Beloved educator honored

By Mike Ford, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Wednesday, May 2, 2007 (1 year ago)
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SPENCERVILLE— Retirement can be a challenge for many people. Finding activities to keep one busy can be a difficult task but not for one former elementary school principal. The activities he has chosen have led to his being honored as this village’s Citizen of the Year for 2007.
The Spencerville Chamber of Commerce awarded Don McClintock Monday night with a dinner and roast at the Spencerville American Legion. Approximately 300 persons attended.
“He was an educator and principal for 36 years and he is being recognized for lots of things he does in the community and for individuals. He’s very active in his church, Trinity United Methodist. He has taught Sunday School for 35 years; he’s an avid advocate of mission projects and does all kinds of things for individuals very quietly without letting anyone know he’s doing it,” said chamber President Doris Proctor.
McClintock grew up in Point Pleasant, W. Va., and got his bachelor degree from Rio Grand College before earning his master’s degree in education from Wright State University.
He taught science in Tipp City for eight years before coming to Spencerville in 1968. He taught for another two years before becoming the district’s first junior high principal. He then spent 25 years as an elementary principal.
“I spent a total of 36 years in public education. I started in Tipp City in 1960 at the age of 20. I was there for eight years as the eighth-grade science teacher, then I came to Spencerville in 1968. I was a teacher for two years and was principal for 26 years; I was the first junior high principal they had and then for 25 years I was the elementary K-3 principal and the fourth- and fifth- grades principal at Jennings Elementary. They were wonderful years. I enjoyed them very much and I enjoy the community,” he said.
McClintock retired from education in 1996 but had some business ventures on the side. In 1978, he took over a television antenna and satellite dish business that he operated for 25 years. He and his wife now operate a business which sells the products needed for funeral homes to convert their vans to “first call cars.” He also now spends half the year in Florida as a “snow bird.”
At Trinity United Methodist he has taught Sunday School and more.
“I have taught the Sunday School adult class for more than 35 years. I’m chairman of missions — we support all the United Methodist missions in the conference; we support a mission on the border of Texas and Mexico and one down near Mexico City for natives,” he said.
McClintock explains how the group got involved in monetary support.
“There was a lady from over here near Buckland who married a fellow from Mexico and they bought a dwelling down there that was falling apart; it had collapsed walls and they slowly built it back. Then, they started working with the natives to teach them skills. They make pottery and things like that to support themselves that way. Now, it has many rooms and a lot of people live and work there,” he said.
Aside from acts of goodwill which are associated with any organization, McClintock also helps individuals in the community who are elderly and in need of assistance.
“I have individuals who have to go to the doctor or the Veterans Administration or go get medications in Lima. One fellow’s wife just had a stroke and he can’t drive any more, so I help them a lot,” he said.
McClintock says he got involved so much because he felt a void about six months after he retired from education.
“I thought something didn’t feel right in my life. As a principal, you have the opportunity — if people will let you — to help people. If a family is having difficulties or a child is having difficulties and you can work together, you get a sense of accomplishment that I missed after I left. I realized what was missing was that I wasn’t in the position to help people any more, so I just kind of let myself do that,” he said.
As McClintock looks back, he recalls always being around winners but never experiencing the challenges he faced while coaching basketball for just three years. Though Bearcat basketball is successful now, there was a time when it struggled.
“When I came here in ‘68, Spencerville had had a series of about 25 losing seasons and one of the local television repair guys always used to tease me and said ‘you’re the coach with the record to prove you can’t coach,’” he joked.

1 Reader Response to “Beloved educator honored”

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  1. #1 — Added 1 year ago

    Dear Don & Nancy,
    So glad you are keeping active and congratulations. Only wish Jim & I knew about it & could have been there to share it with you. Keep up the great job, tell Nancy we said hi.

    In friendship,
    Cyndi & Jim McCain
    444 E. Main St.
    Marcellus, Mi 49067

    Posted on May 10, 2007 at 7:01 am by Cyndi McCain