Founders William Francis and Lois Hoover Bullis open the Bullis School near Dupont Circle at 1303 New Hampshire Avenue NW, the former Bolivian Embassy.
The student body expands from post-graduate preparation to include the first class of graduating seniors. An eleventh grade is added.
First year of full four-year college preparatory program added to the post-graduate program. The ninth grade is added. The “A” football team, referred to as the “Little Admirals,” has an undefeated season against the likes of the Army and Navy Plebes.
First graduating class of the four-year accredited high school program.
Grade six is added. Drama comes to Bullis as the curriculum expands.
Grade five is added.
Board of Trustees votes to go co-ed by 1981. Board also approves Master Plan. Middle States Association of Private Schools accredits Bullis.
First co-ed class graduates. First literary magazine, Impressions, is published. First music festival is held.
Grades seven and eight go co-ed.
The fourth grade is added.
The third grade is added, completing the Lower School.
Enrollment reaches 624 students.

Following the Trail of Documents:  The Writing of the Bullis History

When Carol Conrad,
Social Studies Department
chair, and her husband Dennis Conrad, historian, agreed to write the 75-year history of Bullis, they expected one of their more arduous tasks would be sifting through reams of documents to select critical dates and facts. Instead, they were required to become historian sleuths following a “trail of documents” to piece together the story of Bullis.
The process started in early fall, 2004, when it was decided to write a history of the school as part of the 75th Anniversary activities. After several visits to the archives, it became apparent to Carol and Dennis that instead of mountains of papers, letters, photos and documents, there were in fact fewer records for some years than they had hoped to find.

This year as Bullis School turns 75 we are taking some time—that most precious and scarce of school resources—to reflect on the history of this adventure in education. At a recent all-school assembly, we welcomed back former heads Dr. Richard Jung and Larry Bullis along with our oldest alumnus, Colonel Richard Rothwell, USMC Ret., Bullis Class of 1932. In brief remarks, they each shared stories that kindled our desire to learn more about what Bullis School has meant to generations of students, parents and teachers. 

In the course of conducting interviews with alumni, past faculty, staff, parents and board members for the Bullis history (to be published in the 2005-06 academic year), some wonderful stories and memories have been shared. Follow the links below to read some of these memories.

John Ault ’68 Bill Dick ’57 Jim Dillon ’71
Richard Patrick Greene ’54 Dr. George Y. Lieselotte Ruwwe ’54 John A. Sivright ’46

Jon Ault ’68

I graduated from high school in 1967 as a seventeen-year-old type-A personality with one desire—to fly Navy fighter aircraft. I felt that the US Naval Academy was the way to go. I was stymied a bit in that my English SATs were just a few points short of that which was required for an appointment. My Math SATs were well above the required levels. I wasn’t accepted right out of high school, but USNA clearly had an interest based on my desire and my football skills and I was extended a scholarship to Bullis by the Naval Academy Foundation (God bless ’em). This was at the old school in Silver Spring that we called “The Alamo.” I turned 18 at Bullis that year. I took the SATs several times that year and made the cut—I was awarded a presidential appointment and went on to graduate with the USNA Class of 1972.

While I was at Bullis, I participated in the “post-graduate” football, wrestling, baseball and golf teams. As a result, I was awarded the “Founders’ Award” for excellence in academics and sports. I was also awarded the (first ever) “Nimitz Award” for excellence by the Naval Academy Foundation.

All this said and done, I now have a confession to make—and Larry Bullis, I’m sorry!

We were required to spend evenings studying—very regimented. Everything we did was controlled by a bell system. Each duty instructor (a teacher had to stay in the duty room every night) had a time schedule for when study period would start and when breaks would occur. This was a systematic bell system that was set to a strict schedule and controlled by the duty instructor.
I discovered that wires running through my closet were those of the bell system. Yes, I figured out how to wire in with a 9V battery and set the bells off any time I wanted to. I would set the bells off whenever I was bored or just to upset the duty instructor. I would set the bell off maybe a half-hour after the study period began and when everyone starting leaving their rooms for a break, it was hilarious to see the duty instructor try to stop it.
I did go on to be a responsible Naval officer for 28 years who commanded a Navy fighter squadron and hopefully made Bullis proud of their alumni.

