Tim Soyars
- March 25th, 2013
“Mr. Red-Headed Harry Baily”
It was in Mr. Matney’s history class in Norview Jr. High that I first met Harry. He was shy and not very talkative, but Mr. Matney was determined to try to make everyone in his class an extrovert. As I recall, Mr. Matney made class seat assignments and I ended up sitting beside Harry. The teacher gave homework reading assignments and during class period he’d ask questions. At first only a few students would raise their hands to answer, and while Mr. Matney would call on the raised hands, he also called on those who tried to make themselve invisible. Harry was always in the latter group.
Mr. Matney called his students by their last name, Mr. Jones or Miss Miller. But when he called on Harry, it was “Mr. Red-Headed Harry Baily.” After a few class sessions, most kids began raising their hands whether they knew the answer or not, but Harry kept his on his desk and Mr. Matney called on Harry often. Our teacher was jovial and laughed often as he addressed the class. Mr. Matney never ridiculed a student for not knowing an answer, but when he called on Harry, he’d begin to laugh and say, “Mr. Red-Headed Harry Baily,” laughing as he said the name, “What’s the answer to the question.” Harry would sometimes know the answer, but he never raised his hand.
I really didn’t know Harry very well, but I always considered him a friend. He was a nice guy. Rest in peace old friend.