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!["I knew her father when he was six years old," said Richard A. "Dick" Stowers, above, about Catherine "Missy" Lennard-Shields, left, who has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School. "I went to school with his brother Ben. It's fantastic," he said about the appointment of Lennard-Shields as his namesake school's first principal.
"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers," said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. "It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community."
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to "expect success."
"What do you think of that motto?" she asked Stowers. He answered: "It's a good word, [success], go for it." As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, "I hope they have a good time and learn a lot."
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/A-Further-Twist-In-Our-Towns/i-FjGGPq8/0/Ti/DSC_0795-Ti.jpg "\"I knew her father when he was six years old,\" said Richard A. \"Dick\" Stowers, above, about Catherine \"Missy\" Lennard-Shields, left, who has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School. \"I went to school with his brother Ben. It's fantastic,\" he said about the appointment of Lennard-Shields as his namesake school's first principal.
\"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers,\" said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. \"It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community.\"
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to \"expect success.\"
\"What do you think of that motto?\" she asked Stowers. He answered: \"It's a good word, [success], go for it.\" As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, \"I hope they have a good time and learn a lot.\"
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.")
!["It will be the same thing [as it is now]," Denton Shields, left, said of his plans to be among the first students ever of the elementary school named for Dick Stowers, right. "My mom has been my principal my whole life." Shields attends Mintz Elemenatry School, where his mother, Catherine "Missy" Lennard-Shields is the principal. She has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School, which opens in August in FishHawk.
As for Stowers, he said when he found out the school had been named for him, "I thought they were pulling my leg." He was told it must be official because it was being announced on the sign outside B. Lee Elam's law office at the corner of Lumsden Road and Kings Avenue. "I didn't believe it, so I drove by the sign and saw it for myself." Added Stowers: "It's quite an honor [having a school named for you]. It was the furthest thing in my mind that anything like that would happen."](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/A-Further-Twist-In-Our-Towns/i-4mCW9nq/0/Ti/DSC_0789-Ti.jpg "\"It will be the same thing [as it is now],\" Denton Shields, left, said of his plans to be among the first students ever of the elementary school named for Dick Stowers, right. \"My mom has been my principal my whole life.\" Shields attends Mintz Elemenatry School, where his mother, Catherine \"Missy\" Lennard-Shields is the principal. She has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School, which opens in August in FishHawk.
As for Stowers, he said when he found out the school had been named for him, \"I thought they were pulling my leg.\" He was told it must be official because it was being announced on the sign outside B. Lee Elam's law office at the corner of Lumsden Road and Kings Avenue. \"I didn't believe it, so I drove by the sign and saw it for myself.\" Added Stowers: \"It's quite an honor [having a school named for you]. It was the furthest thing in my mind that anything like that would happen.\"")
!["What's really going to be fun is being involved with the school," said Raymetta Stowers, left, with her husband, Dick, and Earl and Annabel Lennard. Dick and Earl have known each other since Earl was six years old and Dick became friends with Earl's older brother Ben.
"Because of the families' knowing each other for so long, because of the relationship Dick has had with Earl for all these years, [having Missy Lennard-Shields named principal of the school] is wonderful," Raymetta Stowers added.
Dick Stowers graduated from Brandon High School in 1947; Lennard, in 1960. Both men have been named to the Brandon High School Alumni Association's Hall of Fame. "When I went to Brandon there were all 12 grades in one school," Stowers said. "There were three buildings, where McLane Middle School is today." As for the growth of Brandon, Stowers remains amazed. "I just can't believe what I've witnessed," he said. "It's phenomenal. It's great for business, but not too good for living. The quality of life changed a little bit. I love the rural stuff."](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/A-Further-Twist-In-Our-Towns/i-mdWpHTD/0/Ti/DSC_0779-Ti.jpg "\"What's really going to be fun is being involved with the school,\" said Raymetta Stowers, left, with her husband, Dick, and Earl and Annabel Lennard. Dick and Earl have known each other since Earl was six years old and Dick became friends with Earl's older brother Ben.
\"Because of the families' knowing each other for so long, because of the relationship Dick has had with Earl for all these years, [having Missy Lennard-Shields named principal of the school] is wonderful,\" Raymetta Stowers added.
Dick Stowers graduated from Brandon High School in 1947; Lennard, in 1960. Both men have been named to the Brandon High School Alumni Association's Hall of Fame. \"When I went to Brandon there were all 12 grades in one school,\" Stowers said. \"There were three buildings, where McLane Middle School is today.\" As for the growth of Brandon, Stowers remains amazed. \"I just can't believe what I've witnessed,\" he said. \"It's phenomenal. It's great for business, but not too good for living. The quality of life changed a little bit. I love the rural stuff.\"")
"I knew her father when he was six years old," said Richard A. "Dick" Stowers, above, about Catherine "Missy" Lennard-Shields, left, who has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School. "I went to school with his brother Ben. It's fantastic," he said about the appointment of Lennard-Shields as his namesake school's first principal.
