“Love your kids; teach them about God; take them to church; teach them to get an education; encourage them to do what’s right.” That is the message that retiring Winston County educator Gale Gregory leaves for residents of Winston County.
Gregory has spent his entire adult life helping to educate young people and has therefore been presented with the opportunity and responsibility to touch many hundreds of lives for good.
Gregory is very closely tied to the Nanih Waiya community stating that his great-great-grandfather homesteaded the land with Nanih Waiya Attendance Center in now located, a school where he was a student for 11 years and served as principal for 22 years. Gregory attended first grade at the old Calhoun School.
After high school he worked nights at US Motors in Philadelphia and attended school at Mississippi State University during the day. This was followed by eight years of teaching math at what is now Louisville Elementary School.
Gregory said that he never intended to become a principal, but his high school principal, Bill Rigdon, encouraged him to take school administration courses while working on his Master’s Degree.
After eight years of teaching he was contacted by the Louisville School District Superintendent, T.W. Saterfiel, who told Gregory that he needed a principal at Nanih Waiya; he remained in that position for 22 years.
He retired from the public school system on June 30, 2008 and went to work for the Choctaw Tribal school system on August 1; his retirement lasted for one month. The following eight years were spent in the Tribal schools at Bogue Chitto, Red Water, the Alternative School and finally Choctaw Central High School. And during this time, he completed the unfinished term of State Rep. Bobby Moody in the State Legislature, three-and-a-half years.
After opting for retirement again Gregory once more answered the call to service in educating the youth of this area. He received a job application from Grace Christian School for the position of headmaster. After a time of prayer and contemplation he took the position with his tenure lasting for the past 11 years; he will officially retire, again, on June 30. He added that it was interesting that his two longest tenured positions were jobs that he wasn’t even looking for.
Gregory stated during the years God had surrounded him with many good people who made him look good, and his job would have been impossible without them.
In dealing with young people there have been sorrows and heartbreaks, but many joyful moments as well; seeing kids who struggled with attitude problems who grew up to be very productive citizens; having former students who came to him later and mentioned something that had a very positive impact in their lives.
He added that the frightening thing about dealing with youth was wondering if you took advantage of every opportunity, or if you said or did something that might have sent them in the wrong direction.
Gregory and his wife of 55 years, Frances, still reside in the Ellison Ridge Community where they have lived for many years. He added that he looks forward to having much more time to spend with his grandchildren, and described retirement as ‘a re-direction of energy’ because he doesn’t believe in quitting.
