One of the great men and leaders in public education in Utah, Elwood Clayton, has announced his retirement. We're happy for his decision to spend more time with his wife and family but saddened by the absence of a true friend and exemplar.
He is a man among men who has proven to us that one person can make a difference - a positive difference in our lives and the lives of others. He has lifted us by his caring example. He has always placed people and their concerns at the forefront of his service in education.Students love him, his staff holds him in high regard. He is one of those few inspirational leaders you meet in a lifetime. He has woven love and caring into his education experience as a teacher, counselor and administrator. He has set a high benchmark for us to follow.
His example has inspired us to be the best we can be, to be better today than we were yesterday and to expect the best from ourselves and our students. He is a master teacher and motivator. He is always looking for the good in others and then telling them about it in person or in a card or letter.
Socrates said, "He had finally come to realize that the most important things in the universe were human beings." He may have coined the phrase, but "Woody" Clayton exemplified it in his 30 years of devoted service to thousands of students and teachers in Granite School District.
We honor him. We salute him and wish there were a host of others just like him in this important profession of education.
W. Scott Whipple
Salt Lake City