than in gym classes. RIP Mr Refior.

He was my favorite teacher I still hold the record for the most push up in any year lol even had me do them in the snow and in the oil where the buses poured it in to tank for pick up he had all my kids also and they love him to he will be missed Rex L

Mr. Refior was the "Ping-Pong champ of the world" and would take on anybody..... I am now a mechanical designer thanks to him, what a great inspiring person !..... one time we locked him in his class room supply closet, boy did we do some push-up's after that. I do remember I looked forward to going to his classes all 4yrs because of him !
1984-87

Mr. Refior or “Reef” as we all called him, was hands down my favorite teacher at PHS. Some of us didn’t exactly fit into the mold they expected us to, the one thing we had was wood shop. Reef allowed us to be creative and work on our own ideas and projects at our own pace. It was one of the few classes I looked forward to every single day of my 4 years in Plainwell High School. The efforts he made to ensure that shop stayed open long after the school board imposed budget cut after budget cut,...