New elementary school to be named for principal

By JAY WHITE
Special To The State

Leslie M. Stover dedicated his life to the children and community of Elgin. He is now being honored for his service.

A new school, which will serve grades three through six, currently being built in Elgin will be named Leslie M. Stover School. Construction should begin soon and is projected to be completed for the 1998-99 school year.

Stover died in 1995. He had retired a decade earlier after serving Elgin’s schools for 25 years.

He served as principal of Blaney High, Lugoff-Elgin High and Blaney Elementary.

Stover’s name was the unanimous choice of the Kershaw County school board, which heard the veteran educator’s name over and over again after it asked for suggested names for the new school. During his tenure in Elgin, his friends recall, Stover made sure he knew his students. That included riding the buses so he knew where they lived and met their families.

Jimmie Rose, a current school baord memember, worked as Stover’s secretary for 21 years.

“He was a wonderful person, kind and compassionate. He made a difference in this community, but was so much more than an educator,” she said.

Elgin Police Chief Harold Brown said he is “very pleased” the school is going to be named after Stover.

“He was partially responsible for me finishing school. When I was a new student, he took the time to look after me and make feel welcomed,” the chief remembered. “When you think of a principal, you think of a stuffed shirt. He was not like that.

“This is more than deserved,” Brown said of the honor being bestowed on Stover.

Stover also is remembered for spending much of his free time contributing to his schools.

He built cabinets, bookcase and even a puppet theater that is still being used at Blaney Elementary, Rose said.

Stover was also active in the Lions Club and was instrumental in getting glasses for many people in the Elgin communtiy as well as his students.

After his retirement in 1986, Stover remained active in the community through his church, Salem Methodist, The Kershaw County Retired Educators Association, The Lion Club and American Legion. Stover also was an active volunteer in the schools and remained a familiar face to the children.

“He cared about the children. He was a strong disciplinarian and a perfectionist. Everything had to be just right for the children. We were all very fortunate to know him and have him in our community,” said Rose.

“He would have been so proud to know that the community was honoring him in this way. I wish he were here to see this. His family is very proud,” Rose said.

Members of Stover’s family were on hand for the school board’s announcements. They were his wife, Cornelia Frick Stover; his brother and sister-in-law, Pelion Mayor Frank Stover and Betty Stover; and nephews Archie and Tommy Harman.

Archie Harman said of his uncle, “He was an outstanding individual, and this is a fitting tribute to him. He did a lot for that community.”

Born in Kershaw, Stover was graduated from Heath Springs High School. He had an agriculture degree from Clemson and a master’s degree from USC.