The teacher and the student

In 1968, at age 25 and not too much older than some of the students he was charged with teaching, David Hagler began his teaching career as a graphics communications instructor at the Chester County  Career Center and remained there for 37 years, "in the same classroom" at that.
The youngest of 15 siblings, he began working at a printing company after high school, learning all about offset and screen printing while caring for his aging and ailing parents. Later, when approached about teaching the art of printing, he leaped at the opportunity to do so. With summers off, he took courses at Clemson University over the next eight summers until he received the equivalent of a master's degree in his field.
It just so happens that in 1968, students from S.L. Finley High School were being bused to the Career Center to take classes not available at the Caldwell Street high school. As a first-year teacher, Hagler met senior Finley student Gary McCoy and after two to three weeks in the classroom, was impressed by this grandson of sharecroppers.
He compliments all of the students he had that year and the ones to follow, but there was something about this 1968 student. A-ha! It was that the student reminded the teacher of himself.
"The Finley students in that class were some of the best students I had that year," said Hagler, recalling the names of students Bobby Gore, Marvin McDaniel and Charles Worthy.
They'd meet together after school and run the track in an effort to get to know one another better and to bond. It was during these times that both sides "took the time" to acknowledge, receive and "accept" one another. Of all the students, this Gary seemed to stand out among the rest.
Hagler describes Gary as being "very studious, mannerly and respectful." This student was so determined to learn all presented to him that he "became like an assistant – helping others." He so concentrated on learning and working the Multi Lith 1250 printing press that he learned and mastered in one year what normally takes four years.
Teacher Hagler took student Gary "under my wing" and went a few extra miles with him. They attended Clemson games together. They would meet outside school and talk about life. In 1969, after graduating Finley High, Hagler took Gary to a Charlotte printing office to apply for a job and after demonstrating his skills, Gary was immediately hired.
He worked this job until transportation became an issue. Hagler then suggested Gary join the military – the Air Force – as a way to seek further and greater educational opportunities. The student complied and the rest, as is said, is history. The Air Force recruitee began a long and varied military career, entering as a private and working his way up through the ranks, becoming educated militarily and academically.
Gary graduated officer training school in 1976 and from this time until 2006 received his second star, going from Brigadier general to major general. During his stellar career, he was on three separate occasions named officer/manager and director of the year. Aside from having assigned throughout the continental U.S. and Korea, he served as commander of the Air Force Global Logistic Support Center at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, overseeing an $8.5 billion dollar budget with 4,200 ground personnel.
Having little to no contact with Gary once he became a GI, the teacher always inquired about the student through others and in this way was able to keep up with the soldier/student's career. He'd always remain impressed by that senior from Finley High School.
In 2004, soldier/student Gary called the Chester Career Center to find out if Teacher Hagler was still instructing there. Gary journeyed to Chester to meet and speak with the Career Center students and the ROTC. This former student, grandson of sharecroppers (who were his parents) had returned as Major General Gary T. McCoy of the U.S. Air Force.
Teacher Hagler, the father of two daughters and four grandchildren, couldn't have been prouder. Here was his "studious, mannerly and respectful" student returning to the same school he'd been bused to to learn graphic communications, now back and speaking to another generation of Chester County Career Center students on his travels and career.
He has spent much of his military career in overseeing logisitics for the Air Force. Pretty darn good for a Wilksburg native who'd catch the school bus before daybreak to make it on time to Caldwell Street for classes at Finley High.
Maj. General McCoy retired as of July 2011 and currently resides in Florida. He and wife Emily are the parents of one son, Brandon, who is in, of all places, military school. The retired general credits teacher David Hagler as having been instrumental along his life's path and says so very humbly.
Hagler retired in 2005, all the while saying "all 37 years, I had so many wonderful students." He also says that he felt he wasn't there "just to teach the subject matter" but he "felt responsible for teaching about life in general." This included the practical information not generally taught in the school environment, including information on drinking and drugging.
Not bad for a teacher who self-describes as having been a "nerd" when growing up. But he was the nerd who also knew karate (he could handle himself very well) and loved astronomy. Perhaps rather than charting the astronomical routes in the starry heavens, his assignment was to do it here, finding and cultivating the earthly stars.
Teacher David Hagler and retired Major General Gary T. McCoy, we salute the both of you.

Nancy Parsons

David Hagler, left, a former graphics communications instructor at the Chester County Career Center is shown with his wife, Dianne. Hagler is holding a photo of his former student, now retired Mar. Gen. Gary T. McCoy.

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