Henely, Eugene 1867-1928

HENELY

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes
Date: 10/8/2017 at 14:10:08

The Grinnell (IA) Herald
Sept. 14, 1928

SUPERINTENDENT HENELY'S WORK
OF 23 YEARS IS ENDED
-----------------------
Served Grinnell Longer Than Any Superintend-
ent of Schools.
-----------------------

The funeral of Superintendent Henely held in the church Thursday afternoon was attended not only by teachers and pupils and friends but by a large circle of educational workers in places distant from Grinnell. Prof. G.L. Pierce presided at the organ and there were two songs by a quartet composed of D.E. Peck, H.C. Rice, Cecil Myers and Fred Morrison. The sermon by Rev. George Blagg was from the text "And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?"

In a touching and complete way the speaker outlined the activities and the useful deeds of the man whose life had gone out from among us. He spoke of him as a Christian gentleman who loved youth and who sought to bring up the young to lives of usefulness because he loved humanity as well as he loved them. The young are made for society and he realized that only the best teaching could lead them into lives of usefulness.

The discourse was in all ways a kindly reference to a great man who had given more than his strength to the work which he had undertaken. He referred to the loyalty of pupils, to the support of teachers, and to the endorsements of his work and his character without reservation by the entire community. He had built monuments in Grinnell. The real monuments are the characters of the young people who grew up under his instruction, but as a monument which may last through all the years to come he referred to the Henely Gymnasium, given this name by a group of pupiols who wished in the way to commemorate in later years the name of the man who had served the town and the school with unremitting zeal.

It would be impossible to speak of all the kind things said by Mr. Blagg. He stated at the beginning that he was only going to echo the thoughts that were in the minds of all at this time. His references were from a generous loving heart, who believed in the man whose life of service he was commemorating.

The decorations at the church were most wonderful. Mr. and Mrs. Henely have been workers in so many activities that it seemed as if the whole town came together to show especial honor and esteem in its profusion of franrant decorations.

The service at the grave was conducted by the Masons with Mr. Gannaway in charge. A large company of Masons were present and joined in the fitting memorial service.

Bearers were perhaps the three public school men of Iowa to whom Mr. Henely has been has been nearest in the last dozen years and with whom he has been serving on the state high school board of athletic control. They were C.E. Humphrey of Denison, now superintendent of the Grinnell schools, George Edward Marshall, principal of the Davenport High School and George A. Brown, Secretary of the Athletic Board. Grinnell friends serving as bearers were R.G. Coutts, teacher of the Sunday School class in the Methodist church which Mr. Henely attended, F.P. Marvin for many years his friend and co-worker as president of the School Board and W.G. Ray, Secretary of the Board.

The P.E.O.'s and other organizations to which Mrs. Henely belonged were present to add their testimony and express their sympathy to their friend the wife of the deceased man.

Mr. Henely was identified with several of the active clubs in Grinnell. Since coming to Grinnell he had been a member of the Fortnightly club; he was one of the charter members of the Knights club and its first secretary; he was an active Mason and Knights of Pythias. In all places he was more than welcome and his voice and his suggestions were heard with interest and with approval. The business houses in Grinnell were closed at 2:30 on account of the funeral to give the business men an opportunity to attend, for every one was a personal friend, and to show in every way possible their regard for him.

Among out of town school men who were present were Supt. James Small and Principal George Edward Marshall of Davenport; James Rae, Principal of the Mason City High School; Supt. B.C. Berg and Prin. Lynn of Newton; Supt. T.M. Clevenger of Waverly; Supt. Kline of Waterloo; and Principal A. Miller of the East Side, Waterloo High School; Supt. Mahannah of Cedar Falls; W.I. Griffith, former principal of the high school here, but now connected with the state college at Ames; M.G. Davis, superintendent of the Ames schools and George A. Brown, secretary of the state high school athletic associations.

There were doubtless many others whose names we did not get but these were enough to show the high esteem in which Mr. Henely is held throughout the entire state.

The impress which Mr. Henely has made upon this town will last many a long year and when the last kind word has been said all will remember him as a man among men, a boy among boys, a whole-hearted leader without a fault because his heart was always in the right place.