PRAISING AND CONGRATULATING CHARLES E. SMITH, THE ONLY PRINCIPAL IN THE HISTORY OF WILLIAM PENN HIGH SCHOOL, NEW CASTLE, AS HE RETIRES AFTER FORTY-FOUR YEARS ON THE NEW CASTLE EDUCATIONAL SCENE.
WHEREAS, the members of the 126th General Assembly have learned that the Dean of Delaware school administrators, Mr. Charles E. Smith, principal of William Penn High School in New Castle, Delaware, has formally announced his retirement after serving the New Castle Special School District, and more recently, the combined New Castle-Gunning Bedford School District for a grand total of forty-four years as mathematics teacher, coach, principal, and sports devotee; and
WHEREAS, Charles E. "Just-call-me-Charlie" Smith is a man possessing a warm and gracious personality punctuated with endearing charm and witticism — a man who is recognized for his outstanding ability in the field of education on both the local and national levels; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith, a native of Church Hill, Maryland graduated from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland in 1928 prior to coming to the former New Castle High School, then located in the Arsenal on The Green, and during his eventful career in New Castle played an important role as New Castle High School became William Penn High School, and grew from a total student enrollment of about 100 to the present day number of 2,500, making it the largest secondary school in the State; and
WHEREAS, Charlie Smith has made his mark in a number of outstanding educational and community organizations including the Headmasters Association which has an elite membership of 100 members throughout the United States of America, the National Education Association, the National Association of Secondary Schools, the Delaware Association of School Administrators, the Wilmington Suburban Principals Association, the Methodist Church, and the Rotary Club; and
WHEREAS, the members of the 126th General Assembly of the State of Delaware desire to add their accolades to those being heaped upon Charlie Smith by folks from all walks of life at the time of his decision to step down from his position as principal of the State's largest secondary school to a level of retirement (although friends of Charlie knew he'll never really retire).
BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein, that Mr. Charles E. "Charlie" Smith be accorded the sincerest of congratulations for forty-four years of outstanding service to the educational community of the First State and the warmest of thanks for a job well done on behalf of all Delawareans, especially those residing in the New Castle-Gunning Bedford School District.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Smith, his beloved Carol, and their two daughters, Deborah and Julia, all residing in Penn Acres, New Castle, Delaware.