The Chattanoogan
July 13, 2001
Dr. Spencer McCallie Jr. Dies At Age 92
Dr. Spencer Jarnagin McCallie Jr., known as "Dr. Spence" to thousands of McCallie School faculty, alumni, parents and students died Friday morning.
The headmaster of McCallie School from 1949 to 1974 was 92 years old.
He was born in Founders Home on the campus of McCallie on February 27, 1909 and raised on the campus. He was the son of Alice Fletcher McCallie and Spencer J. McCallie Sr., who in 1905 founded the school with his brother, Dr. Park McCallie.
As a student at McCallie, he was the manager of the varsity football team, junior class secretary, and senior class historian. Upon graduation from McCallie in 1928, he attended Davidson College for two years and then enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1932. He then returned to McCallie where he taught mathematics, history, and Bible. He took brief periods off from his teaching duties to receive a master's degree from Duke University, and later received an honorary doctorate degree from Presbyterian College.
In 1949, Dr. McCallie was named by the school's governing board as one of three "co-headmasters," along with his cousin, Dr. Robert McCallie, and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Pressly. In 1952 Dr. Pressly left McCallie to become founding president of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. After the death of Robert McCallie in 1965, Dr. McCallie became sole headmaster.
With his wife, Beckie, at his side, Dr. McCallie successfully led the school through some of its most productive – and most challenging years. He was proud of the fact that during his tenure McCallie successfully welcomed its first African-American students.
He spearheaded the school's successful capital campaign that saw construction in the mid-1970s of the Maclellan Academic Center, and the Hunter Arts Center, as well as renovation and expansion of dormitories and other buildings. In addition, he guided the faculty and students through the cultural changes of the 1960s – changes that saw the demise of a number of independent secondary schools in the Southeast.
In reflecting on his tenure as headmaster of McCallie, prominent Chattanooga attorney William Spears said, "Spencer McCallie Jr., in succeeding two of the strongest educators that the State of Tennessee has ever produced (Park and Spencer McCallie), had a very difficult job. There is a tendency when you follow strong men to either over-react or to let go and slide; Spencer has done neither. He has had the wisdom and capacity to set his own course, to hold to that which was best in the tradition he inherited, and to move forward with his own ideas."
Mr. Spears further said that "no industrialist and no millionaire has had the impact on Chattanooga that Park McCallie, Spencer McCallie, and Spencer McCallie Jr. have had."
Whether remembered as a classroom teacher or as headmaster, the two traits that are referred to most often by alumni are Dr. McCallie's firmness and his sense of humor. And it was a masterful balance of the two that led to his success. "He was firm about what he expected of us and at the same time demonstrated a personal, friendly interest in each student," said one former student.
A fellow headmaster called him "a headmaster's headmaster," and indeed he took a leadership role among schools. He was the first Southerner to be president of the national Headmaster's Association, and was also president of the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In 1974, upon his retirement, one alumnus wrote to Dr. McCallie, "How does one instill in a boy what will later manifest itself as the ability to look the world and men in the eye, and the equally strong inability to look down and turn away? I don't know how you brought all the right elements together, or, more importantly, maintained them through all these years, but I appreciate the monumental effort it took to do so."
Even though he retired in 1974, Dr. McCallie remained active with the school. He continued as a member of the Board of Trustees until 1990, and in 1974 was named as the school's Distinguished Alumnus for the year, the highest honor given by the school.
Dr. McCallie and Beckie were longtime members of Central Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and later was named elder emeritus. He also taught the Spencer McCallie Sunday School Class for 55 years until 1992. He said of that experience, "whoever teaches has the greatest blessing from it . . . I grew as I taught."
He was a longtime member of the Chattanooga Kiwanis Club, and in 1984 received that organization's Distinguished Service Award. He also served on the boards of the Salvation Army and Calstad Homes.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, he leaves four children, Spencer McCallie III of Chattanooga, who succeeded his father as Headmaster of McCallie, Franklin McCallie, of Kirkwood, Missouri, Ambassador Marshall McCallie of Carlisle, Pennsylvania., and Helen McCallie, of Gray Summit, Missouri, and seven grandchildren.
