The Greeneville Sun - News Story

By JOHN M. JONES JR.
Editor, and

BOB HURLEY
Columnist

Howard McNeese, a former superintendent of the Greene County School System and one of the most influential educators in the county's history, died Sunday morning in Chattanooga. He was 86.

McNeese, who had been retired since the 1980s, has lived during his retirement years in the Hixson, Tenn., community, near Chattanooga.

He has been in failing health in recent years, and his health problems were complicated by a recent fall. According to a family member, he was not able to recover from that recent setback.

Funeral details remained incomplete early today, but family members indicated that the memorial service and burial are tentatively scheduled for Friday, Nov. 21.

Chattanooga Funeral Home North Chapel, in Hixson, is handling the arrangements.

Led School Consolidation

A Greene County native, McNeese served as county school superintendent here from 1956-79. He grew up in the Baileyton area, where he is still known as "Babe" for his love for baseball.

Working with the Greene County Board of Education and the county legislative body (then known as the Greene County Quarterly Court, now the Greene County Commission), he led in the dramatic consolidation of the county schools during the 1950s and 1960s.

During his years as superintendent, the number of county schools, some of which were one-room or two-room facilities, went from 59 to 18.

McNeese also collaborated with other government agencies to establish the Greeneville-Greene County Center for Technology and the Cedar Creek Learning Center.

In 1979 he was appointed by then-Governor Lamar Alexander as the state's deputy commissioner of education.

After leaving the Tennessee Department of Education, he became manager of a public education television station in the Chattanooga area.

In April 2007, the Greene County Board of Education recognized his contribution to local education by naming the Greene County Educational Center in his honor.

'Transformed Greene County'

When word of McNeese's death reached the Greeneville area on Sunday, local reaction ranged from expressions of respect and admiration to grief and a sense of "family-like" loss.

Greene County Director of Schools Dr. Joe Parkins recalled that he had known former Supt. McNeese for many years, and had in fact begun his career with the county schools after being hired by him.

"Howard McNeese was a progressive educator, skillful administrator, artful statesman and politician.

"He transformed Greene County from multiple one-room and small schools to a modern-day school system consisting of 18 schools (we have since closed Greystone, Sunnyside and Newmansville and opened Chuckey-Doak Middle School).

"He accomplished this with little opposition, which is a tribute to his ability to work with the public and county court/commission.

"His influence on Greene County education will continue to be felt for many years."

'Became My Mentor'

"I patterned everything in my life after Mr. McNeese," said Dr. Ben Hankins, a retired and widely-respected superintendent of the Greeneville City Schools System.

"After he hired me as an elementary teacher in 1958, Mr. McNeese quietly became my mentor, and it has been one of the great honors of my life to be able to count him as one of my closest friends for the past 50 years.

"In my many years of education, I have never known anyone for whom I have more respect than Mr. McNeese," Hankins said.

'Learned So Much From Him'

Eva Sams, of Greeneville, who was McNeese's secretary in the central office of the county school system for most of his tenure as superintendent, said he became like a father figure to her.

"Shortly after I went to work for Mr. McNeese, I was so impressed with his values and work ethic that I tried to copy them," Sams said.

"I learned so much from him, and through the years, he really became like family to me. I had so much respect and admiration for him that I named my son, Steven Howard, after Mr. McNeese."

Sams, who retired several years ago, maintained a close relationship with the McNeese family after he left the superintendent's office in Greene County.

"All he ever wanted was to make a better world for the kids," she said, "and those of us who were touched by his love and leadership have been blessed beyond measure."

'Highly Respected'

Judy Phillips, who also worked for many years under the leadership of McNeese, called him an exemplary leader whose influence stretched far beyond Greene County.

"Howard McNeese was an inspiration to everyone fortunate enough to work closely with him," said Phillips, a former county school system supervisor under McNeese who now serves as assistant director of the school system.

"Mr. McNeese provided guidance and offered advice on how to accomplish a task, and then he stepped back and gave you the freedom to complete it," Phillips said.

"Had it not been for him, I would not have returned to school to earn additional degrees. I was so impressed with his leadership and his desire to make a difference in the lives of children.

"He challenged me to seek new and innovative ideas while he served in Greene County, and the lessons I learned from him are the ones I still practice every day.

"Even after he retired from the scene, Mr. McNeese remained one of the most highly respected educational figures across the entire state of Tennessee."

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