Stillwater High School staff member Mr. Hoffman was chosen as this year’s recipient of the Pioneer Veteran Wall of Honor, an honor given to someone associated with the school.
Serving at SHS for several years now, Hoffman works as the ISP coordinator.
“I was extremely honored to be chosen for this award,” Hoffman said. “I’m sure there are many more deserving people that could have been chosen. Being recognized at the assembly was very humbling.”
Mr. Hoffman had been working in a grocery store while in high school when he decided that he wanted to do more than stocking shelves for the next few years. Hoffman enlisted in the Marine Corps in August of 1979, serving until August of 1983 as a rifleman and heavy equipment operator. He received individual training at Ft. Leonard Wood after boot camp in San Diego.
While in the military, he spent weekends riding bulls and once had the back of his head split open after drawing a bull named Forget It.
“He threw me off back into a chute post, knocking me unconscious, and splitting the back of my head wide open,” Hoffman said.
He spent the remainder of his active duty at 29 Palms after training and was honorably discharged after.
Hoffman was hired by the Stillwater Police Department in late September of 1983 and was assigned to the patrol division after the police academy and field training program. He helped found the SWAT team in 1986 and was a team member, leader, and commander on it. He spent time in the Honor Guard as well as starting the Mounted Patrol Unit, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in December 1990.
He left the SWAT team in 2014 and went across the state teaching defensive tactics for seven years before returning to the patrol division as a supervisor. Mr. Hoffman retired from the police force after serving for more than 38 years as an officer on January 12, 2022.
At the high school, Principal Howell is very glad to have Hoffman inducted into the Pioneer Veteran Wall of Honor.
“He’s a great guy and is very deserving of this award,” Howell said, “I’m grateful for his service, and I’m proud to work with him every day.”
