Odessa Montour Central High School - Odessanean Yearbook (Odessa, NY)

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SEATED: Left to Right, George Hoffman, Irving D. Goodrich, Gilbert, Clerk; Dr. James J. Norton, Stewart J. Coats, John Superintendent of Schools; Howard A. Hanlon, President; Delmar T. Barton. Bleiler, Vice-President; Stanley Rundle. STANDING: Kenneth E. Odessa Montour Central School Board Of Education Pays Tribute to Mr. Pattington. Knowing Mr. Pattington, for even a little while, makes one aware of his boundless energy, his precision of thought, his prodigious memory, and his complete dedication to our school. John T. Barton

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M. G. PATTINGTON Supervising Principal When we heard that you were resigning this year, we first felt a little sad about it. Then we decided that we would look back beyond the many years we've known you .. .and this is what we found: Thirty-four years ago with an AB degree from Syracuse University, you began your career as a teacher and athletic coach—then vice-principal for two years. From 1929 to 1942 you were supervising principal at Chenango Forks and during that time earned your MA degree from Syracuse. The following two years you were Superintendent of Schools in thirty-one districts in Broome County, before your promotion to Assistant, and then Senior Education Supervisor with the State Education Department in Albany. After three years of distinguished service in administration and research, you were appointed, in September 1947, Supervising Principal and Purchasing Agent for Odessa (now Odessa-Montour) Central School. Here, as all our community is most gratefully aware, you have efficiently carried our two schoolbuilding programs to completion and have superbly met the growing educational needs of this enlarged central district of 150 square miles. Furthermore, in civic affairs, you have served as Chairman of Schuyler County (Seneca Drums) Boy Scouts, Member of Sullivan Trail Executive Council, Registrar of Seneca County Selective Service Board, and other posts in Red Cross, 4-H, Public Health and United States Infantry Reserves. Many of us have just learned that in 1951 you were a member of the Faculty of Albany State Teacher's College and in 1960 of the faculty of Ithaca College, that you are a specialist in Public School Finance, in School Administration and in Current Problems in Education. Also, that you are a member of the National Writers Club and the author of more than 220 published articles and stories in 68 national magazines. For all of these high achievements we are proud to salute you. And we are happier still to note that with this third-of-century of accomplishment behind you, you are yet in your mid-fifties with another vigorous career ahead and perhaps a little more time for your fishing, for your gun, and your hoe. Above all, what we of the Class of 1961 prize most is the sincere interest you took in our education—so warmly, so personally, that we each feel free to call you Prof and close friend. We salute you from that special place in our heart where you will always be! THE CLASS OF 1961

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To M. G. Pattington, Principal Odessa-Montour Central School Odessa, New York Dear Pat: It is with heartfelt regret that we face the fact that you are retiring from our school system at the end of this school year. I doubt if there is a man in the whole of New York State who has all the requirements and ability to step into your shoes as principal of our Central School. We have' indeed been lucky to have been able to retain your services as long as we have. We cannot criticize you for retiring after thirty years of service, and in mid-life while you are still young, able and vigorous enough to try some other occupation, which you evidently desire to do. I am sure that each and every man on the Odessa-Montour Central School Board joins me in wishing you every success in what ever occupation you enter when you leave our school system. While I do not wish to be sentimental, I am sure your leaving will bring tears to the eyes of many, or at least a feeling that is akin to tears. - H. A. Hanlon, Board President To Mr. Pattington Too often our daily contacts blind us to the true impact a man has on our community. Only when he has turned the reins of leadership over to another do we realize that because he has ’’passed our way” we are better for having shared his presence. Meader G. Pattington has served us well, faithfully, honestly and unafraid. During his fourteen years of service to our schools we have seen growth, strength and widened horizons. May his retirement be happy and his leisure hours be filled with everything good for himself and his family. - Frederick Stanley Rundie A copy of a letter written by Dr. James Norton, a member of the Odessa-Montour Central School Board of Education. It is not often that a school district has the good fortune to obtain for supervising principal, a man who has all the qualities that we find in Mr. Pattington. His years of experience as a teacher, administrator, educator and student of public school education gave to the school district a degree of education for the students seldom attained in even much more urban schools. To the school boards charged with providing the education for these students, Mr. Pattington provided the administrative know-how and experience which helped the board to operate a school which is better than average scholastically, and less than average in cost to the taxpayer. In these times of sky rocketing costs and increased scholastic demands, such an accomplishment is high praise, indeed, for Mr. Pattington. The school district is losing a dedicated and devoted servant of rare abilities.