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Bill Dick ’57

I graduated in 1957 (Silver Spring). Things I remember most— football with coach Hayes, Red Mack and I at half back, Joe Matalavage at fullback, Lew Luce QB. I remember Capt. John Spencer who taught me more math in one year than my previous 12 years in school. I also remember evening meals—STARCH, noodles, bread, potatoes and more noodles. Also remember Sheridan, Conboy and Danna who I roomed with plebe year. We still stay in contact to this day.

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Jim Dillon ’71

The first game ever won by Bullis on the stadium field was by the 130 lb. team in the fall of 1967.  The post-graduate team, the varsity and the junior varsity all had the opportunity that fall but could not handle the challenge !!!!! We had a great team and a great class—1971.

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Richard Patrick (Pat) Greene ’54

I remember my English Literature teacher very well. He was excellent as were all of my teachers at Bullis. Not only did Bullis prepare me for USNA, but the subjects studied in grammar, English and math have been very helpful throughout my life. 
 I have fond memories of playing on the golf, basketball and swimming teams. The golf was especially nice. We played matches with local teams and had access to several of the golf courses in those days. I used to play with one fellow who could drive the four par greens with his “3” wood.  However, once in a while he would miss the fairway and I could then keep up with him. 

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Dr. George Y. Lieselotte Ruwwe ’54

I am retired now and live in Mexico full time. I was at Bullis in 1953 and went there because I had to wait a year for an appointment to the Naval Academy. Going to Bullis was the best thing that ever happened to me! First of all I learned to STUDY. That is something you are never taught. I learned four years of high school in a summer session plus a full academic year. I never understood math nor had I ever had a good math teacher until I came to Bullis. Mr. Spencer and Mr. Phelps had a knack for explaining math … plus they commanded your respect. I was the editor of the Bulldog during my time and Mr. Webster was the faculty advisor. He carefully read every proposed article and some he had to censor a bit … with reason.

I recall that at the end of the year there was a dance or some social event and I asked Faith to be my date. My problem was that I did not have a car. In desperation, I asked the congressman that appointed me if I could borrow his black, four-door Packard. I thought that would be the perfect car for the occasion. Believe it or not, he agreed to loan me the car. Now, I was not the best looking guy on campus and a little chubby and I know Faith could have done better, but I was very honored. Without a car in Silver Spring, you were really handicapped. Going to D.C. or anywhere was a chore. I had a chance for my dad to drive a 1951 Nash two-door back from our home in Missouri. I just had to figure out how to convince Mr. Grossman to allow me to keep it at school for a two-month period of time until the school year was over. Cars were a no-no for those of us who boarded. Mr. Grossman scared me to death. He was a fair man, but had a very stern look about him … very business like. I forgot what story I came up with. I think I went into his office and just started talking. I had good grades and was not a troublemaker. I must have done a good sales job, because he gave his permission. Was I happy. I will say that I was very careful and did not abuse the privilege.

One of my classmates was caught cheating in some form on an exam, and I remember when he was told he had to leave. His father was a very influential man but it did no good. Out the boy went. That was my first experience with an honor system.
I went on to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1958. I served five years at sea, and then went to dental school at the Univ. of Missouri. I stayed in the Naval Reserves all the time and retired with 37 years service as a captain. I still serve as a Blue and Gold Officer for the Academy here in Mexico.

I have helped five enter the Academy from Mexico in eight years.
I learned a work ethic at Bullis and that has served me all of my life.

One last thing … who can forget the dining hall, the coat and tie, the good food (really, it was not that bad ) and the gals that cooked it all up and served it. I recall one classmate that really had a crush on one of the girls and even invited her up to his room on more than one occasion. That story got snipped by Mr. Webster!!

Saludos for now from Lake Chapala, Ajijic, Mexico.

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John A. Sivright ’46

Bullis prepared me well for the Naval Academy from which I graduated in 1950. Al Grossman was a memorable football coach, and a great math teacher.

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FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL, TOM FARQUHAR

The Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, said that life can only be understood backward, and Bullis is ready for the courageous work of looking back to better understand what it was that William F. Bullis created in 1930, what turns in the road were taken, what triumphs and trials were encountered along the way. We have asked Carol Conrad, chair of our Social Studies Department, and her husband Dennis, to research and write a comprehensive narrative history of the Bullis School, for publication in the 2005-06 academic year. Carol and Denny are both trained historians who bring a passion for accuracy and a love for Bullis to the work. Already they have devoted hundreds of hours to poring over documents from the school archives and recordings of oral histories dictated by Bullis alumni. I have read early drafts of the first chapters and they make fascinating reading.

