Hundreds remember Brookville principal

Hundreds remembered longtime Brookville High School principal Jim Whorley on Tuesday as the real deal — a dedicated family man, a true friend and a respected educator.

Slideshow

Related:

Autopsy results expected to give answers about principal’s death

Brookville High School principal dies in boating accident

Read Whorley's obituary

Did you know Jim Whorley? Do you have a story to share? Tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

At the memorial service in the school’s gym loved ones shared stories of the man they described as inspiring and genuine. A steady stream of people started filing inside an hour before the service started and continued until the crowd filled seats on the floor and in the bleachers.

Whorley, 60, died Saturday in a boating accident in Mecklenburg County. He was on a duck hunting trip with friends, including Terry Reid, 61, who also died.

In recent days the community has rallied in the face of the sudden tragedy, which many say claimed a giant of man.

“Jim was an unconditional friend,” said former Brookville athletic director John Vasvary, who worked down the hall from Whorley for 14 years.

Their friendship was evident as Vasvary spoke at Tuesday’s memorial. Clad in a maroon and gold tie, he gripped the lectern and said he prayed he would make it through his remarks.

“I want to do it so bad,” he said with glassy eyes. “I love Jim Whorley.”

The two had known each other since 1971 and Vasvary said they’ve been through everything together.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this way,” he said choking back tears. “It was supposed to be Jim up here talking about me.”Longtime friend Lloyd Goode also said he has many memories of Whorley he will carry with him. The two met 50 years ago while playing football together. Goode said Whorley was a problem solver who never got angry.

“He was a true friend,” Goode said. “Myself and everyone he touched are going to have a void in their life as we move forward.”

Campbell County Schools Superintendent George Nolley also spoke about the future.

“What will happen at Brookville?” he asked. “Brookville will go on.”

Nolley said educators, like those at Brookville, persevere.“Teachers are the concrete that holds a community together,” Nolley said. “Jim was a master teacher.”

He also recalled Monday’s visitation where more than 2,000 people stood in line to remember Whorley. Nolley said visitors not only honored the veteran educator, but the Brookville community and its bonds that meant so much to Whorley.

Whorley, who started his education career at Brookville as a math teacher and football coach, left teaching briefly when he co-owned and managed Goode’s Sporting Goods before returning back to Campbell County schools in 1990. He started at Rustburg Middle School before a spot became available at Brookville.

“He jumped to come up here,” Nolley said, adding Brookville was Whorley’s home and passion.

Brookville will pull through, Nolley said, because Whorley set the tone and led by example with his forthright attitude.

That spirit certainly left its mark on Whorley’s stepson Sid Martin, who remembered him as a father, and as a friend. Martin recalled Whorley’s signature greeting. “Hey boy,” he would say in a folksy warm tone.

“That’s what I keep hearing in my head,” Martin said. “I love it. It’s music to my ears.”

As a boy, Martin said he thought of Whorley as “a real man, a man’s man.” He joked Whorley would tell him he was a real man.

“Jim told me ‘real men don’t drink out of straws, they’re sissy sticks,’” Martin said.

He noted Whorley would also joke that real men don’t drink bourbon, they drink scotch — and they don’t ask for directions either. Then, on a more serious note, Martin said as he grew older he realized Whorley was a gentleman and a gracious leader.

“Jim made everyone he talked to feel important,” Martin said. “He always made the person he was talking to feel special.”

Most importantly for Martin though, he said Whorley made his mother’s life special.

“I will never forget him for that,” he said, adding everyone will remember “Papa Jim.”

“See ya boy.”