Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 25, 1994 TAG: 9405250155
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
An educator for 44 years, Cannaday learned long ago that teachers and school administrators need to keep their feelings in check.
But he found it difficult to do on Tuesday.
He was nearly overcome with emotion as Mayor David Bowers proclaimed it Irvin Cannaday Day in Roanoke. Half a dozen city and school officials and nearly 500 students at Woodrow Wilson Middle School surprised Cannaday at an assembly in his honor.
"Today is a day to thank you for all the things you have done for us," Kay Duff, Woodrow Wilson's principal, told him.
Cannaday has been an assistant principal at Woodrow Wilson for 10 years. Before coming to the school, he had a long career as a teacher, coach and school administrator that began at the old Carver High School in Salem when it was an all-black school.
He was the basketball coach for six years at Carver and 14 years at Addison High in Roanoke (now Addison Aerospace Magnet School). He had a combined record of 291 wins and 136 losses in basketball.
Cannaday also coached football at Carver and was an assistant football coach at Addison. He taught biology and physical education at Addison. He even coached a tennis team.
Cannaday, a Roanoke native who graduated from Addison, decided to get out of coaching and teaching after 20 years and become a school administrator.
He said Bill Field, who was principal at the old Monroe Junior High then, had a lot to do with his going into school administration. Field attended the assembly for Cannaday and praised him for his devotion to students.
Field said Cannaday helped ease the integration of city schools in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Cannaday was assistant principal for two years at Monroe, three years at Madison Junior and nine years at William Fleming High.
School administrators kept the honor a secret from Cannaday until he walked into the auditorium; he had been told to check out a "break in" at the school.
After the assembly, a banner was stretched along a wall proclaiming that "Mr. Cannaday is the best."
Libby Camper, president of the Woodrow Wilson Parent-Teacher Association, gave him an honorary life membership in the organization.
In proclaiming Irvin Cannaday Day, Bowers said the educator and coach touched the lives of thousands of people.
To do anything for 44 years is quite an accomplishment - and to do it with concern, love and devotion is rare indeed, Superintendent Wayne Harris said. One of the joys of being superintendent is working with people like Cannaday, Harris said.
City Manager Bob Herbert said he got to know Cannaday when his son began attending Woodrow Wilson. "In many ways, he is special," Herbert said.
Charles Day, School Board chairman and a former school administrator, worked with Cannaday at Addison. He said Cannaday loves working with children.
Cannaday's outstanding qualities are recognized too seldom, said Caldwell Butler, a former congressman from the 6th District.
Cannaday was praised for his ability to motivate students - to be fair, but firm, in disciplining children.
He believes that juvenile delinquency and other misbehavior by youngsters are caused mainly by the breakdown in families and the decreasing influence of religious values.
Students seemed to be more well-behaved when prayer was permitted in school and parents disciplined their children more, he said.
School administrators said Cannaday has been as close to a father as many children will ever know. Students feel so close to him that they will borrow money for lunch or pencils from him. They said he helps give children a sense of direction in a kind and considerate manner.
Using a sports metaphor, Cannaday, 71, said he's in the fourth quarter of his career.
"People ask me when I will retire. When I am tired, I will retire. I am not tired yet."
Memo: ***CORRECTION***