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Houses to be assigned permanent names in 2006-07
May 5, 2006 9:26 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Darlington School announced today that permanent names have been assigned to the six student Houses, beginning in the 2006-07 school year. The new House names will honor individuals who have given their lives in service to Darlington.
“Giving permanent names to the Houses was discussed several years ago. With the names changing regularly, there was concern about building any loyalty or continuity with the Houses,” said Dean of College Guidance Sam Moss (’63), who chaired the committee that researched the naming of the Houses.
The committee, with consultation from Thornwood alumni, proposed the six names to the School’s Leadership Team. The team adopted these, and they were then endorsed by the Education and Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees.
Milford House (girls) will be named Cooper House, in honor of Alice Allgood Cooper. A graduate of Shorter College, Cooper was the wife of John Paul Cooper, whose dedication and service resulted in the founding and success of Darlington School. Known for her generous spirit, Cooper was an ongoing inspiration for the staff and students as she and her husband assumed the entire responsibility of enrollment and recruitment for the first decade of Darlington’s existence.
“As a member of the Cooper family, I am delighted with the naming of the Cooper House,” said Anita Lowden (’63T). “Great-grandmother Cooper was keenly interested in education and did everything in her power to provide it here in Rome. As co-founder with her husband, she laid the foundations of Darlington and guided it for more than two decades. I know the Cooper family will be very, very pleased.”
Inman House (girls) will be named Thornwood House, in honor of Thornwood faculty. The Thornwood School for Girls was established in 1958 for the purpose of developing young girls into strong, capable adults who could grow through knowledge and experience. The school was known for the caliber of women it graduated, due much in part to the tremendous dedication of Thornwood faculty members. Until its merge with Darlington in 1973, Thornwood was the model environment for girls who went on to become leaders in their communities and fields.
“This is a permanent way to honor the teachers of Thornwood, who were all outstanding role models for us. It was an honor to learn from them,” said Academic Dean Sally Rudert (’66T), who taught at Thornwood from 1970 until the merge. “This is an outstanding tribute, and a good way to keep the traditions of the two schools alive.”
Blaylock House (girls) will be named Regester House, in honor of E.V. “Doc” Regester. “Doc,” as his students and colleagues affectionately called him, came to Darlington in 1958 as head of the English department. He served Darlington for 28 years as associate headmaster, English teacher, director of counseling and guidance, and editor of the first alumni publication. Regester and his wife, Juliana, raised their daughters, Julie and Scotty (’66T), in a house that stood where Blaylock House is currently located.
“Doc was one of the true ‘giants’ of the faculty during my student years – both figuratively and literally, as he was about 6 feet 7 inches tall,” said Moss. “Doc was the consummate scholar and gentleman. He had great dignity and great wit, and he was the best writing teacher I ever had.”
Regester said some of his most memorable moments as an educator come from Darlington. “To have my name memorialized like this is far beyond the fact of recognition,” he said. “I hope it serves to show how quality education is the most important aspect of Darlington School.”
Bergen House (boys) will be named Moser House, in honor of Worth S. Moser, who came to Darlington in 1944 to teach Spanish. Moser, who subscribed to J.J. Darlington’s philosophy of academic excellence and insistence upon honest, diligent effort, remained an integral part of the School until his passing in 1985.
“Worth dedicated his life to this school by considering everything that needed to be done at the school as part of his job,” said Moss. “He was a stern disciplinarian with a great sense of humor – bopping you in the head with his ring one day, and the next inviting you over to his place for fresh-baked German chocolate cake.”
In addition to his teaching duties, Moser was an avid supporter of Darlington athletics – coaching men’s golf, serving as the official mascot of the Tiger baseball team, and still finding the time to operate the clock for all home basketball games. He also ran the School’s bookstore, advised the student “Y,” kept the soft drink machines stocked each morning, and – for 25 years – directed the Glee Club. Moser was later named associate headmaster and dean of academics and the faculty.
McCann House (boys) will be named Neville House, in honor of W. Gordon Neville Jr. (’55). Often called a true southern gentleman, Neville has been a member of the Darlington community for 48 years – including four years as a resident student and 44 years as faculty member.
“Gordon Neville is one of the most honorable, noble men that I have ever associated with,” said David Rhodes, associate headmaster and Upper School principal. “He constantly impressed upon the students the importance of honor.”
Neville currently works in the Advancement Office as director of the J. Daniel Hanks Sr. Heritage Society. During his tenure at Darlington, he has taught geography, Bible and math; coached football and soccer; and served as resident dean of Wilcox Hall, business manager, Upper School dean of students, chairman of the Discipline Committee and associate headmaster.
“Darlington has been a home for me and my family, and I’ve enjoyed and learned so much from my time here,” said Neville. “I cannot imagine being mentioned in the same breath as Doc Regester and Worth Moser. To be recognized with the other names is quite an honor that I will never truly understand.”
Barnes House (boys) will be named Summerbell House, in honor of Jack Summerbell, who worked at Darlington from 1959-1998. Throughout this time, he managed to teach every course in the history curriculum. After his first two years of teaching, he was named chairman of the history department.
“Jack Summerbell is a renowned AP American History teacher,” said Rudert. “His former students fondly remember his ability to liven his classes with his dry wit and frequent puns.”
Summerbell also served on the President’s Executive Committee and the Discipline Committee. In 1971, he became master of day school, serving in that position until 1985 when he was named academic dean. He can still be seen around campus, giving Advanced Placement exams and the SAT.
