When Rison School began in 1921, the principal was P. R. Ivy about whom little is now known. He was at Rison during its earliest days and was instrumental in helping to establish a great learning institution. UPDATE-September 2, 2006: Thanks to information received from one of Mr. Ivy's sons, Vernon Ivy, we are happy to provide the missing information about Rison's first principal. CLICK HERE to read the story. We learned from Vernon that none of Mr. Ivy's seven children followed in his footsteps to become educators.
In 1926, Cecil Vincent Fain became the second principal at Rison School, a position that he held for 32 years, from 1926 to 1958. (Click here for a brief history of Bradley, Rison, and Lee High Schools by Cecil V. Fain). Click here for a short video clip where Mr. Fain discusses the value of honesty and doing your best that he instilled into his students.
	On April 13, 1974, in recognition of Mr. Fain's value to Rison School and to the community, the city of Huntsville celebrated "Cecil V. Fain Appreciation Day." Here is the program for that celebration:

CECIL v. FAIN Began teaching career in Madison County while he was still in his teens. After time in World War I where he served in France, "Fessor Fain" returned to Madison County as principal of Joe Bradley School. During his career he was to serve as principal at eight schools in the city and county, including 32 years at Rison High School. Among his line of firsts for our area he organized Troop 1 Boy Scouts of America. Also the first American Legion Post in Madison County and is past Commander of Post 37 here. The first Parent-Teachers Association in Huntsville. The first safety patrol was at Rison. Later was throughout the city with the sponsorship of the Kiwanis Club. Some of the other "firsts" are the Youth Camp and Spelling Bee He, being very athletic, promoted sports in the schools, winning many trophies. Leadership like his has meant a great deal to many people in the North Alabama area especially Huntsville and Madison County. "Mr. Fain, we all salute you."

A poetic tribute to "Old Man - Cecil Fain, 1896-1992 .... He Built Bridges!"

Cecil V. Fain, Date Unknown
(click photo for a larger version)

Editor's note: At yesterday's 2009 annual reunion, Frances Case, Buel's widow, brought this photo (above) of Mr. Fain, a copy of which most of us had never seen. Frances said that during the sitting, Mr. Fain said that he needed something to do with his hands, so Buel handed him what appears to be a rolled up calendar, and then snapped this picture. Isn't it great?

Mr. Alva Strang Simms (pictured at left) was the Principal at Rison from 1957 or 1958 until 1962 or 1963, information that we learned from Mr. Simms' daughter, Meri Susan. When leaving Rison, Mr. Simms was presented the following undated poem: Editor's Note: A special poem made even more special because it was printed on Rison School's stationery.

In either 1962 or 1963, the last principal to serve at Rison School was Clarence O. Jones, who succeeded Mr. Simms. Mr. Jones remained in that position until the school closed as a learning institution in 1967 at which time he became principal of Colonial Hills Elementary School on Meridian Street. Mr. Jones was a tireless worker and as interested and concerned in and with his students as was Mr. Fain.

One of Mr. Jones’s former students said, “All the kids were afraid of Mr. Jones because they heard that he had an electric paddle!” She also said that he would scold a child, shake his head back and forth, as if shaking his head “no,” and say, “I’ll teeeeaaaar you up boy!!” As an adult, she said that Mr. Jones was always very friendly and seemed glad to see her.

A teacher said that she taught 7th grade English and Social Studies at Rison in 1963 when Mr. Jones was principal. She said that he made her spank her first student. The situation was that she had sent a female student to the office to be spanked and Mr. Jones brought the student back, called her out into the hall, handed her the paddle and said that he didn't spank female students. She said that she was terrified because she had never spanked a student. When asked if there were any repercussions, she said, "No, not at all. At that time you could still discipline kids."