Francis Addy Snelgrove

LEESVILLE — Mr. Francis Addy Snelgrove of Leesville passed away on July 2, 2009, at Lexington Medical Center. Addy was the son of the late Horace and Ruth Snelgrove.
 
Born Feb.14, 1925, in the Gilbert Area of Lexington County, Snelgrove received a B.S. Degree in Mathematics from Newberry College in 1945, a Masters Degree in Secondary Education from the University of South Carolina in 1952 and an Advanced Professional Certificate in Public School Administration from Columbia University in New York in 1954. During the two summers he was a student at Columbia University, Snelgrove worked with the New York Police Athletic League to provide recreation for “youngsters of the street” on the lower east side of Manhattan.
 
Upon completion of his education, Snelgrove spent one year in postwar Germany, where he taught college algebra and high school mathematics to U.S. soldiers at American University in Berlin.
 
He moved to Spartanburg County where he spent five years as a secondary school principal and two years as a supervising principal in grades 1 through 12 in the New Prospect area of District One.
 
During the 1953-54 school year, Snelgrove moved to Hackensack, NJ, to teach elementary school and continue his education at Columbia University.
 
He returned to the Upstate the next year as an assistant principal at Chapman High School in Spartanburg District 1. He then moved east and spent two years as principal of York High School.
 
Snelgrove became principal of Camden High School in 1957, a position he held until 1969, when he became superintendent of Camden City Schools.
 
He then became superintendent of the unified county and city schools in Kershaw County in 1978. Snelgrove aided in the building and/or completion of North Central High School, new buildings for Camden Primary and Camden Elementary schools and athletic facilities for Lugoff-Elgin High, a music facility at Camden High and expansion and improvements at Lugoff Elementary School and Kershaw County Vocational Center.
 
Under his leadership at Camden High School (CHS) a number of programs were established such as the Army ROTC Program as well as the Vocational Wing Addition of CHS.
 
Service activities in the educational profession include: National Council of BETA Club-25 years of service-1955-1980; Editorial Advisor, Education USA; Consultant for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools; Representative from SC to organize AASA’s first South Atlantic Conference on School Administration and for SC on SACS Coordinating Council (to pioneer development of) Late Childhood/Early Adolescent Education in 1969, a forerunner of the present middle school concept; Editorial Board of the National Association of Secondary School Principals.
 
He also served as President of three SCASA affiliated associations: SC Association of Secondary School Principals; SC Association of School Personnel Administrators; SC Association of School Superintendents.
 
Snelgrove was also a member of American Association of School Administrators, National Association of School Personnel Administrators, Life Member of the National Education Association, Phi Delta Kappa, and Kappa Delta Pi, Chairman and Charter Member of SC Museum of Education Advisory Committee; and numerous other national and state committees.
 
Even as a student, Snelgrove was a very active leader. He was a member of the BETA Club for 3 years at Gilbert High School. While attending Newberry College, he was the Vice President of his Freshman class, and President of his junior and senior classes; Business Manager for the college newspaper and a member of Newberry College Student Council. He also continued his support of Newberry College by serving on the Board of Trustees, and as a member and President of the Alumni Association Board of Managers. Snelgrove received the NC Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1984. He received the Sesquicentennial Medal of Honor Award in 2006 as part of the NC 150th Year Anniversary Celebration.
 
Some of the awards received during his educational career included: Outstanding Superintendent Award from the SC Association of Adult Education Directors-1980; Outstanding School Administrators Award from the SCASA presented by the R.L. Bryan Company-1984; Greater Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce’s Presidential Award-1984; Honorary Life Membership in the Kershaw County Chamber of Commerce-1985. In 1986 he received the Albert T. Scroggins Award presented by the SC Scholastic Press Association, College of Journalism, from the University of South Carolina for outstanding contributions to scholastic journalism and education in SC.
 
Outside the field of education, Snelgrove participated in community organizations in Kershaw and Lexington Counties including Lions Club and American Legion. He was also very active as a church member while in Camden at St. Timothy’s Lutheran and in Gilbert at St. Paul’s Lutheran.
 
Snelgrove was an avid outdoorsman and supported the ideas of wildlife conservation throughout his life. He was a youth leader, sponsor and counselor on gun safety, and life member of the NRA. Snelgrove was president of the Lexington County Forestry Association from 1988-1989, and named South Carolina Tree Farmer of the Year and Southern Region Tree Farmer Finalist in 1994.
 
Francis Addy Snelgrove will be forever remembered in the hearts of his friends and family. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 29 years, Deltha “Jaye” Snelgrove, and daughters, Delores “Dee” S. Camp (Wayne) of Inman and Sandra S. Friddle (Frank) of Honea Path; his stepchildren include, Anita Runyan of Florida, Melissa Runyan of West Columbia, and Keith Runyan (Polly) of North Carolina. His grandchildren include Rachel Friddle-Johnson, Rebecca Friddle, Aaron Smith, Jake Jacobs, Alesia Martin and Tim Camp. His surviving sibling is Mary S. Caulder (Leland) of Alabama. He was predeceased by his first wife, Margaret Queen Snelgrove.
 
Visitation will be held at Barr-Price Funeral Home, 609 Northwood Road, Lexington, SC, from 6:00-8:00 on Sunday, July 5. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 on Monday, July 6 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 246 St. Paul’s Church Road, Gilbert. The graveside service will be held at 4:00 on Monday at Grassy Pond Baptist Church, 254 Grassy Pond Road, Gaffney, SC.
 
Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Priceville Road Cemetary Fund, 246 St. Paul’s Church Road, Gilbert, SC 29054 or Newberry College, 2100 College St., Newberry, SC 29108.
 
On-line condolences may be sent to Barr-Price .com.
 
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