I went to see Benton Breeding in the nursing home on Monday of this week. He had come there to recover from the effects of a fall and broken bone a week or so before. I could see that he was tired as he sat in his wheelchair, but I just wanted to say hi..and glad to see you back home. Little did I know that in a few short hours he would leave us to go and join his loving wife Genelle and his family and friends.
I will miss him. In the spring of 1977 Andy and I came to Gainesville, bought property, and made plans to settle in town. The first thing I needed was a teaching job. We had been camping while we were searching for the perfect place here in Ozark County. I asked the realtor, who was on the school board at that time, if there were any vacancies that I might apply for. He sent me to the superintendent's office. And I met Benton Breeding for the first time. I was a little uneasy going to interview in camping clothes, but I shouldn't have been. We had a little talk. He asked me some questions. We talked some more. And in short order I was hired to teach half time at the Junior High and half time at the Elementary. Talk about lucky! I didn't know how lucky I was.
Benton, or Mr. Breeding, as I called him while he was my boss, and I always got along fine. I could tell that he ran a tight ship. My experience with school superintendents was varied...some were pretty much in for the ride and others ruled with an iron hand. But Mr. Breeding was definitely old school..and just what I needed.
After he retired we still kept in touch. We went to church together. We visited at Vaught's during coffee time and Sunday breakfast. I still remember how pleased I was when they named our then-new football field and facility after him when he retired. I would drive past the sign each day when I went to work at the new elementary school, and with a smile, recall my years teaching under him.
Once, when we were eating breakfast at Vaught's, I got the chance to thank him for hiring me on that May day so long ago. I told him how wonderful my time had been teaching at Gainesville and that he was a big part of that. He had paved the way for our school to be one of the best I had ever taught at...and I told him so. He smiled. He always smiled. He thanked me for the kind words. I hope he knew just how sincere I was.
And then I remember my first Christmas teaching here in Gainesville. I had just dismissed my junior high class and was getting ready to leave for the elementary school when word came from the office that Mr. Breeding needed to see me. Something about a "Christmas bonus". I was surprised. I had never gotten a Christmas bonus before. What could it be? I knocked on his door and he told me to come in. All smiles, he reached down beside his desk and pulled out a shiny apple and a huge orange. "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Elder!", he said. I replied, "and Merry Christmas to you Mr. Breeding."
Old school. Definitely old school.
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