THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 5, 1996 TAG: 9607030246
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY ELIZABETH THIEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 47 lines
His imposing frame, booming voice and talk of the need for tough discipline belie the message he really wants to send.
Allen H. Goode Jr., 68, wants to be approachable.
Goode was one of four newly elected School Board members sworn into office last week.
He wants parents, teachers, principals and, most of all, kids to be able to come to him with concerns, questions or comments about the school system.
He believes such communication is the only way he can do his job well as a policy-maker for the school system.
``If I can help you, let me know,'' he said.
Goode is a retired Army major and businessman who believes in the rigor of hard work. He left his family's farm at 16 to join the military. He served a total of about 30 years, including stints in Hawaii after World War II and Korea just as the war there was coming to a close.
``I'm not saying the military is for everyone,'' he said. ``But it taught me discipline, it taught self-respect and it taught respect for authority. And I think that's lacking in the youth of today.''
Still, despite his belief in the military values of discipline, loyalty and authority, Goode is far from rigid in his thinking.
``The School Board is like a football team,'' said Goode, whose son, Allen III, played football in college. ``It takes everyone working together to make it work.''
Goode has experience with the concept. He was appointed to the board by City Council in 1992, but was denied reappointment when his position came up for renewal in 1994.
That was hard for him to swallow.
``I was annoyed,'' he said. ``I felt I had been a good board member. I didn't verbalize it. I just felt unjustly treated.
``It took me awhile to make up my mind to run.''
But when he did decide to run, the campaign was so vigorous that he believes he made himself sick; he had a triple bypass operation in early June. Less than a month later, he was up and on his feet, a testament to willpower and motivation. He's given up his two-pack-a-day smoking habit. His cardiologist has given him the OK to assume the duties of the School Board.
``I would not take part on the School Board, unless I was physically able to do so,'' Goode said.
KEYWORDS: CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL BOARD by CNB