English teacher Lisa Willoughby’s first day could have been her last. At the beginning of the 1984 fall semester, she was waiting to hear from the district if a job position would be secured.

Dr. Thomas E. Adger was principal at the time of Willoughby’s hiring. While waiting for official word on her hiring from the APS central office, Adger drove Willoughby to the central office and waited with her until she was hired.

On Sept. 26, Dr. Adger passed away. Adger was the principal at Grady from 1981 to 1991. During his time at Grady, Adger reestablished the school’s reputation by creating programs that continue to be prosperous and by creating a new environment for future generations of students.

Willoughby describes Adger as a large and imposing presence that became a huge part of the school. She recalls that although he was a quiet man, he always embodied a great deal of authority over the faculty and students.

“He wanted to foster a sense of excellence within Grady,” Willoughby said. “He turned this school around.”

Pat Kelly, a former teacher who was at Grady during Adger’s time and also the namesake of the annual Marion P. Kelly award, saw that Adger made it his mission at Grady to pick the school up off the ground.

“A lot of the community had lost confidence in the school,” Kelly said. “He wanted to restore confidence.”

Under Adger, Grady launched the journalism and communications magnet program and the speech and debate team, which has grown into one of the best in the country.

Kay Earnheardt, who was hired by Adger,  was the driving force behind the growing communications magnet. Together, Adger and Earnheardt steered the school in a different and improved resurgence of education within Grady, improving the opportunities given to students and optimism about the school’s potential.

As the communications program grew into what it is today, Adger immersed himself in student life and activities, whether he was adding extracurriculars or new classes.

Along with hiring Earnheardt, Adger also hired James Tillman to better the school and the level of education that Grady provided. Tillman promoted and pursued the implementation of Advanced Placement classes.

“[Tillman and Adger] wanted to try new and different courses,” Willoughby said.

Before then, Grady’s course list was significantly smaller. Tillman, during his time at Grady, increased the amount of AP courses that were offered at Grady.

Former student and current teacher at Grady Paul Nicolson was enrolled while Adger was principal. He viewed Adger as a large presence at Grady.

“[Adger] was an ally and a friend to parents,” Nicolson said. “He was very supportive whenever I needed the support.”

When teachers were told to get their students involved in activities, teacher Naomi Grishman formed the first debate team in Grady history.

In its first year, the team came in second place at the varsity state tournament.

“He was so supportive of the kids,” Willoughby said. “[Adger] was so excited to hear

that debate came in second.”

Adger played a huge role with the student body. His main efforts were directed at benefitting the students. He strived to improve the environment that Grady had

then and for the future.

Kelly also remembers Adger’s tendency to put his students first.

“[Adger] was the most caring person I’ve ever known,” Kelly said. “He genuinely

cared about the students. He truly wanted them to succeed.”

This made the transition of principals in 1991 from Adger to current principal Vincent Murray difficult, Murray said. On a teacher and faculty level, no one ever questioned Murray’s authority. The students, because they were so fond of Adger, saw the transition differently.

“The students vented on his leaving by booing at the assembly,” Murray said. “I was faced with a great deal of angst.”

Murray saw the bond Adger had with the student body not as intimidation but as an incentive to aspire to be as good a principal.

After revamping Grady, Adger went on to become an assistant superintendent for APS and was, at one point, an interim principal at North Atlanta High School.

Adger left behind a legacy at Grady. With the help of the faculty members he hired, he created new programs opportunities for future generations of students at the school. Adger developed new organizations, but more importantly, he created a relationship with his student body. To him, being principal of Grady was not just a job; it was an occasion to make future generations better.

“He treated them as his own children,” Willoughby said.