Homer Dahringer & Ruth Besley
Homer Dahringer was born in Ludington, Michigan in 1890. In 1905, Dahringer and his family moved to Waukegan, Illinois where he was educated in the public schools, graduating from Waukegan High School in 1908. While in school he played on the high school varsity basketball team. After high school Dahringer went to the University of Illinois and was the captain of the Illini basketball team.
Dahringer graduated from U of I in 1913 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He would eventually form the D+S Soda Grill with brother-in-law Roland Steinhaus at 136 N. Genesee Street in Waukegan.
While the United States was making efforts to enlarge its army in preparation for war, Dahringer and 3 friends went to Fort Sheridan and enlisted in First Officers Training School on March 15, 1917. After training at Fort Sheridan, Dahringer went to Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois. Dahringer originally selected to focus in the area of artillery but instead was recruited into the air service. From Rockford he was transferred to Austin, Texas for training. The air service was still a developing field at the time but with his background in engineering he was qualified to work in that department.
Born in 1891 to Edmund and Amelia Besley, Ruth Besley was a member of one of the first families of Waukegan. In 1853, Ruth’s grandfather, William Besley came to Lake County and purchased a brewery that would later become known as Besley’s Waukegan Brewery. In 1876, Ruth’s father purchased their home at 112 Clayton Street.
Ruth graduated from Waukegan High School with the class of 1908 as the valedictorian. While at Waukegan High School, Ruth and Homer began their courtship. She attended Wells College in New York but then returned home to Waukegan following the death of her father.