"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers," said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. "It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community."
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to "expect success."
"What do you think of that motto?" she asked Stowers. He answered: "It's a good word, [success], go for it." As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, "I hope they have a good time and learn a lot."
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.
"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers," said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. "It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community."
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to "expect success."
"What do you think of that motto?" she asked Stowers. He answered: "It's a good word, [success], go for it." As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, "I hope they have a good time and learn a lot."
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.
!["I knew her father when he was six years old," said Richard A. "Dick" Stowers, above, about Catherine "Missy" Lennard-Shields, left, who has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School. "I went to school with his brother Ben. It's fantastic," he said about the appointment of Lennard-Shields as his namesake school's first principal.
"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers," said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. "It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community."
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to "expect success."
"What do you think of that motto?" she asked Stowers. He answered: "It's a good word, [success], go for it." As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, "I hope they have a good time and learn a lot."
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.](http://www.mypapernow.com/Other/A-Further-Twist-In-Our-Towns/i-FjGGPq8/0/L/DSC_0795-L.jpg "\"I knew her father when he was six years old,\" said Richard A. \"Dick\" Stowers, above, about Catherine \"Missy\" Lennard-Shields, left, who has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School. \"I went to school with his brother Ben. It's fantastic,\" he said about the appointment of Lennard-Shields as his namesake school's first principal.
\"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers,\" said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. \"It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community.\"
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to \"expect success.\"
\"What do you think of that motto?\" she asked Stowers. He answered: \"It's a good word, [success], go for it.\" As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, \"I hope they have a good time and learn a lot.\"
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.")
"I knew her father when he was six years old," said Richard A. "Dick" Stowers, above, about Catherine "Missy" Lennard-Shields, left, who has been named the charter principal of Stowers Elementary School. "I went to school with his brother Ben. It's fantastic," he said about the appointment of Lennard-Shields as his namesake school's first principal.
"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers," said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. "It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community."
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to "expect success."
"What do you think of that motto?" she asked Stowers. He answered: "It's a good word, [success], go for it." As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, "I hope they have a good time and learn a lot."
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.
"I don't even remember not knowing Mr. Stowers," said Lennard-Shields, the daughter of Earl Lennard, who retired as superintendent from the Hillsborough County School District, which he entered for the first time as an enrolled first-grader. "It's very special that I have the opportunity to be the principal of Stowers Elementary School, knowing that the school is named for someone who is so beloved by the Brandon community."
Lennard-Shields, a graduate of the University of Central Florida, began teaching in 1993 and taugth at both Cypress Creek and Gibsonton Elementary schools. As assistant principal, she helped open Symmes Elementary School in 2001. In 2004, she became princpal of Mintz Elementary School, where she will serve until April 6, 2009. The next day she becomes principal of Stowers, where she said the school's mission will be to "expect success."
"What do you think of that motto?" she asked Stowers. He answered: "It's a good word, [success], go for it." As for his hopes for the students of his namesake elementary school, Stowers said, "I hope they have a good time and learn a lot."
Collectively, more than 100 names were considered for Stowers Elementary School and the adjacent Glenn Barrington Middle School, which are slated to open in time for the 2009-10 school year on the south side of FishHawk Boulevard in Lithia. Barrington retired from the school system in 1983 after 32 years as an administrator and football coach. He served four consecutive terms on the Hillsborough County School Board starting in 1988.
Stowers, who turns 80 on the Fourth of July, graduated from Brandon School, now McLane Middle School, in 1947. The Brandon School at the time enrolled students in grades 1 through 12. In 1960, Stowers purchased the historical 1876 home built by James Brandon on Brandon Boulevard and turned it into Stowers Funeral Home. (The funeral home today still bears his named but it no longer is under his ownership.)
Stowers played an active role in building Brandon, serving as president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce and honorary mayor for 1963-64. He also helped establish Brandon Community Hospital, now Brandon Regional Hospital, and many of the community's nonprofit organizations.
Lennard-Shields is the daughter or Earl and Annabel Lennard, the sister of Jermey Lennard, a teacher at Bloomingdale High School, wife of Richard Shields, principal of Yates Elementary School, and mother to Mintz Elementary School student Denton Shields, who this month placed fourth at the Timucua District Pinewood Derby at Riverview High School, and to Riley Shields, who the same day placed first with his team in the Earth Trek Division 1 competition at the Buccaneer Bay Odyssey of the Mind Regional Tournament at Spoto High School.
Kevin Talbert, the son of Dick and Raymetta Stowers, was in junior high when he started assisting his father with odd jobs around his Stowers Funeral Home. Talbert later attended Mercer University, where he earned a degree in mortuary science. He worked at his father's funeral home until 2002, when he joined Mark Vargo, Sr. at a local funeral home in Riverview. Talbert and Vargo took ownership of Southern Funeral Care in May 2006.
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