In the pages of the manuscript we learn, for example, that our founder, William F. Bullis was born in Washington, D.C., after his father, a Williams College graduate, had moved here to serve as a New York Times correspondent. He was known as “Bill” at Central High School and at the Naval Academy. After a two-year stint as an officer in the Army Signal Corps, he left the army, joined the National Guard, and enrolled in graduate study of mathematics at George Washington University. He was hired to teach math at the Devitt School in 1928, and met there a young teacher, Paul Landon Banfield, who left Devitt a year later to found his own school, the Landon School.

The Devitt School specialized in preparing boys academically for admission to the U.S. service academies, and William Bullis was good at it. He married Lois Hoover, a teacher and fellow Central High School graduate, in November, 1929, and less than a year later, in the midst of the Great Depression, the young couple opened a new school near Dupont Circle that intensively prepared nine post-graduate students for entrance to the Naval Academy. This, and all the rest, will be recounted in the Conrads’ detailed narrative.

A theme that recurs again and again in the Bullis School story is the importance of hard work in achieving academic success. In the 1930s Bullis’s promotional literature warned, “It is not the policy of the school to permit laggards to impede the progress of those who are striving earnestly. On the other hand, those who try but nevertheless fall behind their class … are given every consideration …. Under such a system, any average boy who will work can succeed.”

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FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF DOCUMENTS: THE WRITING OF THE BULLIS HISTORY

This started Carol and Dennis down what they call “the trail of documents.” “One person would suggest a place to find documents, like the attic of South Hall, or a closet or a drawer. So we’d go there, and maybe we’d find something and maybe not, but then someone else would suggest a new place to look,” Carol said. And the hunt would continue.

During this period of discovery, the Class of 1954 returned to the campus for Homecoming last October. Carol and Dennis prepared a preliminary history timeline and asked those attending to write down comments about it and include memories from their days at Bullis.

“The history project was in its infancy, and we wanted to get as much information as we could about the school from those alumni, so we got some digital recorders and informally interviewed many of them,” Carol said.

What Carol and Dennis heard were colorful stories unrecorded in documents. These narratives recalled daily life at the school and spoke to the real essence of the history of Bullis—the students who walked the halls of the school and how their lives were forever changed for the better because of their experiences here.
Recognizing the value of these types of stories to the project, Carol and Dennis set out to collect more. Using the Smithsonian Institute’s method for collecting oral histories as a guide, Carol and Dennis created a step-by-step process, including instructions and questions, for interviewing past students, faculty members, parents, alumni and board of trustees members.

“For each recorded oral history, one person acted as the interviewer and one was the scribe taking notes on what was said and noting the time on the recorder when certain key points were discussed,” Carol said.
Over 50 interviews have been completed and these digital records will become part of the growing archives. Many involved in the process would like to see the interviews continue even after the book is completed so that first-hand memories of Bullis will become archived for the future.
“We think this has been a very good system, even though it cannot fill all the gaps. It is a relatively small sample, and those who have come forward wanting to speak with us typically have had some continuing interest in Bullis,” Carol said. “But they have been very open and willing to take the time to come here, and we are very grateful to them for that.”

The images that emerge after listening to these oral histories paint Bullis as a place with a caring faculty always willing to go the extra mile to help students achieve what they were always capable of but for which they had never been given the opportunity, and as a place of discipline that helps students learn to focus on their goals and achieve them.
As one former student said, Bullis was “the door that opened many opportunities.” Another remembers it as “the experience that focused me.” They express a clear understanding of how their experiences at Bullis helped to shape who they are today.

Bullis students have also contributed to the history project. Dr. Sara Romeyn’s AP History students gave a week of their time after the AP exams to be immersed in true historical method going through yearbooks, student newspapers and old photographs to catalog the contents for possible use in the book, and for archival purposes.

In the end, Carol and Dennis are weaving together a story using paper documents and photos as the yarn and oral histories from alumni, past board of trustees, past and present faculty, former heads of school and former parents of students as the color to create the tapestry of the Bullis history.
The book chronicling the 75-year history of Bullis will be presented to the Bullis community at a book reading and signing event in the 2005-06 academic year.

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