(from a retirement card for Dad in 2012)  I remember Mr. Lundquist telling us before graduation: "People, don't come back here in five years and expect me to remember you!" I think he was full of it. I'm sure he has a special place in his memory for his favorite students! :)

There was also the day in class when he told Jennifer Miller, "Strong back, weak mind" - Confucius TOO FUNNY

He also introduced me to my first-ever White Elephant Christmas Exchange. I though the idea was very practical, and I still do it to this day with some friends.

Thank you, Mr. Lundquist, for teaching me some valuable life lessons during my two years with you!

Erin Haskett

Class of 1999

(from a retirement card for Dad in 2012) Mr. Lundquist is and always will be  one of my favorite educators. He has always been able to wear two hats, a teacher and a friend. I will never forget the snicker doodles and chocolate milk he supplied us with as a late afternoon pick me up and I will never watch, My Fair Lady, and not think of him. He will be greatly missed!

Much love his way,

Abbe Donahue Pflum

(from a retirement card for Dad in 2012) Mr. Lundquist was my English teacher for both 11th and 12th grade. I always enjoyed his class. My work as a student may not have always reflected such, but I did. What I loved most about Mr. Lundquist was his love and willingness to help others. He tried so hard to make sure his students succeed and were taken care of. 

I also got to work with him in the Key Club. When we were ringing the bells for the Salvation Army as one of our projects, he brought us cookies, and a big orange tub of hot chocolate so we could stay warm. He also did lots of other things for many other students. For me, there are two things that stand out, first, he gave me his Tasmanian devil tie (which I still have).  I always commented on it when he wore it, so one day, he took it off and gave it to me. The other, is my senior year, he gave me the cash so that I could get my picture taken at the winter dance.

Those are just some of the many memories I have of him. There are many more stored away. I can't imagine someone having him, and not loving him. So many students, have taken the SAT's and more simply because he cared enough to make sure application fees were covered. I don't think that his actions over the past 37 years could ever be completely accounted for there is just too many. Whenever someone asks me to name a man with integrity, I always think of Dave. While his retirement is well deserved, it is saddening to know that that wonderful smile will no longer grace the halls of Lincoln High.

Lots of Love, Mr. Lundquist.

Amanda S. Telker

(“DIGNITY” from a  retirement card for Dad in 2012) For many reasons, Mr. Lundquist is still one of the most influential people I've met in my life thus far. I took his freshman and senior advanced placement English although you wouldn't know that by my terrible writing skills now :). There is one story in particular that has always stood out in my mind. It was when his father-in-law was in the nursing home. Mr. Lundquist began his story telling about his father-in-law and what kind of man he was. He said his father-in-law was in a nursing home and had a hard time walking or even using the bathroom on his own. He also told us of what these physical issues had done to his self-esteem and overall life. 

Then he asked us if we knew what dignity meant. He said, "Have you ever thought about the true meaning of the word dignity?" Before that, I had never cared to think about the meaning of that word. He gave us the definition and asked "What does it mean to lose your dignity?" He explained that this man he had known for many decades had lost his dignity...... He said " I watched a very proud man struggle to do little things like get out of bed and other things we take for granted on a daily basis.  After working all his life and taking care of family it was sad to see a very dignified man lose his dignity. 

"How do you give someone back their dignity?" He said, "I got my father-in-law up out of bed and let him use the restroom on his own for the first time in a long time. I even helped him stand up so that he could wash his own hands. Think about it.... something as small as washing your hands on your own gave him a bit of his dignity back." 

This story struck a chord with me! I understood for the first time in my life what the word dignity really meant. I am so thankful for that story in so many ways. Probably the most significant reason is because of that story, I was able to give my sister back her dignity after a horrible car accident by helping her take a shower on her own for the first time in months. When that was going on, his story came to me-- playing in my head like a movie reel and I was able to pass that on to someone who desperately needed it. 

Mr. Lundquist didn't just teach English. He taught life. Things you won't find in any book, but still just as important and valuable! Thank you Mr. Lundquist for all of the wonderful things you taught me. Oh yeah and I just want to say, I still hear the Allman Brothers song "Blue Sky" and am reminded of how he said it was a great song to pick you up on a bad day...... and he was right! I still think of him when I hear it! lol

Thanks,

Lindsay Skaggs

P.S. and his awesome stories of Janis Joplin, teaching us how to decode the "dirty" parts of Shakespeare, and the best reading of Gunga Din EVER!!!! I feel sorry for all the kids who won't be able to say they had Mr. Lundquist's English class!