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Class of 1941

HartrickJ

James Geney Hartrick

Respected Oakland County attorney for 32 years

Selected first team of Michigan All-State football team

Received the Morrison Trophy

Royal Oak School Board attorney for 14 years

Inducted into Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame, 1998

James Geney Hartrick graduated from Royal Oak High School in January, 1941. While in high school he excelled in athletics earning varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. His senior year he was selected as the first team guard on the All-State football team. That year he was also the recipient of the Morrison Trophy as the outstanding athlete in the graduating class.

After graduation Mr. Hartrick attended the University of Michigan. His schooling there was interrupted by three years of service in the United States Army during World War II.  He returned to the U of M where he earned both a bachelor's degree and a law degree.

In 1950, James G. Hartrick became an assistant prosecutor for Oakland County.  He later went into private practice.  During his thirty years in practice Mr. Hartrick represented the Royal Oak School Board and the Madison Heights Lamphere School District.

Mr. Hartrick was very civic minded and proud of his city.  He served as a City Commissioner as well as a member of the Selective Service (Draft) Board for eight years. In addition to his civic pride and service James Hartrick was know for his humility and his wonderful sense of humor.

James G. Hartrick was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 1998.

Class of 1941

Carpenter

Harold G. Carpenter

Supervised sales of GM products on five different continents, 58 countries

Bronze Star for bravery in World War II

Awarded Morrison Trophy while earning 7 varsity letters

Inducted into Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame, 1998

Harold G. Carpenter earned seven varsity letters at Royal Oak High School before he graduated in 1941. He excelled in track, basketball and cross country and was awarded the Morrison Trophy.

His athletic abilities earned him a scholarship to what is now Eastern Michigan University. He received his bachelor's degree from the institution in 1948.

Mr. Carpenter interrupted his academic studies to serve in World War II. His service in the United States Army in the European campaign earned him several citations including the Bronze Star for bravery.

Harold Carpenter spent 38 years employed by General Motors. He held management positions--the last 19 years with the international division. His responsibilities were in the area of marketing and required him to supervise sales in over fifty different countries. He was twice chosen to participate in the Greenbrier Management Conference which is reserved for only the top management at GM. Mr. Carpenter was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 1998.

Class of 1941

Fretter

Oliver Fretter

Business owner and manager of national chain of appliance stores

Creative in marketing techniques

 

Oliver Fretter graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1941

He was an electronics and major appliance retailer in the Detroit area who, at one time, had locations nationally.

He started his firm in the 1950's, and in 1992 he acquired one of his greatest competitors, Silo Electronics. Unfortunately, he was unable to successfully compete with the super stores Best Buy and Circuit City and all of his stores were closed by May, 1996

"Ollie" Fretter became known in the Detroit area in the 1970's and 1980's for his humorous TV commercials in which he promised, "I'll give you five pounds of coffee if I can't beat your best deal." When required, he did give away five-pound cans of Maxwell House coffee which he wrapped with paper labels that read, "Fretter House Coffee".

Oliver Fretter was inducted into the Royal Oak High School Hall of Fame in 1996.

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