Pat Conroy in his high school years in Beaufort: A tribute
Pat Conroy — 1945-2016
Beaufort's prince, Pat Conroy, rests at home ☙ Pat Conroy’s last days ☙ State of Surprise: Pat Conroy’s love letter to South Carolina ☙ Pat Conroy literary festival dates set ☙ Pat Conroy in his high school years in Beaufort: A tribute from principal Bill Dufford ☙ In his honor, Conroy’s ‘losing season’ teammates revisit the moment at The Citadel ☙ Cartoonist Robert Ariail's tribute to Conroy ☙ Pat Conroy mourned by dignitaries, cadets and friends with ‘personal grief’ ☙ Ervena Faulkner: A meal to mourn Pat Conroy ☙ SC lawmakers honor Conroy following funeral ☙ Kathleen Parker: Conroy’s writing made him the sexiest man alive ☙ Lauderdale: I could hear an ‘amen’ at Pat Conroy’s funeral ☙ Why graduates of The Citadel, class of 2001, united to attend Conroy funeral ☙ Hundreds pay respects to Pat Conroy, family in Beaufort ☙ How 10 minutes with Pat Conroy changed my life ☙ Lauderdale: Pat Conroy expects all the shrimp in Beaufort to be pickled for his funeral (+recipe!) ☙ Op-ed: 'Let something legendary' come from Pat Conroy ☙ Keyserling: Pat Conroy bonded with other 'orphans' who landed in Beaufort ☙ Real people inspired characters in Conroy's books ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ How Pat Conroy made Beaufort a destination ☙ Pat Conroy on the silver screen ☙ Model for 'Prince of Tides' tiger lived in Columbia ☙ Photos: Pat Conroy and Beaufort ☙ Books written by Pat Conroy ☙ Quotes from Pat Conroy's works
Stories from Conroy's friends and admirers: Conroy's closest friends: Grateful now for last year's celebration of author's life ☙ Close encounters with Pat Conroy ☙ Lowcountry remembers Pat Conroy ☙ Sallie Ann Robinson recalls press tour with Pat Conroy ☙ Great Santini tells principal 'my son (Pat Conroy) will not be a secretary' ☙ Retired book seller: Decades after Daufuskie, Pat Conroy 'knew every (student's) name' ☙ Conroy book buffs: When you read his books, 'you are there'
The passing of Pat Conroy was a very sad day for the human race. It was a particularly great loss for those of us who knew him personally.
When Pat came into Beaufort in 1960 as a fragile, insecure 15-year-old, it was obvious here was an energetic, bright kid with big, sparkling blue eyes, round Irish face, and jaunty gate.
He could not have landed in a more accepting, warm, and embracing place. This was particularly true of his first public school experience after years of rigid schooling.
At Beaufort High School, where I was the principal at the time, he found a student body vastly different from his previous schools.
In the 1960s, the makeup of our student body was 20 to 30 percent military “dependents,” but the majority were children of civilians. There were children of generals, corporals, fishermen, mechanics, fighter pilots, pastors, and merchants. But when these kids walked through the doors of Beaufort High, they were a team that worked to better their school and they fully supported one another.
Each one of those kids embraced and supported one another. Pat found himself a part of this warm and accepting student group. In fact, after one year at Beaufort High, he was elected president of the senior class.
Equally important to making Pat and every student feel worthy and indeed important was an outstanding group of teachers and staff.
Pat, and every other student, could walk down the Social Studies wing of the school and find Grace Dennis or Marty Moseley; down the English wing and find Gene Norris or Millen Ellis; down the Science wing and find Walt Gnann or Dutchin Harden or Katherine Kroeg; and the north wing or Guidance Department to find Cile Gray. The one place Pat could find quiet reflection was the school libary with Eileen Hunter.
To a person, the team members were truly honorable people.
The combination of great students and great teachers, and the best school secretary — Norma Duncan — helped Pat land in what he must have found to be the place he needed to be for that period of his life. At least, he had 10 hours a day for five days every week at peace.
It is difficult to find words to describe the real Beaufort High School of the early ’60s. No one who was a part of those days will deny the great feeling of those years.
And I know that our best known former student of those years — Pat Conroy — would be the one who confirms the great landing and anchor place for his formative years of 1960-62.
May Pat rest in peace.
Dr. William E. “Bill” Dufford of Columbia is a retired educator whose career was honored in 2014 with a Governor’s Award in the Humanities.
This story was originally published March 21, 2016 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Pat Conroy in his high school years in Beaufort: A tribute."