Elmer Vruggink

Elmer Vruggink, Ph.D., Class of 1945

2020/2021 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee

Service to HPS and Community

Dr. Elmer H. Vruggink graduated from Hudsonville High School in 1945. He then enlisted in the US Army (1945-1947) where he was assigned to newspaper duties and public relations. He returned to earn degrees from Hope College (B.A. Mathematics 1951), University of Michigan (MA 1955), and Michigan State University (Doctorate in Curriculum 1970). 

Dr. Vruggink was very involved with education in the Grand Rapids area as a teacher in various school districts and programs. From 1951 to 1961, he taught Math, English, and History at Central High School where he was also the debate coach, baseball coach, and Assistant Principal. (It was here that he taught a young astronaut named Roger B Chaffee in geometry and future football player Terry Barr.) From 1965 to 1984, he was Assistant Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, and Acting Superintendent for the Grand Rapids Public Schools. In 1984, he became the Dean of the McBain School of Business at Davenport College for 16 years. He held many other administrative and instructional positions. 

He contributed to education more globally through various and multiple publications. He was also a big contributor to local historian, Dave Bolhuis for his book Hudsonville Schools, The First One-Hundred Years. 

Elmer and his wife Vivian were married for over 60 years. Vivian was the valedictorian of their class and the organist of their church for 67 years. Together, they have four children: Gary, Kathy, Mark, and Karen, and many grandchildren.