Sign dedicated to Bill Metz and auditorium renamed for Alice Jean Sater Ritchey

MONTE VISTA — A special dedication ceremony was held on Thursday afternoon, Oct. 6, at Bill Metz Elementary. The ceremony was to dedicate the electronic sign in front of Bill Metz Elementary and to rename the Central Auditorium at the school.

The sign was dedicated to Dr. Bill Metz and the auditorium was renamed the Alice Jean Sater Ritchey Central Auditorium. The sign is in the corner of the Faith Hinkley Memorial Park and faces traffic at the intersection of US Highways 285 and 160 and CO-150 and adjacent to the Bill Metz Elementary School.

In 1979, Dr. Metz moved to Monte Vista to serve as the principal of the elementary school. In 1984, he became superintendent of schools, and he remained in his position as superintendent until 1993.

When the new elementary school was built, it was named after Dr. Metz — now standing with the name Bill Metz Elementary. Metz passed away in October of 2022.

Monte Vista School District Board President Gary Wilkinson led the ceremony. He welcomed the crowd and explained the signage was a collaborative effort of the Monte Vista School District, the Monte Vista Education Foundation, the City of Monte Vista, the Metz family and Faith Hinkley Memorial Park.

Bill Metz’s daughter Laura was appreciative of the designation.

“Thanks everyone,” she said. “Thank you to the Monte Vista Education Foundation for giving the sign, and Principal Futrell for making that happen. All of the teachers for taking care of these great kids, my dad would be really proud of you. Thank you."

She said her dad was an avid supporter of education and frequently read to children in classrooms.

“This always stuck so closely in my heart that there are so many people in this community that knew my dad,” she said. “Now I am looking at a whole new generation, you guys, that will be proud to say that they went to Bill Metz Elementary, who was a great, great inspiration for so many people.”

The Monte Vista Education Foundation was established on April 24, 1995, to support the education of students in Monte Vista, Colorado. The mission of the organization is to make a difference in the lives of Monte Vista’s students by promoting the value of education and work ethic.

Wilkinson highlighted some of what the nonprofit MVEF has done over the years.

The Foundation has supported Monte Vista students with approximately $274,000 in scholarships from 1998 to the present.

Monte Vista Education Foundation has supported numerous student-centered projects beginning in 2001 for a total of approximately $307,000 as of May 2022. This value includes a Daniels Grant for $157,500 for a field house at the Monte Vista Community Sports Complex.

Wilkinson provided information on Ritchey. She graduated from what was then called Rio Grande County High School — now Monte Vista High School — in the late 1930s.

She graduated as a registered nurse in 1942, served her country in World War II, and retired as a Navy Lieutenant Commander in 1966. She worked in a civilian hospital in Washington state until her second retirement.

After her passing at the age of 94, her estate contacted the Monte Vista School District about her wishes to leave a large sum of money to be used for scholarships for Monte Vista students.

The school district entrusted the Monte Vista Education Foundation with the money so it could be invested to positively affect as many students as possible.

“The Central Auditorium as of this day has been formally renamed as the Alice Jean Sater Ritchey Central Auditorium, to honor this amazing and generous individual for her impact on the students at Monte Vista Schools," Wilkinson said.

The Monte Vista High School Marching Band concluded the ceremony by playing the school song.