A Lifetime in Education Finds New Life

Henry Sory has always been a man who makes his mark on life. Happily for the rest of the city, Sherman school officials have added the most meaningful honor imaginable for the retired educator – naming a school for him, overlooking the city he loves.

In his straightforward manner, this teacher, coach, administrator and civic leader told the Herald Democrat, “It’s not every day you get a school named after you.”

Henry W. Sory Elementary School is growing and changing every day, perched above Sherman at 120 Binkley Park Drive. The $12 million building features abundant natural light for students and teachers plus other environmental improvements to enhance learning.

Al Hambrick, superintendent of Sherman ISD, is pushing the contractors to have the school ready for students by the beginning of the 2008 school year.

“Across the country, schools are rarely named for a living person,” he said. “Henry Sory devoted his working life to providing the best education he could to generations of Sherman students. In retirement, he worked to establish the Sherman Ex-Students Association and served on the first board of directors.

“We can’t wait to dedicate this school to him.”

Future students at Sory Elementary will have a daily reminder of their namesake, too. Local artist Pat Pierce painted a portrait of Mr. Sory as he looked when he was SHS principal in 1957. His image will hang in the front hall of the new school, a gift from the entire Sherman High School Class of ‘57.

“I think he deserves a lot of recognition for the years he spent taking care of children and all the ball games he’s gone to,” Pierce said at the presentation of the portrait.

Seeing her father’s portrait, Susan Barhlick said, “It makes me proud as a daughter to see him so honored. He really lives to see this school get built.”

Sory, a graduate of Sherman High School himself, began teaching business courses at Sherman High School in 1948 as well as coaching junior varsity football and varsity basketball. He coached his 1949-50 and 1950-51 teams to two straight district championships, a school record that stood for four decades.

The storied coach left teaching and coaching during the 1952-53 school year to become principal of Sherman High School where he said he spent some of his most enjoyable years. Almost 50 years after leaving SHS to become assistant superintendent of business, Henry says he still cherishes the watch students bought for him when he moved up. He spent the rest of his career as the assistant superintendent of business for SISD.

Beyond the school system, civic groups, charitable organizations and his church all benefited from Henry’s energy and commitment. He has been an active Kiwanian for 54 years, supporting projects for children and families in Sherman. On the United Way board for 30 years, he was part of expanding services and supporting agencies for kids, families and the elderly throughout Grayson County. He and his beloved wife Joy raised their children Susan and Hank in the family of St. Mary’s Catholic Church; him serving as a reader at Sunday Mass into his eighties. His financial acumen and dedication to patient care helped guide Wilson N. Jones Memorial Hospital through tough years that set the stage for today’s thriving medical center.

The great events and simple days of our lives combine to create a quilt of life for each of us. Imagine the circle of life coming full turn on a sunny day when Sory Elementary students take a field trip to Frontier Village. Touring the W.L Holder cabin, the second oldest building in the village, the children wonder how pioneer kids went to school in the cabin with pegs in the walls to hold planks as desks. The cabin Henry and Joy Sory donated to Frontier Village.