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  Do you remember Mr. Boley's advice to us for "Success?"

           This man was not yet 30, and just read

           what profoundly sage counsel he gave

           us in an open letter to SHS students, 

Like Peggy Taylor said to me recently in an e-mail correspondence, "Even now, I (and this goes for the rest of the class of '56, I'll bet) can't call him anything other than Mr. Boley."  This man had the respect of everybody in the class because of his integrity, charm, fairness and his orientation toward supporting students.

Do you remember that he was an assistant coach under Coach Wright the year he taught English (I think)?

His career was characterized by a rapid rise to the top.  He barely got to SHS when Mr. Ray Black moved to Birmingham Southern, leaving a vacancy in the principal's office.  Mr. Boley was tapped to fill this position which he held for the next 16 years.

When the opening came in the Sheffield City School's Superintendent of Education position, he naturally stepped up.  With the humility that characterizes this guy, he shared the following when I asked him what happened to the rest of his life after we graduated:

With the cooperative and supportive efforts of the Board of Education and the community, the following were accomplished and realized during my eighteen year tenure (1970-1988) as superintendent: 

1. Accreditation of all schools, grades K-12, by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1974, Sheffield became the fifth school system in Alabama to have all grades in all schools accredited by the Southern Association. 

2. Implementation of public school kindergarten 

3. Comprehensive program for students with special needs 

4. Development of the middle school concept and changed the grade grouping to place students in more compatible age and interest groups 

5. Provided professional growth opportunities for teachers by providing reimbursement of tuition and fees for graduate study ( 90% of the teachers held masters degrees) 

6. Included art, music, physical education, and guidance services in the elementary schools 

7. Average teacher salary was ranked number 2 in the state out of 129 school systems 

8. Provision of adequate textbooks, instructional materials and equipment and supplies for the classrooms 

9. Eliminated charging fees for any purpose 

10. Eliminated door-to-door fund raising by students 

11. Instituted multiple diplomas----certificate of achievement, diploma, and advanced academic diploma 

12. Maintained financial stability and integrity 

13. Comprehensive program of extra class activities 

14. Standardized test scores that placed students at or above national average 

In cooperation and conjunction with other area school systems, the following were accomplished: 

1. Alternative school for students with behavioral problems 

2. Environmental education center located at Bear Creek 

3. Area vocational centers 

4. Adult Basic Education 

5. Combined programs for staff development 

6. Computer systems for financial accounting, student attendance and grade reporting 

In August 1988, my wife Bobbie and I moved to Knoxville. In October 1988, I began employment in the Anderson News Corporate Office in Knoxville. Anderson News is the nation's largest wholesale distributor of periodicals and music products.  Anderson News has distribution centers located throughout the United States. . My responsibilities have included: 

1. Plan administrator for the Company's profit sharing 401 k plan 

2. Supervise construction of new facilities and renovation of existing facilities 

3. Coordinate national recycling program 

4. Coordinate national drug testing program 

5. Established and for 17 years have coordinated a summer reading program for children through the Boys and Girls Clubs of Knoxville 

6. As the Anderson Company expanded and acquired additional companies, I met with all new associates at their geographic locations to assist during transition periods

7. Conducted benefits information meetings for associates at all company locations

8. Coordinate the Company's charitable activities in the community

In addition, I have been actively involved with the Boys and Girls, Clubs, United Way, Knox Youth Sports, Education Foundation of East Tennessee, Project GRAD Knoxville. and Central Baptist Church.  Our son Bill, our daughter Beth and her husband Charlie Anderson, and our grandchildren Chase, Hayley, and Lauren all live in Knoxville. ( Chase is currently living and working in Hong Kong and Hayley is with Campus Crusade in East Asia,) 

Best wishes! Carl M. Boley

I could have predicted that this man would amount to something.  As I said in my little "Reflections on SHS" elsewhere on this website, I wanted to be just like Mr. Boley when I grew up. 

I have left personal information, such as his address, out of this biography to protect his privacy.  If you would like to contact him, send me an e-mail and I will forward your message to him so he may reply directly to you.

