Charles Grant Hadley

HADLEY BROWN

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 8/27/2010 at 20:27:54

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

C G Hadley
By Mrs C G Hadley

Charles Grant Hadley was born on a farm, August 26 1901, Richland, Keokuk County, Iowa. He attended a rural school for six years and had excellent teachers. His grandfather had given the land for the school. He had one brother and two sisters. He graduated form Richland High School, then attended Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa, graduating in 1925.

In those days, the main occupation for men were farming and teaching. Charles’ first job was as coach in Sloan, Iowa. That was way across the state, but he always loved northwest Iowa. After two and a half years, he became Superintendent of Schools at Salix, Iowa. He remained there for seven years. In 1929, he married Lois Brown, one of his teachers. Their son, Charles, was born in 1932. A daughter, Susan, was born in 1935. His School Board members included Paul Manz, Roy Brown, Carl Mogensen, Bob Wright, Herbert Eveleth, and Clarence Brown, all fine men. The new school house was built at Salix during that time.

In 1933, C G Hadley was elected to be County Superintendent of Schools for Woodbury County. He retained that position for thirty-three years.

There were over one hundred rural schools nd several town schools at that time. His office was the beautiful Courthouse, but the job meant miles of travel to reach all the schools. He had excellent board members, including Ross Spencer, Pdaul Hummell, John Cord, Mr Brodie, Jeff O’Connell, Duane Bennett and others. They always gave him good advice during those years of closing and consolidating schools. There was much criticism and difference of opinion. It took a great deal of planning and many sleepless nights to try to reach the best solutions.

Mr Hadley obtained a Masters Degree of Education from the University of South Dakota during this time. He had many dedicated teachers and originated a great many new programs for the education of the students of Woodbury County.

He resigned as Superintendent in 1966 and became head of a six-county Educational Resource Center. He held this position for several years.

He died September 6, 1979.