Extended legacies for teachers

Every so often, a teacher's name lives beyond retirement.

The reputations of many renowned local educators have been preserved through the naming of schools on their behalf.

In Cape Girardeau, three of five elementary schools honor former teachers, and the district's history encompasses even more schools named after well-known educators.

Jackson School District followed suit with R.O. Hawkins Junior High. The Nell Holcomb School District also recognizes the legacy of a teacher.

The trend began locally in 1921 when a new elementary school was named for a woman who spent 53 years of her life teaching in Cape Girardeau.

May Greene

May Greene was born in Marble Hill, Mo., in 1861. As a child, she injured her leg in a fall and used a crutch for the rest of her life.

Greene attended Normal School and began teaching first grade at the original Lorimier School in 1879. During her career, she taught every grade from first through eighth and served as principal at Lorimier, Broadway and Washington schools.

In 1921, the district named a new elementary school in south Cape Girardeau after Greene. She died in 1948. The school named for her was sold by the district in 1999.

Alma Schrader

Alma Schrader, born in 1886, was a protege of May Greene. She began teaching in 1906 at the original Lorimier School and became principal of Jefferson School in 1911.

In 1921, she became principal at the newly formed May Greene School, where she stayed 34 years until her retirement in 1956.

Schrader was the first woman elected president of the District Teachers Association. She died in 1959, and a few months later the district named a new elementary school in her name. Alma Schrader Elementary is now home to some 300 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

Charles Clippard

Charles Clippard began his teaching career in Cape Girardeau in 1956 at May Greene Elementary. After five years in the classroom, he became principal at Lorimier School.

In 1966, he became principal at Hawthorne Elementary, where he spent 25 years of his career.

In 1990, Hawthorne School was renamed Charles Clippard Elementary. Clippard retired in 1991. The school now serves about 280 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

L.J. Schultz

Louis J. Schultz spent 38 years in education, 27 of them as superintendent of the Cape Girardeau School District. Schultz also taught and served as principal at the original Central High School at 101 S. Pacific St.

In 1965, when that building became a center for seventh-graders, it was renamed L.J. Schultz School in his honor.

Schultz came to Cape Girardeau in 1924 as an industrial arts teacher. He served as principal at Central for eight years before becoming superintendent in 1935.

During his tenure of leadership, Cape Girardeau's public schools grew from 3,017 students to 4,305. The district's budget grew from $186,000 to $1.7 million. He was involved in a $1.6 million bond issue to construct a new junior high and add rooms to elementary schools.

Schultz retired in 1962 and died in 1968. L.J. Schultz School is currently being renovated by the district into an alternative education center.

Barbara Blanchard

Cape Girardeau School District's newest elementary is named for Barbara Blanchard, an educator of 37 years who tried twice to retire before succeeding.

Blanchard spent nearly 30 years teaching at Washington Elementary before becoming principal there in 1992. Her ties to the school go back even further, though, to her own elementary days as a student there.

In 1997, Blanchard announced her resignation but was asked to remain at the school an additional year until a new school could be built to replace Washington.

Blanchard agreed, intending to retire at the end of the 1997-1998 year. But construction of the new school was not complete in time for the 1998-1999 school year, and Blanchard was again asked to put off her retirement. She officially retired in 1998, and in 1999 the new school on Sprigg Street was named after her.

The school now serves some 280 students in kindergarten through fourth grade.

R.O. Hawkins

Russell Olson Hawkins spent 39 years as a teacher and administrator in Jackson School District.

Born in 1903 in Ironton, Mo., Hawkins became a resident of Jackson in 1929. He was known as "Mr. School" for his dedication to education.

When the district constructed a new school for eighth- and ninth-graders in 1967, it was named R.O. Hawkins Junior High.

He retired as superintendent in 1968 but served an additional year in an advisory position. Later, Hawkins became mayor of Jackson. He died in 1983.

Nell Holcomb

Nell Holcomb dedicated herself to rural education in Southeast Missouri.

The teacher of 45 years was born in 1896 north of Cape Girardeau and worked in the area her entire life. She chose to work in country schools, passing over more favorable positions in city systems, because "I'm a farmer myself," she often told friends.

During her career, she worked in the Coker, Juden and Egypt Mills, Randles and Jackson Elementary schools.

In 1959, her home community named its new reorganized school district in her honor. The district serves Cape Girardeau County students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Holcomb died in 1963.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128