FRIENDS BID BERRY FAREWELL

SCOTT CITY -- The power was out but smiles were shining Sunday as Scott City residents bid retiring superintendent Doug Berry farewell.

Berry, 55, served Scott City Public Schools for 29 years, first as elementary principal and later as superintendent. Before his move to Scott City, he spent five years as a physical education teacher at Washington Elementary in Cape Girardeau.

Friends, fellow educators and former students drove past damaged buildings and dangling street lights -- left by a severe afternoon thunderstorm -- to attend a reception in Berry's honor at Scott City High School. They pulled chairs toward windows and used a flashlight when signing the guest book.

Their devotion became more apparent when they told anecdotes about Berry.

Roger Allgood was a third-grade student of Berry's years ago. Today, Allgood teaches seventh through 12th grade art in Scott City. He remembered how Berry knew his physical education students' names and details about their lives.

"That's why he is what he is today, and that's why I am what I am today," Allgood said. "I try to do the same thing with my students."

Another Scott City teacher, junior high science instructor Stephen O'Brien, spent all 13 years of elementary and secondary school under Berry's watchful eye. Because all 960 students in the district are in one building, everyone stays acquainted throughout their school careers.

"(Berry) seemed like he was always a firm disciplinarian," O'Brien said. "You didn't try things around him. Now I see him more as a person."

Berry said he enjoyed his three decades in Scott City. When he first came to the district, fifth- and sixth-grade students were apart from the rest, attending classes in the old Illmo High School Building.

In 1972, everyone came back together. That cohesiveness made working at Scott City enjoyable, Berry said.

"This year, we had a winning basketball team, and everyone got involved," he said. "Kindergarten students know the cheerleaders and football players. They got involved in homecoming, and at most schools, that wouldn't happen."

In 1993, Berry replaced retiring Bob Brison as superintendent, moving from one office to another in the same building. He signed a three-year contract, knowing he would retire soon.

Under his leadership, Scott City installed three new computer labs and added to a fourth. And, thanks to Berry, the school board and past superintendents, all Scott City classrooms are air conditioned and the district has no debt.

"People had the forethought to remodel and make additions at the proper time," Berry said. "We did all this with the minimum tax levy required by law."

Now Berry will take on a dual role as superintendent-principal in Lick Creek Public Schools in Illinois. There are 140 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in that district.

Roger Tatum, Oak Ridge superintendent, will take the Scott City job in the fall. Tatum said he has been busy learning from Berry and teaching his own replacement -- Cheri Fuemmeler, Meadow Heights superintendent.

"Mr. Berry has been here for 29 years, so he is leaving some difficult shoes to fill," Tatum said. "Someone who has that much experience knows the district well."