MUMBLINGS December 14, 2006

Interesting education problems, regardless of what level from grade school to college could be my weakness. If Anyone wants to discuss it, I am a ready listener.

Baldwin County's school system for years has been one of the leading in Alabama and occasionally equaling or better than most in the United States.

This has also been true for the county's community college established in 1964. The reason is because there has been able leadership. Our seven members of the Board of Education over the years have usually sat back and let the superintendent run things…and they would just set the policies.

There have been some exceptions to this the last few years. That is being corrected in a hurry. My interest in education comes from childhood. My mother was a schoolteacher and took me to school with her when I was four years old. My father was not educated, he only had a sixth or seventh grade education, but he was determined that my brother and I got a college education. I am not so well educated, only having a Bachelors degree from the University School of Missouri in Journalism, noted the best in the country. I have been fortunate enough to have several (7) honorary Doctorate Degrees.

On November 17, I received a personal invitation to attend the dedication of the administrative facilities of the Board of Education, here in Bay Minette.

In addition, Dr. Faron Hollinger, County Superintendent, presented several education leaders. The main purpose other than the dedication of the building was to honor four outstanding Baldwin County educators.

When I arrived on the Baldwin scene in August of 1936, Mr. S.M Tharp was county superintendent, and continued to be for a number of years. He was dedicated, hardworking, intelligent and progressive. During his term of office the county school system made solid progress. In the state senate I was chairman of the education committee and Mr. Tharp was very helpful and would keep me informed and encourage me. He was one of the reasons I was so anxious to sponsor and help write the finest Teachers Retirement System in the United States. It was so recognized and Alabama was the first state in the nation to add Social Security to their regular retirement system. It was great seeing part of his family present while he was being honored. He, as well as the pictures of the following are placed on the important walls of the education building here.

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Since Mr. Tharp, I have a fond memory of the superintendents, considering them all my friends, which they were. Succeeding Mr. Tharp's long term from 1918-1953 was another intelligent, hard worker W. C McGowan.

He was born in 1905 and lived to 1987 and served as superintendent from 1953 to 1974. Dr. McGowan believed in his school teachers and relied heavily on the advice and support of his various principals throughout the county. While superintendent, there was no doubt in anybody's mind that knew what was going on that he was in charge of things. He was a great organizer and knew what he wanted to do and was almost stubborn about it. Fortunately, he was usually correct.

Succeeding him was Dr. Aubrey Ray McVay, born in 1912, and served as superintendent from 1974-1981. He was quiet but stern and a good administrator. He seemed to get along with almost everyone and was always pleasant and cooperative.

I recall before becoming superintendent, he was principal of the brand new elementary and middle school in Daphne. Mainly because I had gone to Montgomery and helped get the $153,000 the new building cost, he asked me to give the commencement address for his first 8th grade graduates at the beautiful building.

Not a school superintendent but certainly an educated leader and grand citizen of Baldwin was Mary Frances Stewart, who was a teacher for 23 years, before being elected Baldwin County Commissioner in 2000-2004. Her death was one of the unfortunate tragedies of this county. She was a great leader and also loved boosting education whenever possible and she found it possible many times.

Not honored at this time but certainly will be in the future are the superintendents that followed Dr. McVay: R.L Smith, 1981-1985, Larry Newton, 1985-1998, Albert Thomas, 1998-2002, Faron Hollinger, 2002-present.

Our schools are at a high level. Dr. Hollinger is presiding over the system ably and doing a great job. He is very popular with the people of this county.

See you again soon, I hope.