The Contest

Samantha and Paula Grisham in front of the Cabool School in the early 1950’s. Paula is now LeRoy’s wife. 

Photo contributed by

  
Katie Grisham  

Written by 
LeRoy Walls 
CEO 

I attended 12 years of school in Cabool’s school system. Our elementary school principal, Mr. Neil Neff, was one of Missouri’s finest educators. I’m sure that my education and the education of many other rural kids benefited from his refined, forward thinking concepts.

One day Mr. Neff surprised a couple of sixth grade boys, in the midst of a contest, in the boys’ rest room. He proceeded to use his position and impressive oratory skills to shame the boys into avoiding such elementary boy things in the future. He called it a sad day and assured the boys that they were not only tarnishing the school, but also their fine family names.

The boys were literally drained by all this but their faces showed enough honest remorse to reward Mr. Neff’s impressive effort and so he finally let them return to their class. But despite Mr. Neff’s surprise and his scolding it had still been a high-water mark for Charley and me.

Mr. Neff is now gone from this earth but I’ve always hoped that Cabool’s backwoods kids broadened this wise man’s experiences in some small way. I know that some of us reached new heights during his tenure. 

12/12/2000 10:36:16 AM