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

Page 9 text:

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.

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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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 Pat” The one who seems always to have the answers in regard to rules and laws of the State Department — a master in school finances----the pilot light for the Board in future planning-----has an unfailing memory of past actions of the Board------keeps us all happy and busy at meetings far into the night, but he can't keep his pipe lit. Very respectfully yours, Stewart J. Coats To Mr. It is with a keen sense of personal regret that I face the fact that you are about to leave the po t you have filled so ably as supervising principal of the Odessa-Montour Central School for the past fourteen years. During that time, enrollment has increased from 701 to 1,412, number of teachers from 35 to 72, and four school districts have been added. You have directed two building expansion programs, a modern broadening of the curriculum, and you have efficiently administered the annual school budget which has grown from $134,855.57 to $753,108.19. It has been my very real pleasure to have worked closely with you as a fellow superintendent, and since 1947 as principal. I want to compliment you upon your strong personal traits of determination, tact, and sense of fairness. I appreciate deeply your spirit of cooperation and your warm personal friendship, and I wish the best of everything to you in your new endeavors. Irving D. Goodrich Mr. Pattington: I am very pleased to have this opportunity of writing on this page of the ODES- SANEAN my sincere appreciation for all you have done to guide and supervise our school and students for the past fourteen years. To me it has been a high privilege to serve on the Board of Education and to see at first hand how capably and smoothly you have met the problems of our fast-growing school districts. I am proud of the fine teaching staff and educational facilities you have directed so effectively for the benefit of our young people and for all you have done to make our school such a fine civic and social center in our community. My warmest wishes for health and happiness in your well-earned retirement. George Hoffman 6