Taylor Pardue
Retiring Elkin Elementary Principal Tom Caton
Taylor Pardue
Retiring JROTC Col. William “Bill” McGrew
Taylor Pardue
Elkin City Schools Board of Education’s Steve Roten gives the invocation for the retirement dinner.
Taylor Pardue
Elkin High and Elkin Middle Director of Music and Chorus Tonya Smith plays the piano and sings as part of the night’s entertainment.
Elkin school administrators and staff joined two of this year’s retirees for a dinner Thursday night at the Cedarbrook Country Club.
Elkin Elementary Principal Tom Caton, Surry Community College Board of Trustees Bonnie Stuart, and Elkin High JROTC teacher Col. William “Bill” McGrew will be retiring this year.
Elkin Elementary teacher assistant Becky Charles will also be retiring but was unable to attend.
The evening’s meal was prepared by Cedarbrook Country Club, with golf pro Zim Zimmerman and his wife serving the guests. Board of education members, principals, and teachers were among the assembled audience.
Music and chorus director Tonya Smith played the provided piano and sang for the audience during the evening.
Smith works at both the Elkin middle and high schools.
Principal Joel Hoyle thanked Col. McGrew for his service and lamented the fact he only had worked with McGrew for one year before his retirement.
Elkin schools superintendent Dr. Randy Bledsoe spoke about Tom Caton’s history in the town’s education sector.
Dr. Bledsoe and Caton’s fathers both worked together at Chatham’s. Bledsoe said he was thankful that the sons’ paths had overlapped in much the same way their fathers had.
Dr. Bledsoe also spoke to the audience and thanked Bonnie Stuart for her service. He said that the quality of education in Surry County was greatly benefited by her time on the board.
Tom Caton spoke about his sister, Becky Charles. Caton said he was asked to say nice things about her, so he thought of two.
“I’m her brother, and she’s a fan of NC State,” Caton joked.
Col. William McGrew was accompanied by his wife Kathryn. He will be retiring with 20 years of educational service.
Tom Caton has been an educator for more than 23 years and an Elkin school system student all through his public education.
Bonnie Stuart will be retiring from her position on the SCC Board of Trustees after serving on the board since 1980.
Becky Charles is retiring from her position in the media center as well. In total she has over 24 years of service.
To contact Taylor Pardue call 336-835-1513 ext. 15, or email him at tpardue@civitasmedia.com.
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