A sportive crowd

en route en Forêt de Soignes

Schosers are a sportive crowd. In particular, they like running. John Schoser from Evanston, Illinois prefers the short distances up to 10K. In 2008, he participated in seven such runs. Joe Schoser from Henderson, Nevada seems to be specialised in half-marathons which he finishes in less than two hours. It so happened in March 2007 at the Las Vegas Half-Marathon and in December 2006 at the Six Tunnels Half-Marathon on an old railroad track near Las Vegas. Christof recently took part in a Ultra Trail Miles Marathon in the Forêt de Soignes and finished the 22K part also in just under two hours.
Finally, Achim and Susanne Schoser from Owen, Germany can claim to have covered the longest distance. Both took part in the 1st Albtrauf-Marathon 2008 over a distance of 55K and an elevation gain of 1150m. It should however be mentioned that they were on mountain bikes...

Attempt at self-portrayal





Schoser in a flower pot

paphiopedilum schoseri

A Schoser in a flower pot? You can have it: paphiopedilum schoseri! It is a 'lady slipper' orchid described for the first time by Braem & Mohr in 1988 who named it after Gustav Schoser, long-time director of the Frankfurt botanical garden. You would have to go a long way to pick one yourself that is to the Bacan Island in the Moluccas of Indonesia. Sounds more convenient to order one online, for example from Asendorfer Orchideenzucht for € 22.50.

And there is another orchid having Schoser in its name: paphiopedilum sukhakulii Schoser & Senghas. It is also a 'lady slipper' orchid which was found by the Thai orchid grower and exporter Mr. Sukhakul in 1964.

paphiopedilum sukhakulii Schoser & Senghas

It grows in the rain forest at the altitude between 250m and 1,000m in the north-east of Thailand and seems to have become nearly extinct in its natural habitat. Gustav Schoser and Karlheinz Senghas described this species for the first time in their publication 'Die Orchidee' in 1965 which earned them the addition to its name.

Cold War times

The early 1980s experienced a renewed, but final phase of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West. In December 1979, the Soviet Union invaded Afganistan prompting the West to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. In December 1981, the communist Polish government imposed the martial law to repress the political opposition led by the Solidarność trade-union movement. The West replied by imposing economic sanctions on the Soviet Union.
And what was the role of Schosers in all this?

At the time, Franz Schoser was the secretary general of the German Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He was thus one of the voices of German business which was affected by the West's economic sanctions against the Soviet Union. It is in this context that the German weekly Die Zeit interviewed Franz to find out how German business coped with the dilemma of being caught between political rationale and economic interest.

Aztec News

The TALON, a 'community-input newspaper' published twice a month in Aztec, New Mexico, is a valuable source of information to trace the accomplishments of Schosers in that area. The 2nd August issue of 2006 reports about the performances of Samantha and Tyke Schoser during their school vacation. Samantha took part in a summer reading program in the Aztec Public Library and read most books in her age group. At the same time, Tyke is pictured playing computer games with some friends in the library. Some of them competed in the HALO tournament at the Farmington Public Library and one finished second.
Finally, this issue of the Talon informs us that Qinqin Schoser teaches free pre- and post-natal yoga classes at the library premises on Fridays at 4 p.m.

Orchids for all

Former Director of Palm Garden Schoser turns 80

He would not like to "steal the show" from those who today have the responsibility. That is why for some years Gustav Schoser has not all too often been seen at his former workplace. Unless he is asked for his help - or he is celebrated as this Sunday. Tomorrow, the City of Frankfurt organises a great reception for the 80th birthday of the long-standing director of the Palm Garden. He was "more than surprised" about this honour - and even more about the number of people who have confirmed their attendance at the event, he says.

Ein Mann mit Dornen

Ex-Palmengarten-Chef Gustav Schoser wird am Sonntag 80 Jahre

Frankfurter Rundschau, 21. August 2004

Der frühere Palmengarten-Direktor, Gustav Schoser, vollendet am 22. August sein 80. Lebensjahr. In seine Amtszeit zwischen 1968 und 1992 fielen zäh umkämpfte Modernisierungs-arbeiten und Besucherrekorde. 

The chronicler

Stadtchronist wird erster Trochtelfinger Ehrenbürger

Johannes Martin Schoser erhielt im Juli von Trochtelfingens Bürgermeister Friedrich Bisinger die Ehrenbürgerwürde der Stadt verliehen. Für sein vielfältiges Engagement für die Stadt, ihre Geschichte und das Vereinsleben wurde ihm damit als erster Trochtelfinger diese Ehre zuteil.

Obituary for Frank Joseph Schoser

Frank Joseph Schoser, of Durango, died of natural causes on Wednesday, May 5, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center. He was 89. Mr. Schoser was born Nov. 15, 1914, in Durango, the youngest child of Ludwig and Dora Schoser. He married Howeta Roacher on Sept. 5, 1938, and in 1942 the couple moved to California where Mr. Schoser worked in the shipyards during World War II. They returned to Durango when his father became ill.

The Schosers had five children, Frankie, Sandi, Sharon, Carol and Tom. Mrs. Schoser died in March 1957.

Mr. Schoser bought an auto repair shop in Durango in 1944 and ran it with his brother John until 1947. He met Gordon and Priscilla Burnett in 1948 when he supplied logs for their house, and the following year went to work for Mr. Burnett's construction company as a heavy equipment operator and crusher foreman. He worked for the firm until it was sold in 1968.

Mr. Schoser went to work immediately for Hamer Construction where he worked for 12 years. Throughout the years he worked in construction, Mr. Schoser cut and hauled firewood.

Mr. Schoser married Ella Virginia Ashridge on April 12, 1960. The couple had one son, Sam.

Mr. Schoser is remembered by his family for his love of fishing, hunting and baseball. He also built many clocks, which have become treasured by family members.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Schoser is survived by sons, Frankie and Tom Schoser both of Durango and Sam Schoser of Bloomfield, N.M. He also is survived by daughters, Sharon Hamer of Durango, and Carol O'Donnal of Mesa, Ariz. Stepchildren Michael Cordary of Grand Junction, Roger Cordary of Hesperus, Kathy Gardner of Salt Lake City and Sylvia Reynolds of Kearn, Utah, also survive Mr. Schoser.

Mr. Schoser is survived by grandchildren Scott and Butch Hamer, Jeff O'Donnal, Sean Waddell, Chance and Chase Schoser, Tracie DeBoer, Darell Cordary, Alicia Cordary, Laurie Hartley, Joustin Cordary, Terry Schoser, Tyke Schoser, Samantha Schoser and Frank Frank" Schoser. He also is survived by nieces, nephews and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by brothers, John, Barney and Leo Schoser; sisters, Mary Schumacher and Emma Redman; and a daughter, Sandi Waddell.

A memorial service is scheduled at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Iron Horse Inn in Durango. Memorial contributions may be made to the La Plata County Humane Society, P.O. Box 2164, Durango 81302 or the Four Corners Rehabilitation Center, 2911 Junction St., Durango 81301.

The Durango Herald, May 2004

Customers don't care

Karl-Joseph Schoser is chairman of the works council of the clothing producer Trigema in Burladingen, Germany. Trigema is widely known in Germany for its TV commercials featuring a monkey 'telling' the audience that all of Trigema's production sites are located in Germany. The German daily newspaper 'Die Tageszeitung' (taz) interviewed Karl-Joseph in 2003 on this very issue.