Ilion Alumni | Featured Story - May 2014 - Principal John Guy Prindle

Principal

John Guy Prindle

Ilion High School's Longest Serving Principal

Tenure 1920 - 1951

By Aileen Carney Sweeney
May 2014

John Guy Prindle was born on July 4, 1890 in Williamstown, Massachusetts, the son of John F. and Lucy Ann Bridges Prindle. He attended Williamstown schools and graduated from Williams College in 1913. He served as Class Marshal during his college days. He was a member of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Gargoyle Honorary Society. He exhibited extraordinary athletic ability and played four years of varsity football and baseball during his college years.

In the fall of 1913, Mr. Prindle began his career in academics, as a science teacher, by joining the faculty of Little Falls High School in Little Falls, NY. In 1916, he also filled the position of Principal for the Benton Hall. In addition to his administrative duties, he coached football baseball and basketball for the Little Falls School.

On December 23, 1915, Mr. Prindle wed Ruth Decker in Little Falls.

In 1920, the Ilion Board of Education offered Mr. Prindle an unsolicited offer for the position of Ilion High School Principal. Mr. Prindle accepted the offer that carried an annual salary of $3,300. The Little Falls School District regretfully accepted Mr. Prindle's resignation.

Thus, began the career of Ilion's longest serving Principal, John Guy Prindle. While at Ilion, Mr. Prindle assisted in coaching the football team. For eleven summers, Mr. Prindle also taught Summer school at St. Lawrence University.

Mr. Prindle moved to Ilion and resided at 14 Philip Street. The Prindles raised their only child, Ruth Ann (Prindle) Cranney, in Ilion.

Outside of the school environment, Mr. Prindle devoted his efforts to civic affairs. He served as president of the Ilion Library Board. He was a past master of Little Falls, F&AM and a member of the Knights Templar. He was a member of the Ilion Community Club, Conversation Club, Shakespeare Club, and the Little Falls Country Club. He was past president of the Mohawk Valley Athletic Association, a member of the Secondary School Principals, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Prindle's reputation as a peacemaker and mediator was often lauded in the Yearbook/Annual Class Histories.

The Class of 1936 included comments about Mr. Prindle in their Annual - "...G Man No. 1 and The Great Mediator might be two titles we could ascribe to our understanding principal, Mr. John Guy Prindle. Not content with winning athletic laurels in Williams, his alma mater, he is now a golfer of note and a member of the illustrious faculty bowling team. In addition to these more apparent joys, 'tis whispered that when spring assaults our winter-wearied souls, he longs for "the old fishin' hole." But we hear that perhaps bridge will conquer in the end".

The Class of 1937 credited Mr. Prindle with advocating for them, to the School Senate, so that they would be allowed, in their freshman year, to attend the dance before the Herkimer - Ilion game. They described Mr. Prindle as "...ever the pacifist" when he successfully presented their case for attending the upperclassmen dance to the Senate.

The Class of 1951 mourned the loss of Mr. Prindle. "The only sad note of our graduation will be graduating without our beloved guide and mentor, Mr. Prindle. We shall carry with us all through the years the thought and the sadness that we, the Class of 1951, were the last class graduating from Ilion High School to have had our actions, throughout the four years, guided by his patience and understanding. We shall always remember what he has done for us."

In the summer of 1950, Mr. Prindle fell ill and underwent an operation in New York City. He returned to his school Principal position just before Christmas. By December 23, he suffered a relapse and was admitted to the Ilion Hospital. Mr. John Guy Prindle died on Thursday, January 11, 1951. He was 60 years old. The school mourned his loss by canceling the Herkimer-Ilion Basketball game. Among the many groups that paid their respects to Mr. Prindle was the Ilion Varsity Club, led by ex-Coach Ralph Bemis.

Memorial contributions were received by many individuals and from the High School PTA and the Ilion Kiwanis Club. A fund was established with the suggestion that the new swimming pool be named after the late principal, with the fund used for a suitable plaque.

