He was a son of Reesey W. and Annie Mae Evans Pennington.Widower of Anna Dean Jones Pennington.
A standout athlete at Wrens High School, he received a football scholarship to Clemson College, Clemson, SC in 1935 and played under Coach Jess Neeley. He graduated from Clemson in 1939 with a degree in agriculture education and became an "ag" teacher at Starr High School, Starr, SC., filling one of only two such teaching positions available in the state. In Starr, he met and married local girl, Anna Dean Jones, a graduate of Lander College, in 1940. After four years of teaching at Starr, he changed schools and taught at Boys High School in Anderson for 17 years, where he ran the county cannery each summer-a teeming center of steam and local produce.
Curtis became principal of Starr Elementary School in 1963 and served for four years until he was named superintendent of Anderson School District 3. He remained superintendent until he retired in 1982. His career spanned 43 years, establishing agriculture programs, such as FFA, for both young and adult farmers, and leading public education as a teacher and administrator. He also earned a master's degree from Clemson and served on the S.C. Board of Education and on the state's first Agriculture Committee. He believed that education was essential for a better life, but he never forgot his farming background. Cultivating a summer garden and raising a few head of cattle was great joys to him throughout his life. He was presented the Order of the Palmetto in 1998 for his positive role in education and agriculture for the state of South Carolina. He was a member of Starr United Methodist Church.
Anna Dean, also a lifelong educator died, January 2000. Brothers Ralph and Paul preceded him in death.
A standout athlete at Wrens High School, he received a football scholarship to Clemson College, Clemson, SC in 1935 and played under Coach Jess Neeley. He graduated from Clemson in 1939 with a degree in agriculture education and became an "ag" teacher at Starr High School, Starr, SC., filling one of only two such teaching positions available in the state. In Starr, he met and married local girl, Anna Dean Jones, a graduate of Lander College, in 1940. After four years of teaching at Starr, he changed schools and taught at Boys High School in Anderson for 17 years, where he ran the county cannery each summer-a teeming center of steam and local produce.
Curtis became principal of Starr Elementary School in 1963 and served for four years until he was named superintendent of Anderson School District 3. He remained superintendent until he retired in 1982. His career spanned 43 years, establishing agriculture programs, such as FFA, for both young and adult farmers, and leading public education as a teacher and administrator. He also earned a master's degree from Clemson and served on the S.C. Board of Education and on the state's first Agriculture Committee. He believed that education was essential for a better life, but he never forgot his farming background. Cultivating a summer garden and raising a few head of cattle was great joys to him throughout his life. He was presented the Order of the Palmetto in 1998 for his positive role in education and agriculture for the state of South Carolina. He was a member of Starr United Methodist Church.
Anna Dean, also a lifelong educator died, January 2000. Brothers Ralph and Paul preceded him in death.
He was a son of Reesey W. and Annie Mae Evans Pennington.Widower of Anna Dean Jones Pennington.
A standout athlete at Wrens High School, he received a football scholarship to Clemson College, Clemson, SC in 1935 and played under Coach Jess Neeley. He graduated from Clemson in 1939 with a degree in agriculture education and became an "ag" teacher at Starr High School, Starr, SC., filling one of only two such teaching positions available in the state. In Starr, he met and married local girl, Anna Dean Jones, a graduate of Lander College, in 1940. After four years of teaching at Starr, he changed schools and taught at Boys High School in Anderson for 17 years, where he ran the county cannery each summer-a teeming center of steam and local produce.
Curtis became principal of Starr Elementary School in 1963 and served for four years until he was named superintendent of Anderson School District 3. He remained superintendent until he retired in 1982. His career spanned 43 years, establishing agriculture programs, such as FFA, for both young and adult farmers, and leading public education as a teacher and administrator. He also earned a master's degree from Clemson and served on the S.C. Board of Education and on the state's first Agriculture Committee. He believed that education was essential for a better life, but he never forgot his farming background. Cultivating a summer garden and raising a few head of cattle was great joys to him throughout his life. He was presented the Order of the Palmetto in 1998 for his positive role in education and agriculture for the state of South Carolina. He was a member of Starr United Methodist Church.
Anna Dean, also a lifelong educator died, January 2000. Brothers Ralph and Paul preceded him in death.
A standout athlete at Wrens High School, he received a football scholarship to Clemson College, Clemson, SC in 1935 and played under Coach Jess Neeley. He graduated from Clemson in 1939 with a degree in agriculture education and became an "ag" teacher at Starr High School, Starr, SC., filling one of only two such teaching positions available in the state. In Starr, he met and married local girl, Anna Dean Jones, a graduate of Lander College, in 1940. After four years of teaching at Starr, he changed schools and taught at Boys High School in Anderson for 17 years, where he ran the county cannery each summer-a teeming center of steam and local produce.
Curtis became principal of Starr Elementary School in 1963 and served for four years until he was named superintendent of Anderson School District 3. He remained superintendent until he retired in 1982. His career spanned 43 years, establishing agriculture programs, such as FFA, for both young and adult farmers, and leading public education as a teacher and administrator. He also earned a master's degree from Clemson and served on the S.C. Board of Education and on the state's first Agriculture Committee. He believed that education was essential for a better life, but he never forgot his farming background. Cultivating a summer garden and raising a few head of cattle was great joys to him throughout his life. He was presented the Order of the Palmetto in 1998 for his positive role in education and agriculture for the state of South Carolina. He was a member of Starr United Methodist Church.
Anna Dean, also a lifelong educator died, January 2000. Brothers Ralph and Paul preceded him in death.
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