July 13, 2001
Dr. Spencer McCallie Jr. Dies At Age 92
Dr. Spencer Jarnagin McCallie Jr., known as "Dr. Spence" to thousands of McCallie School faculty, alumni, parents and students died Friday morning.
The headmaster of McCallie School from 1949 to 1974 was 92 years old.
He was born in Founders Home on the campus of McCallie on February 27, 1909 and raised on the campus. He was the son of Alice Fletcher McCallie and Spencer J. McCallie Sr., who in 1905 founded the school with his brother, Dr. Park McCallie.
As a student at McCallie, he was the manager of the varsity football team, junior class secretary, and senior class historian. Upon graduation from McCallie in 1928, he attended Davidson College for two years and then enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1932. He then returned to McCallie where he taught mathematics, history, and Bible. He took brief periods off from his teaching duties to receive a master's degree from Duke University, and later received an honorary doctorate degree from Presbyterian College.
In 1949, Dr. McCallie was named by the school's governing board as one of three "co-headmasters," along with his cousin, Dr. Robert McCallie, and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Pressly. In 1952 Dr. Pressly left McCallie to become founding president of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. After the death of Robert McCallie in 1965, Dr. McCallie became sole headmaster.
With his wife, Beckie, at his side, Dr. McCallie successfully led the school through some of its most productive – and most challenging years. He was proud of the fact that during his tenure McCallie successfully welcomed its first African-American students.
He spearheaded the school's successful capital campaign that saw construction in the mid-1970s of the Maclellan Academic Center, and the Hunter Arts Center, as well as renovation and expansion of dormitories and other buildings. In addition, he guided the faculty and students through the cultural changes of the 1960s – changes that saw the demise of a number of independent secondary schools in the Southeast.
In reflecting on his tenure as headmaster of McCallie, prominent Chattanooga attorney William Spears said, "Spencer McCallie Jr., in succeeding two of the strongest educators that the State of Tennessee has ever produced (Park and Spencer McCallie), had a very difficult job. There is a tendency when you follow strong men to either over-react or to let go and slide; Spencer has done neither. He has had the wisdom and capacity to set his own course, to hold to that which was best in the tradition he inherited, and to move forward with his own ideas."
Mr. Spears further said that "no industrialist and no millionaire has had the impact on Chattanooga that Park McCallie, Spencer McCallie, and Spencer McCallie Jr. have had."
Whether remembered as a classroom teacher or as headmaster, the two traits that are referred to most often by alumni are Dr. McCallie's firmness and his sense of humor. And it was a masterful balance of the two that led to his success. "He was firm about what he expected of us and at the same time demonstrated a personal, friendly interest in each student," said one former student.
A fellow headmaster called him "a headmaster's headmaster," and indeed he took a leadership role among schools. He was the first Southerner to be president of the national Headmaster's Association, and was also president of the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In 1974, upon his retirement, one alumnus wrote to Dr. McCallie, "How does one instill in a boy what will later manifest itself as the ability to look the world and men in the eye, and the equally strong inability to look down and turn away? I don't know how you brought all the right elements together, or, more importantly, maintained them through all these years, but I appreciate the monumental effort it took to do so."
Even though he retired in 1974, Dr. McCallie remained active with the school. He continued as a member of the Board of Trustees until 1990, and in 1974 was named as the school's Distinguished Alumnus for the year, the highest honor given by the school.
Dr. McCallie and Beckie were longtime members of Central Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and later was named elder emeritus. He also taught the Spencer McCallie Sunday School Class for 55 years until 1992. He said of that experience, "whoever teaches has the greatest blessing from it . . . I grew as I taught."
He was a longtime member of the Chattanooga Kiwanis Club, and in 1984 received that organization's Distinguished Service Award. He also served on the boards of the Salvation Army and Calstad Homes.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, he leaves four children, Spencer McCallie III of Chattanooga, who succeeded his father as Headmaster of McCallie, Franklin McCallie, of Kirkwood, Missouri, Ambassador Marshall McCallie of Carlisle, Pennsylvania., and Helen McCallie, of Gray Summit, Missouri, and seven grandchildren.
