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Second generation Hinrichs follows parents to become Fort Scott student
Eibe Hinrichs' short time living in Fort Scott nearly 30 years ago has led to lasting memories for the German native.
Hinrichs and his family, including his wife, Keti, and daughter, Viktoria, are visiting Fort Scott for a few weeks while Viktoria enrolls and begins attending class at Fort Scott Community College.
In 1980, Hinrichs, who is from Weiden, Germany, stayed with local residents Bob and Kathryn Morrison for three weeks as part of a Rotary Student Exchange Program in Fort Scott.
Hinrichs said the program would only allow exchange students to visit another country for a short period of time.
"My father was a Rotarian and pastor, and it was very expensive to go somewhere for one year, so he asked me where I wanted to go for three weeks for the Rotary Exchange Program," Hinrichs said.
Now Hinrichs is back staying temporarily with the same family he lived with many years ago as a young man.
"I have a wonderful friendship (with Fort Scott)," Hinrichs said. "I saw a lot of things here, of course I was only 18 or 19 years old. I have a good relationship here, (with the Morrisons) and we all have kept in touch. I have always had close contact with the Morrisons."
After Hinrichs' stay with the Morrisons, he worked at a Texas bank and later returned to Europe where he would eventually earn a bachelor's degree and a doctorate in business at universities in Germany and Austria. He also became a Rotary member in his hometown.
Hinrichs said he continued to stay in touch with his host family through all of his endeavors. The Morrisons have also corresponded with him over the years, Hinrichs said.
"We've kept in touch with them (Hinrichs) ever since," Kathryn said.
During his stay in Fort Scott, Hinrichs said he became good friends with the late Paul Morrison, the Morrisons' son who died five years ago of liver cancer.
"He was a good friend of mine," Hinrichs said.
During Hinrichs' stay in Fort Scott, Paul Morrison traveled to Germany to stay with Hinrichs' family for three weeks as part of the Rotary student exchange program, Kathryn said.
Morrison said that little has changed about Hinrichs since Hinrichs stayed with them nearly three decades ago.
"He's still pretty much the same guy," she said. "He's lots of fun, and jolly. He likes to joke."
Hinrichs said he and his wife chose to have Viktoria attend a college in the U.S., particularly FSCC, partly because of the family's relationship with the Morrisons and other friends the Hinrichs have in the area, and partly because of the chance Viktoria has to participate in better courses suited to her career choice.
"Many Germans like to return (to the U.S.) at the time of high school," he said. "But the lessons they learn here have to be renewed in Germany. They can learn a language (in U.S.) but they can't get any degree. My daughter is very happy to go to America. It's better for her (Viktoria) career to have a German high school degree, then go to college here (in U.S.). I want to make sure she has the good classes that she needs."
Hinrichs said that Viktoria currently plans to major in general studies with an emphasis on business courses during her two years at FSCC.
Viktoria said that she is "happy" to be at FSCC, where she is involved with the college band, the Christians on Campus organization, and other activities.
Hinrichs said he maintains good relationships with many FSCC instructors and administrators whom he has kept in contact with while enrolling Viktoria at FSCC.
Hinrichs said upon his recent return to the U.S., he was surprised about many changes that had taken place in the country over the years. He also noted continued differences between Germany and the U.S, such as the price for a gallon of gasoline in Germany, which even rises above recent high U.S. prices.
"Things have really become more expensive in the U.S.," he said. "Gas prices are high here, but they are less expensive than in Europe where they are about seven U.S. dollars per gallon. The presidential election is very different than the German system. There is nice, wonderful warm weather here, and the people are kind and friendly. We can drive a little bit faster here, too."