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Good recognized at USD 457 BOE meeting
Published 3/9/2010 in Local News
By MONICA SPRINGER
Surrounded by about 20 family members Monday night, Horace Good spoke about how much he missed working in education and how honored he was when USD 457 decided to name its new middle school after him.
"I do miss it at the present time," Good said. "Thank you for having me here. I'll be proud of it, and I'll support it all I can."
Once the school district's bond projects are complete in 2012, the building at 1412 N. Main St. will become Horace Good Middle School.
Good, along with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other family members attended Monday night's USD 457 Board of Education, where he was presented a plaque. He and his family also attended a short reception at the Educational Support Center.
"I'm surprised. I'm shocked. I'm also a little bit proud," Good said.
In November 2008, voters passed a $97.5 million bond issue. Projects to be built under the facilities upgrade include a new $92.5 million high school, turning Garfield Elementary School into an early childhood center, converting Abe Hubert Middle School into an elementary school, converting the current GCHS building into the new Horace Good Middle School, and moving New Outlook Academy into J.D. Adams Hall, which sits adjacent to the current high school.
"I'm real proud to be able to work for a school system as good as this one is," Good said. "The schools are wonderful."
Good grew up and graduated from high school in Altoona, Pa. He graduated from Appalachian State University in North Carolina, majoring in social science. He taught English and geography in several locations before moving to Denver, where he earned his doctorate in education administration from the University of Denver in 1966. He served as deputy superintendent in Commerce City, Colo., for 18 years.
He came to Garden City and served as superintendent from 1969 to 1984. He retired July 1, 1984.
During Good's tenure as superintendent, the district grew from 4,748 students to 5,512 students, Pierceville and Plymell elementary schools combined as Pierceville-Plymell Attendance Center, Kenneth Henderson Junior High and Gertrude Walker and Florence Wilson elementary schools were built, a fire-razed Garfield Elementary School was rebuilt, and the Garden City High School music addition was built.
In February, the board of education decided to name the new school after Good. Two other names were considered, including Clifford R. Hope Senior and Abe Hubert.
In a short ceremony on Monday night, Mike Utz, board president, said Good's name was chosen after a committee considered about 15 names total.
"It's a fine set of schools," Good said. "The people are wonderful and believe in a good education."
Good and his wife, Eleanor, have two children, six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Carol DiRenzo, Good's niece, traveled to Garden City from Syracuse, N.Y., to attend the meeting and reception.
She said having a school named after her uncle means a lot to her family. There are other educators in the family, too, she said, and education has become a family tradition.
Jim Good, Horace Good's son, also attended the meeting and reception. He said he was happy to be surrounded by family members.
"He's a very hard, dedicated worker with a deep love for education," Jim Good said.
Horace Good will celebrate his 91st birthday next month.
"I have no regrets, that's for sure. I have a lot to be thankful for," Horace Good said.
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