The Chattanoogan
July 13, 2001
Dr. Spencer McCallie Jr. Dies At Age 92
Dr. Spencer Jarnagin McCallie Jr., known as "Dr. Spence" to thousands of McCallie School faculty, alumni, parents and students died Friday morning.
The headmaster of McCallie School from 1949 to 1974 was 92 years old.
He was born in Founders Home on the campus of McCallie on February 27, 1909 and raised on the campus. He was the son of Alice Fletcher McCallie and Spencer J. McCallie Sr., who in 1905 founded the school with his brother, Dr. Park McCallie.
As a student at McCallie, he was the manager of the varsity football team, junior class secretary, and senior class historian. Upon graduation from McCallie in 1928, he attended Davidson College for two years and then enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1932. He then returned to McCallie where he taught mathematics, history, and Bible. He took brief periods off from his teaching duties to receive a master's degree from Duke University, and later received an honorary doctorate degree from Presbyterian College.
In 1949, Dr. McCallie was named by the school's governing board as one of three "co-headmasters," along with his cousin, Dr. Robert McCallie, and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Pressly. In 1952 Dr. Pressly left McCallie to become founding president of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. After the death of Robert McCallie in 1965, Dr. McCallie became sole headmaster.
With his wife, Beckie, at his side, Dr. McCallie successfully led the school through some of its most productive – and most challenging years. He was proud of the fact that during his tenure McCallie successfully welcomed its first African-American students.
He spearheaded the school's successful capital campaign that saw construction in the mid-1970s of the Maclellan Academic Center, and the Hunter Arts Center, as well as renovation and expansion of dormitories and other buildings. In addition, he guided the faculty and students through the cultural changes of the 1960s – changes that saw the demise of a number of independent secondary schools in the Southeast.
In reflecting on his tenure as headmaster of McCallie, prominent Chattanooga attorney William Spears said, "Spencer McCallie Jr., in succeeding two of the strongest educators that the State of Tennessee has ever produced (Park and Spencer McCallie), had a very difficult job. There is a tendency when you follow strong men to either over-react or to let go and slide; Spencer has done neither. He has had the wisdom and capacity to set his own course, to hold to that which was best in the tradition he inherited, and to move forward with his own ideas."
Mr. Spears further said that "no industrialist and no millionaire has had the impact on Chattanooga that Park McCallie, Spencer McCallie, and Spencer McCallie Jr. have had."
Whether remembered as a classroom teacher or as headmaster, the two traits that are referred to most often by alumni are Dr. McCallie's firmness and his sense of humor. And it was a masterful balance of the two that led to his success. "He was firm about what he expected of us and at the same time demonstrated a personal, friendly interest in each student," said one former student.
A fellow headmaster called him "a headmaster's headmaster," and indeed he took a leadership role among schools. He was the first Southerner to be president of the national Headmaster's Association, and was also president of the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In 1974, upon his retirement, one alumnus wrote to Dr. McCallie, "How does one instill in a boy what will later manifest itself as the ability to look the world and men in the eye, and the equally strong inability to look down and turn away? I don't know how you brought all the right elements together, or, more importantly, maintained them through all these years, but I appreciate the monumental effort it took to do so."
Even though he retired in 1974, Dr. McCallie remained active with the school. He continued as a member of the Board of Trustees until 1990, and in 1974 was named as the school's Distinguished Alumnus for the year, the highest honor given by the school.
Dr. McCallie and Beckie were longtime members of Central Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and later was named elder emeritus. He also taught the Spencer McCallie Sunday School Class for 55 years until 1992. He said of that experience, "whoever teaches has the greatest blessing from it . . . I grew as I taught."
He was a longtime member of the Chattanooga Kiwanis Club, and in 1984 received that organization's Distinguished Service Award. He also served on the boards of the Salvation Army and Calstad Homes.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, he leaves four children, Spencer McCallie III of Chattanooga, who succeeded his father as Headmaster of McCallie, Franklin McCallie, of Kirkwood, Missouri, Ambassador Marshall McCallie of Carlisle, Pennsylvania., and Helen McCallie, of Gray Summit, Missouri, and seven grandchildren.
