September recognized as Paul Campbell Perfect Attendance Month at Calhoun City Schools
Paul.
Mr. Paul served, by his count, more than a dozen principals since going to work in 1956 at Calhoun Junior High ( now the site of Calhoun Middle) two years after his own graduation from Stephens High, where he was one of 10 seniors enrolled in a high school with only four classrooms.
Mr. Paul reported no sad days during his 56 years, saying he had reported for work as custodian, Mr. Fixit, clean- up man and a myriad of other duties always on time and ready to go except for period in 1982 when he had to have leg surgery.
He worked with a philosophy of arrive early and stay late. Students and their moods and fashions changed, but their attitude toward him, and his toward them, never did. A happy demeanor was shared on both sides, and he always received positive feedback as proof.
He could, when prompted, recall other students’ names and he could rapidly tick off names of principals for whom he served – Meadows, Strain, O’Connor, Baxter, Neal, et al . . . and Dr. Michele Taylor, his former principal and now City Schools superintendent.
“Mr. Paul touched the lives of so many students and staff members during his tenure,” said Taylor. “I remember his helpfulness even when I was a student at Calhoun Junior High. Calhoun City Schools was blessed to have such a dedicated leader and role model. His work ethic and positive attitude were attributes that we hope to instill in all our students and staff. We miss Mr. Paul tremendously.”
On Sept. 30, Mr. Paul would have celebrated his 82nd birthday, a day that was set aside in special celebration as recommended by Johnny Meadows some several years ago. The system continues to celebrate Mr. Paul’s birthday in Calhoun City Schools every year and encourage students to strive to meet his example of good attendance and strong work ethic.