Havel Elementary students come face to face with their positive start

Havel Elementary students learned how their positive learning environment had its roots at the very beginning.

Sue Havel Walker, granddaughter of the school’s namesake, recently visited with Havel fifth graders to explain the nickname of “Smiling Ed” Havel.

“I used to see him coming down the street and he was whistling,” Walker said. “My picture of my grandfather is someone who was so special. He was always a delight to be around.”

Havel was Utica’s last village president and its first city mayor from 1937-1941. In a 60-year life span, he held nearly every elective and appointive office in his community.

Born in Mt. Clemens in 1890, he became the owner of “The Central,” a combination drug, grocery and general store located in Utica. It was Sue’s mother who wrote the original nomination letter for Ed Havel to be the namesake of the school.

He passed away shortly before the school opened in 1972. The original request to name the school after him was written by Walker’s mother, Sue.

“Havel Elementary would not have existed if it was not for my mother,” she said. “She wrote a letter wondering why in the world they would not name it after him.”