July 13, 2001
Dr. Spencer McCallie Jr. Dies At Age 92
Dr. Spencer Jarnagin McCallie Jr., known as "Dr. Spence" to thousands of McCallie School faculty, alumni, parents and students died Friday morning.
The headmaster of McCallie School from 1949 to 1974 was 92 years old.
He was born in Founders Home on the campus of McCallie on February 27, 1909 and raised on the campus. He was the son of Alice Fletcher McCallie and Spencer J. McCallie Sr., who in 1905 founded the school with his brother, Dr. Park McCallie.
As a student at McCallie, he was the manager of the varsity football team, junior class secretary, and senior class historian. Upon graduation from McCallie in 1928, he attended Davidson College for two years and then enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he graduated in 1932. He then returned to McCallie where he taught mathematics, history, and Bible. He took brief periods off from his teaching duties to receive a master's degree from Duke University, and later received an honorary doctorate degree from Presbyterian College.
In 1949, Dr. McCallie was named by the school's governing board as one of three "co-headmasters," along with his cousin, Dr. Robert McCallie, and his brother-in-law, Dr. William Pressly. In 1952 Dr. Pressly left McCallie to become founding president of the Westminster Schools in Atlanta. After the death of Robert McCallie in 1965, Dr. McCallie became sole headmaster.
With his wife, Beckie, at his side, Dr. McCallie successfully led the school through some of its most productive – and most challenging years. He was proud of the fact that during his tenure McCallie successfully welcomed its first African-American students.
He spearheaded the school's successful capital campaign that saw construction in the mid-1970s of the Maclellan Academic Center, and the Hunter Arts Center, as well as renovation and expansion of dormitories and other buildings. In addition, he guided the faculty and students through the cultural changes of the 1960s – changes that saw the demise of a number of independent secondary schools in the Southeast.
In reflecting on his tenure as headmaster of McCallie, prominent Chattanooga attorney William Spears said, "Spencer McCallie Jr., in succeeding two of the strongest educators that the State of Tennessee has ever produced (Park and Spencer McCallie), had a very difficult job. There is a tendency when you follow strong men to either over-react or to let go and slide; Spencer has done neither. He has had the wisdom and capacity to set his own course, to hold to that which was best in the tradition he inherited, and to move forward with his own ideas."
Mr. Spears further said that "no industrialist and no millionaire has had the impact on Chattanooga that Park McCallie, Spencer McCallie, and Spencer McCallie Jr. have had."
Whether remembered as a classroom teacher or as headmaster, the two traits that are referred to most often by alumni are Dr. McCallie's firmness and his sense of humor. And it was a masterful balance of the two that led to his success. "He was firm about what he expected of us and at the same time demonstrated a personal, friendly interest in each student," said one former student.
A fellow headmaster called him "a headmaster's headmaster," and indeed he took a leadership role among schools. He was the first Southerner to be president of the national Headmaster's Association, and was also president of the Mid-South Association of Independent Schools, and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
In 1974, upon his retirement, one alumnus wrote to Dr. McCallie, "How does one instill in a boy what will later manifest itself as the ability to look the world and men in the eye, and the equally strong inability to look down and turn away? I don't know how you brought all the right elements together, or, more importantly, maintained them through all these years, but I appreciate the monumental effort it took to do so."
Even though he retired in 1974, Dr. McCallie remained active with the school. He continued as a member of the Board of Trustees until 1990, and in 1974 was named as the school's Distinguished Alumnus for the year, the highest honor given by the school.
Dr. McCallie and Beckie were longtime members of Central Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder and later was named elder emeritus. He also taught the Spencer McCallie Sunday School Class for 55 years until 1992. He said of that experience, "whoever teaches has the greatest blessing from it . . . I grew as I taught."
He was a longtime member of the Chattanooga Kiwanis Club, and in 1984 received that organization's Distinguished Service Award. He also served on the boards of the Salvation Army and Calstad Homes.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, he leaves four children, Spencer McCallie III of Chattanooga, who succeeded his father as Headmaster of McCallie, Franklin McCallie, of Kirkwood, Missouri, Ambassador Marshall McCallie of Carlisle, Pennsylvania., and Helen McCallie, of Gray Summit, Missouri, and seven grandchildren.
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