Story #3
Henry Stacy McCoy
When you think of those who have made a vital contribution to the educational system in Peebles as well as Adams County over the past century, one name is usually placed at the top of the list: Henry Stacy McCoy. He officially retired August 1, 1976 after 51 years as a teacher, coach, principal, school superintendent, and associate county school superintendent.
He was born on a farm near Locust Grove, the first of the four children of James and Nora McCoy. He attended elementary and high school at the Franklin Township (Locust Grove) School and was in the first class to graduate from high school there after it had become a four year program. He was one of four graduates. Earlier, students would attend school in Locust Grove for three years then graduate after completing their senior year at Peebles High School.
After graduation, Stacy attended Wilmington College for one year, long enough at the time to become a teacher. He eventually earned a degree from Wilmington in 1930 by attending summer school and taking extension and correspondence classes.
His career began at a one-room school at Jaybird, teaching all eight grades for one year. He then transferred to Locust Grove, teaching grades seven and eight for four years, then taught high school math and science for two years and coached basketball and baseball. He had applied for the Franklin School Superintendent position, but was passed over for the job. He was, however, hired for three years to teach math and government at West Union High School and to be an assistant coach for the sports department and coach for the girls basketball team.
The next move for Stacy and his family was to the Decatur area in Brown County. He was selected to be the school's principal as well as a math and physical education teacher and the girls' basketball coach. He had been a member of the staff for six years when the school board decided not to renew his contract for the upcoming 1941-42 school term. A newspaper reported between 40 and 50 students of the 70 enrolled in the upper grades went on strike and staged a walk-out in protest of the Byrd Township's School Board's decision. That was the beginning of the relationship between The Peebles Local School District and H. S. McCoy.
Stacy began at Peebles as a high school teacher and coach under the guidance of school superintendent Alva Secrist. He then took over the administrative position when Secrist left to become County Superintendent in 1944. McCoy served at Peebles until 1970, when the county schools consolidated into a single district. He was tapped to join the administrative body at the central office as an associate superintendent and was placed in charge of procedures, certified personnel and records.
Over his lifetime, Stacy practiced and enjoyed a variety of interests and skills. His civic commitments included the Boy Scouts where he organized and lead a local troop and served on a number of scout committees. He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Peebles Lions Club, the National Education Association and the Peebles United Methodist Church.
He had a variety of summer jobs to supplement his income, including working at the Army Depot in Columbus during World War II and at the Atomic Plant at Piketon as a carpenter. He also used his skills learned as a young lad on the farm in raising a garden and growing fruit trees.
His main interests were Zelta, his wife since 1931, and their two daughters, Patricia and Peggy, and several grand and great-grandchildren. Stacey died in 1994, Zelta in 2008. They are buried side by side in the Locust Grove Cemetery.