“My family and I spent a lot of time in South Hall (where Barnes House is located), and I am so thankful to have my name be associated with it,” said Summerbell. “This was the best news I have received in a long time.”
“Giving permanent names to the Houses was discussed several years ago. With the names changing regularly, there was concern about building any loyalty or continuity with the Houses,” said Dean of College Guidance Sam Moss (’63), who chaired the committee that researched the naming of the Houses.
The committee, with consultation from Thornwood alumni, proposed the six names to the School’s Leadership Team. The team adopted these, and they were then endorsed by the Education and Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees.
Milford House (girls) will be named Cooper House, in honor of Alice Allgood Cooper. A graduate of Shorter College, Cooper was the wife of John Paul Cooper, whose dedication and service resulted in the founding and success of Darlington School. Known for her generous spirit, Cooper was an ongoing inspiration for the staff and students as she and her husband assumed the entire responsibility of enrollment and recruitment for the first decade of Darlington’s existence.
“As a member of the Cooper family, I am delighted with the naming of the Cooper House,” said Anita Lowden (’63T). “Great-grandmother Cooper was keenly interested in education and did everything in her power to provide it here in Rome. As co-founder with her husband, she laid the foundations of Darlington and guided it for more than two decades. I know the Cooper family will be very, very pleased.”
Inman House (girls) will be named Thornwood House, in honor of Thornwood faculty. The Thornwood School for Girls was established in 1958 for the purpose of developing young girls into strong, capable adults who could grow through knowledge and experience. The school was known for the caliber of women it graduated, due much in part to the tremendous dedication of Thornwood faculty members. Until its merge with Darlington in 1973, Thornwood was the model environment for girls who went on to become leaders in their communities and fields.
“This is a permanent way to honor the teachers of Thornwood, who were all outstanding role models for us. It was an honor to learn from them,” said Academic Dean Sally Rudert (’66T), who taught at Thornwood from 1970 until the merge. “This is an outstanding tribute, and a good way to keep the traditions of the two schools alive.”
Blaylock House (girls) will be named Regester House, in honor of E.V. “Doc” Regester. “Doc,” as his students and colleagues affectionately called him, came to Darlington in 1958 as head of the English department. He served Darlington for 28 years as associate headmaster, English teacher, director of counseling and guidance, and editor of the first alumni publication. Regester and his wife, Juliana, raised their daughters, Julie and Scotty (’66T), in a house that stood where Blaylock House is currently located.
“Doc was one of the true ‘giants’ of the faculty during my student years – both figuratively and literally, as he was about 6 feet 7 inches tall,” said Moss. “Doc was the consummate scholar and gentleman. He had great dignity and great wit, and he was the best writing teacher I ever had.”
Regester said some of his most memorable moments as an educator come from Darlington. “To have my name memorialized like this is far beyond the fact of recognition,” he said. “I hope it serves to show how quality education is the most important aspect of Darlington School.”
Bergen House (boys) will be named Moser House, in honor of Worth S. Moser, who came to Darlington in 1944 to teach Spanish. Moser, who subscribed to J.J. Darlington’s philosophy of academic excellence and insistence upon honest, diligent effort, remained an integral part of the School until his passing in 1985.
“Worth dedicated his life to this school by considering everything that needed to be done at the school as part of his job,” said Moss. “He was a stern disciplinarian with a great sense of humor – bopping you in the head with his ring one day, and the next inviting you over to his place for fresh-baked German chocolate cake.”
In addition to his teaching duties, Moser was an avid supporter of Darlington athletics – coaching men’s golf, serving as the official mascot of the Tiger baseball team, and still finding the time to operate the clock for all home basketball games. He also ran the School’s bookstore, advised the student “Y,” kept the soft drink machines stocked each morning, and – for 25 years – directed the Glee Club. Moser was later named associate headmaster and dean of academics and the faculty.
McCann House (boys) will be named Neville House, in honor of W. Gordon Neville Jr. (’55). Often called a true southern gentleman, Neville has been a member of the Darlington community for 48 years – including four years as a resident student and 44 years as faculty member.
“Gordon Neville is one of the most honorable, noble men that I have ever associated with,” said David Rhodes, associate headmaster and Upper School principal. “He constantly impressed upon the students the importance of honor.”
Neville currently works in the Advancement Office as director of the J. Daniel Hanks Sr. Heritage Society. During his tenure at Darlington, he has taught geography, Bible and math; coached football and soccer; and served as resident dean of Wilcox Hall, business manager, Upper School dean of students, chairman of the Discipline Committee and associate headmaster.
“Darlington has been a home for me and my family, and I’ve enjoyed and learned so much from my time here,” said Neville. “I cannot imagine being mentioned in the same breath as Doc Regester and Worth Moser. To be recognized with the other names is quite an honor that I will never truly understand.”
Barnes House (boys) will be named Summerbell House, in honor of Jack Summerbell, who worked at Darlington from 1959-1998. Throughout this time, he managed to teach every course in the history curriculum. After his first two years of teaching, he was named chairman of the history department.
“Jack Summerbell is a renowned AP American History teacher,” said Rudert. “His former students fondly remember his ability to liven his classes with his dry wit and frequent puns.”
Summerbell also served on the President’s Executive Committee and the Discipline Committee. In 1971, he became master of day school, serving in that position until 1985 when he was named academic dean. He can still be seen around campus, giving Advanced Placement exams and the SAT.
“My family and I spent a lot of time in South Hall (where Barnes House is located), and I am so thankful to have my name be associated with it,” said Summerbell. “This was the best news I have received in a long time.”
