Jock Gum hangs it up

Jock straps a tie on Greg Worley

Photo by DAVID STEPHENSON

It's hard for Jock Gum to stroll Morton Middle School without being approached by students. And on the very last day of school, it was even more difficult.

At 9:45 a.m., he was mobbed in the hallway by students holding yearbooks. He spent about 10 minutes autographing books, then reluctantly pulled away from the throng of students.

"He's different than most principals," said Alexandra Caudill, 13, a seventh-grader who got her yearbook signed before dashing off to class. "He's down to earth with us, and he knows a lot more about our culture. ... Because he doesn't force us to do things we don't want to do, we do more, we feel like we want to do more than we have to."

Gum, 65, spent this day like any other, but this was a special day, and a sad day for many. It was his last day as principal at the school on Tates Creek Road, where he also was a student many years ago.

This from the Herald-Leader.

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Congratulations to Jock, a special friend, colleague,

neighbor and care-giver for all children.

He will be missed.