Mr. Boley

Images of a great educator

Click on the thumbnail to view a larger photo

Coaches Wright, Boley and Curry (1953 Demitasse)

Mr. Boley modeling his gray suit made of "Dacron, the magic material that holds creases" in a photo from The Tri-Cities Daily, circa 1954

The dedication page of the Demitasse our senior year, carrying my most treasured signature

Other photos of Mr. Boley from the 1956 yearbook

Mr Boley catching up on the news in Knoxville

Mr. Boley and wife, Bobbie

The whole Boley Clan

The Hi-Lites announcement of Mr. Boley's appointment as Principal, September 24, 1954

Times-Daily March 23, 1988 report of Mr. Boley's retirement on June 30, 1988

If you have any snapshots of Mr. Boley at high school events, please share them with us!

Harold Fell

I first met Mr. Boley during my freshman year, when he was a student teacher.  Next year, I had him for English.  I never saw him when he didn't have the complete attention of every student.  Most students seem to like to try our new teachers, but something about Mr. Boley, perhaps his personality, his way of teaching, or his well planned lessons, seemed to avert this entirely.

Bette Anderson Pickin

Dear Mr. Boley,

What do I say? It's hard to begin since there are so many fond memories of you as a teacher, principal and friend. I'm sure I speak for the class, too. One of the funny incidents I remember happened in English class that could have been a life-threatening embarrassment to me (or at least that was my way of thinking back then). However, the embarrassment was avoided due to your sensitivity and ability to make us laugh at ourselves.

We had been giving some kind of speeches for several days. Who knows what they were about! Evidently, the assignment was to help us with public speaking and not necessarily about content. After everyone had their turn, you proceeded to tell us all the things we had done while standing in front of the class. Oh, my! How we laughed as you demonstrated our behavior. Some never looked at the class but out the window instead. Boys kept their hands in their pockets and rattled change. Some added the famous "You know" after each sentence. Well, you had a long list and we all howled. And, then, to conclude, you told of one person who stood up there and took off a shoe and kept feeling around for it with the shoeless foot.

By this time, we were all really having a good time and everyone wanted to know who it was. No, you were not going to tell, but we kept on until you added that the person probably was completely unaware of taking a shoe off. Finally, after we would not let up, you disclosed who. Guess what? Until you said my name, I honestly had no idea and to this day I can't help wondering if I was the brunt of a joke. Nah! Now, I have never conquered my dislike for speaking in front of a group but for sure, I have never taken off a shoe again while doing so.

You taught us well, Mr. Boley. You taught us good, Mr. Boley. (I don't think I ever learned this grammar rule.) Both apply as they express my sentiments!

                                                                                                           Bette Anderson Pickin

Buck Locke

Mr. Carl Boley – Plea of Poverty

I was reminded of this when I read on the webpage in our Freshman Handbook that we had 25 minutes for lunch.  My home was about two blocks from the high school.   I liked to run and enjoyed the fresh air so I could be home in under a minute.

In those days, most moms stayed at home so I could have my lunch ready on the table when I arrived.  23 minutes was plenty of time for me to eat a fresh home cooked meal.  I was sorry for those who lived far away and couldn’t get home for lunch.

Ah, but getting back to school for class was a different story.  The distance to school expanded after eating to where it took between 15 and 30 minutes after lunch for my reluctant feet to get me back to school!  Soon the issue was brought to Mr. Boley’s attention and he called me to the principal’s office. 

He wanted to know why I was late getting to class after lunch.  I explained that I went home for lunch and he pressed me about it.  I decided to be a little creative about the need to go home for lunch and told him I could not afford to eat in the cafeteria.  Big mistake as he then told me about the federal and state programs to aid folks who did not have enough money for a school lunch.  He had the papers for me to take home for my parent’s signature to get that aid. At that time it dawned on me the amount of trouble I would be in with my parents if I took a paper home for them to sign that they could not afford my lunch! 

Caught between a rock and a hard place.  Wow!  I promised Mr. Boley that the next time I was late, I would take the papers home.  Needless to say I was not late to class again. 

Eleanor Morrison Herron