William M. Hadley
Encyclopedia
William Moore Hadley is credited as being one of the primary early proponents of the middle school movement
in the United States, and one of the first such schools carries his name.
Bill Hadley, the youngest child of Joseph William and Pauline Elizabeth Simmons Hadley, was born in Summerdale, AL, on March 21, 1917. He married Wilma (Polly) Funchess of Mobile, AL. Both Bill and Polly were students at Daphne Normal School in Baldwin County, AL at the time of their marriage. They both completed their teaching training and began their teaching careers in Baldwin County. Bill began teaching in 1937 and Polly in 1938. In 1942, he joined the Merchant Marines and served until the end of World War II
. Polly continued to teach in the Baldwin and Mobile school systems and raised their two daughters. At the end of the War, Bill joined his family in Mobile where he and his wife resumed their teaching careers.
In 1948, he returned to the University of Alabama
where he completed his B.S. and M.A. degrees. His wife was a principal and teacher in Tuscaloosa County, providing the means for her husband to complete his graduate degree in 1949.
William Hadley accepted a position as State Supervisor of Education in the Alabama State Department in Montgomery, Alabama
in the Spring of 1949. Through the State Department of Education he was recommended for and received a full fellowship by the General Education Board of the Rockefeller Foundation
to Teachers College, Columbia University
, New York City
, New York
in the fall of 1949. He was employed as a full time instructor on the staff of Teachers College during the academic year of 1950-51. He also completed his Doctoral Dissertation during that year.
Bill and Polly had three children: Carol Joan Hadley, born September 17, 1937 in Foley, Alabama
; Rita Mable Hadley, born August 8, 1939 in Mobile, Alabama
; and John William Hadley, born February 13, 1951 in New York City, New York. In June 1951 Bill accepted an Associate Professorship at the University of Texas at Austin
, and he moved his family there. After 13-1/2 months at the University, he accepted the Superintendency of Schools in Alice, Texas
and two years later moved to Midland, Texas
as Superintendent of Schools there. The University of Alabama offered William the opportunity to make a study of the professional teaching personnel in Jefferson County, Alabama
(including the city of Birmingham) on a contract basis. He accepted, completed the study, and then accepted his last professional post as Superintendent of Schools, Dist. #41, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
(1956-1974).
William Hadley underwent open heart surgery
in 1973 and retired on total disability in June, 1974. He was honored at his retirement by having an annual (perpetual) scholarship given in his name by the Glen Ellyn Schools, and a multi-million dollar experimental middle or Junior High School named in his honor, William M. Hadley School, located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
. The school is credited with being one of the first of its kind in the United States.
Bill and Polly moved to their retirement home in Magnolia Springs, Alabama
on July 1, 1974, where he lived until his death on June 29, 1992.
Middle school
Middle School and Junior High School are levels of schooling between elementary and high schools. Most school systems use one term or the other, not both. The terms are not interchangeable...
in the United States, and one of the first such schools carries his name.
Bill Hadley, the youngest child of Joseph William and Pauline Elizabeth Simmons Hadley, was born in Summerdale, AL, on March 21, 1917. He married Wilma (Polly) Funchess of Mobile, AL. Both Bill and Polly were students at Daphne Normal School in Baldwin County, AL at the time of their marriage. They both completed their teaching training and began their teaching careers in Baldwin County. Bill began teaching in 1937 and Polly in 1938. In 1942, he joined the Merchant Marines and served until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Polly continued to teach in the Baldwin and Mobile school systems and raised their two daughters. At the end of the War, Bill joined his family in Mobile where he and his wife resumed their teaching careers.
In 1948, he returned to the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
where he completed his B.S. and M.A. degrees. His wife was a principal and teacher in Tuscaloosa County, providing the means for her husband to complete his graduate degree in 1949.
William Hadley accepted a position as State Supervisor of Education in the Alabama State Department in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
in the Spring of 1949. Through the State Department of Education he was recommended for and received a full fellowship by the General Education Board of the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
to Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University
Teachers College, Columbia University is a graduate school of education located in New York City, New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the fall of 1949. He was employed as a full time instructor on the staff of Teachers College during the academic year of 1950-51. He also completed his Doctoral Dissertation during that year.
Bill and Polly had three children: Carol Joan Hadley, born September 17, 1937 in Foley, Alabama
Foley, Alabama
Foley is a city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States.The 2000 census lists the population of the city as 7,590.Foley is a principal city of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Baldwin County....
; Rita Mable Hadley, born August 8, 1939 in Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
; and John William Hadley, born February 13, 1951 in New York City, New York. In June 1951 Bill accepted an Associate Professorship at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, and he moved his family there. After 13-1/2 months at the University, he accepted the Superintendency of Schools in Alice, Texas
Alice, Texas
At the 2000 census, there were 19,010 people, 6,400 households and 4,915 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,597.4 per square mile . There were 6,998 housing units at an average density of 588.0 per square mile...
and two years later moved to Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
as Superintendent of Schools there. The University of Alabama offered William the opportunity to make a study of the professional teaching personnel in Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
(including the city of Birmingham) on a contract basis. He accepted, completed the study, and then accepted his last professional post as Superintendent of Schools, Dist. #41, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn is an affluent village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the village population was 26,999.-Geography:...
(1956-1974).
William Hadley underwent open heart surgery
Open Heart Surgery
Open Heart Surgery was released on August 8, 2000 by rock band Virginwool. The band signed to Breaking/Atlantic Records after initially beginning signed to Universal Records. The album was produced and mixed by Brad Wood....
in 1973 and retired on total disability in June, 1974. He was honored at his retirement by having an annual (perpetual) scholarship given in his name by the Glen Ellyn Schools, and a multi-million dollar experimental middle or Junior High School named in his honor, William M. Hadley School, located in Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Glen Ellyn is an affluent village in DuPage County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the village population was 26,999.-Geography:...
. The school is credited with being one of the first of its kind in the United States.
Bill and Polly moved to their retirement home in Magnolia Springs, Alabama
Magnolia Springs, Alabama
Magnolia Springs, Alabama is a town in south Baldwin County, in the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town voted to incorporate in 2006.-History:...
on July 1, 1974, where he lived until his death on June 29, 1992.