Mr. Prindle's funeral service was held on Saturday, January 13 at 11 am in the Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Paul Wagner, Presbyterian minister, officiated. Honorary pallbearers included Dr. Earl P Watkin, Superintendent of Ilion Schools, State Senator Walter A. Van Wiggeren, Carl Betzinger, Dr. L.P. Jones, Dr. H. M. Russell, Thomas Harrison, Kent McGowan, H.A. Broan, Edward Wilkens, Arvon Jones, William Hughes, Kenneth Edgett, Harold Weeks and Wagner Klippel, members of the Board of Education and James Parker, President of the High School Senate. Active bearers were Joseph Baker, Harold Barnes, Arnold Bronner, Grover Radley, Leo Powers and Kenneth Tillinghast. After the service, Mr. Prindle's body was taken to Troy for cremation.

Mr. Prindle
Utica Observer Dispatch
Newspaper Death Notice

John Guy Prindle and Ruth Ann Prindle Cranney

John Guy Prindle with
his daughter Ruth Ann (Prindle) Cranney

Mr. Prindle was survived by his wife, Ruth, and his daughter Ruth Ann (Prindle) Cranney IHS '36 and her husband, Peter Cranney. He also left two brothers, Carl of Boston and Cable of Williamstown, Mass; a sister, Mrs. Gertrude Ott of Williamstown, Mass.; and four nephews in Rye.

1936 Ruth Ann Prindle Cranney

Mr. Prindle's only child, Ruth Ann Prindle, married Peter Cranney, on October 4, 1941. Peter Cranney was also a graduate of the Ilion High School, Class of 1939. Peter Cranney was accepted by the U. S. Marine Corps in 1942. At the time of his enlistment, he was employed by the Giblin Coal Company and the Ilion Savings and Loan Association. From 1942 to 1945, he served with the Third Marine Division in the South Pacific. He joined the Ilion National Bank, in 1945, and was an assistant treasurer of the Ilion Branch of the Marine Midland Bank. Peter B. Cranney died, at the age of 46, on Thursday, June 9, 1966. His funeral was held from the Annunciation Church and he was buried in St. Agnes Cemetery, Ilion, NY.

Ruth Ann Prindle and Peter Cranney
Wedding Photograph 1941

Ilion High School

Students returning to school, in the fall of 1951, saw for the first time a plaque and photo of their late principal, J. Guy Prindle. Custodian Everett Allen put up the memorial plaque over the summer recess. It was made possible by funds from the 1951 Senior Class and the school. The plaque was erected in the second floor corridor across from the principal's office. Above the plaque was a hand painted photograph of the former school official. The plaque carried the legend:

"In memory of John Guy Prindle, principal, 1920-1951,
Ilion High School teacher, athlete, friend, advisor."

Mr. Prindle's legacy was honored, in 1980, when the new senior housing complex, on North Street, was named the The John Guy Prindle Apartments.

"Without the help of John G. Prindle,
my road to obtain a college education would have been much harder."

- Mr. Duane Prosser, IHS 1937

In March of 2014, Duane Prosser, an IHS 1937 Alumnus, donated $25,000 to fund an annual $1,000 scholarship in honor of John Guy Prindle. The Central Valley Academy scholarship is to be given to an Ilion/Mohawk student who intends to pursue a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Mr. Duane Prosser now lives in Punta Gorda, Florida. He was President of his Ilion High Junior and Senior Classes and was Student Council President in 1936-37. He also gained the distinction of membership in the Sportsmanship Brotherhood Club and the National Honor Society.

Duane and Betty Prosser lost their mother, in 1935, when she died from a long illness. The following year, their father died suddenly in July 1936. His sister, Betty L. (Prosser) Begert IHS '39, was provided a home with their Uncle, Sid Venama, and cousins. There was no more room in the Venama household for another boy because the Venamas already had two boys. Duane's aunt, who lived in Whitesboro, helped pay his room and board with an Ilion neighbor so that Duane could remain in Ilion for his Senior Year in 1937.

Following graduation, Mr. Prindle invited Duane Prosser to move in with the Prindle family. The principal also helped Mr. Prosser obtain a job with The Evening Telegram where he worked 50 hours per week and earned $.22 per hour. Mr. Prindle, in the spring of 1938, helped Duane get a position with the Herkimer County Road Department. He was able to double his salary to $.45 per hour. Subsequently, by the fall of 1938, Mr. Prosser was able to save enough money to attend the University of Cincinnati. For the next three summers, Duane Prosser returned, from college, and lived with the Prindle family. The college student would resume summer work with the Herkimer County Road Department and save enough for his next year's college education.