The view in front of the Avon School changed a few months ago due to the absence of a notable community landmark. However, the public need not be worried as the old Avon bell is set to return after safety concerns are addressed.

“The brick frame that was holding the bell has cracked and we were worried about it falling,” detailed Tom Culver who is the superintendent of Avon School District 4-1. “We are hoping to have it back up before school starts on August 18.”

It was in May of this year that the bell was taken down as a precaution. The Avon bell means a lot to the town and has a special history with the school. It came to be in place in front of the school building as a way to honor a respected and valued individual who was killed in an unfortunate cave in incident in 1988.

Culver explained, “...the bell is in memory of Roger Mudder, who was a school board member.”

Roger Mudder was known to many for his hard work and dedication to the Avon School District. The bell that was laid in brickwork to honor him was the original bell that used to sit on top of the school building many years ago. Mudder was president of the school board at the time of his death. He also coached the Avon Pirates in football.

Mudder’s son, Mark (Boomer), recalled that Johnny, Joey, and Jimmy Williams did all of the brickwork in front of the school to hold the bell. The memorial was put in place a little over thirty years ago.

Boomer remarked, “It was for my dad because he was on the school board and he always liked the kids and all of that in school. So I just kept coaching with him and now I still help coach football. This will be my thirty-fifth year already.”

Boomer is not sure exactly how his mother, Adella, or his brother, Mike, ended up with the old bell once it was taken down. However, he does know that all of his family and the school were committed to making it into something special to honor his father. They all decided together to use the bell and from there the staple in front of the Avon School came together. It was put up and dedicated to Mudder approximately one year after his death.

“They took the bell down and we got it. I don’t know how my mom or my brother ended up with it. But that’s what they wanted to do. The school was part of the deal too. That’s what we all decided to do,” said Boomer.

Mudder passed away thirty-two years ago. In addition to his service to the school, Mudder also worked many years for the city of Avon. He was the street commissioner for Avon and a farmer. His son Boomer still works on the family farm to this day.

While many were concerned to see the bell memorial taken down, the safety for all is a priority for the school. And there are plans for the bell to return soon. In the meantime, the community can fall back on all of the fond memories of Roger Mudder. His impact and dedication to the Avon School district will not be forgotten.