During the commencement ceremony for Memorial High School's class of 1966, the graduating seniors said a special goodbye to their assistant principal, Wayne Schaper Sr.

"When he was introduced, the students gave him a standing ovation," said Jerry Kroll, one of the graduates that day.

It's important to understand, Kroll added, that Schaper's primary job that school year had been discipline.

"Those 18-year-olds appreciate how he dealt with all of us. He dealt with each kid as if that kid was one of his."

Schaper, 79, earned the respect of students, colleagues and community members throughout his 55-year history with Spring Branch Independent School District, Kroll said.

The Spring Shadows resident has been a teacher, coach, campus and district-level administrator and most recently, a member of Spring Branch ISD's board of trustees.

Because of health reasons, Schaper submitted a letter of resignation to board president Karen Peck June 8. His resignation from Trustee Position 1 became effective after the board's June 27 meeting.

"I just love doing what I've done," Schaper said in mid-June. "I thank God for giving me the health and the ability to do that up to now."

Trustees have approved an appointment process to fill Schaper's vacant seat - his term continues until May 2017. Community members had until the June 27 board meeting to submit applications, and trustees plan to review them, and possibly take action, during a special meeting June 29. The time has yet to be announced.

Early years

Schaper became a full-time teacher in 1961, but his first experiences in the classroom date back to 1960, when he juggled part-time substitute teaching with professional baseball in his hometown of Galveston.

Baseball was an early love for Schaper, who also played during his years as a student at Texas A&M University.

He pitched in 1959 and 1960 for minor league teams that included the Odessa Dodgers, the Durham Bulls and the Knoxville Smokies.

But by 1961, Schaper found he couldn't pitch any more, and he returned to Galveston.

When a former coach invited Schaper to join him at Spring Branch ISD, Schaper accepted and went on to teach math and coach baseball and football (along with one year of basketball) at Landrum Junior High School until 1964.

He then moved to the newly built Spring Woods High School for the 1964-1965 school year.

It didn't take long, he said, to realize education was his calling. In fact, the most rewarding times for him were his students' "ah-ha" moments.

"It was being able to get students to understand and like mathematics, getting them to understand it and see it could be fun."

A servant leader

Schaper probably would have been content to continue teaching, but after his first year at Spring Woods, Superintendent H.M. Landrum sent Schaper to Memorial High School to fill an associate principal's vacancy. Schaper became the school's principal in 1967 and remained until 1988.

Schaper, whose first degree was a bachelor's in construction engineering, earned his teaching certificate and a master's degree in educational administration and math from Sam Houston State University.

One of the best things about being a principal, he said, was being there for his students.

"It's the kids, working with students is what God put me on earth to do," he said.

"I loved every one of them. I never gave up on any kid."

After his years at Memorial, Schaper spent 13 years as a district administrator. From there, from 2002 until this year, he was elected to five three-year terms with the board of trustees. He was the trustee president for three terms and also served as vice president and secretary.

Today, he said, he takes pride in the fact that Spring Branch has retained its reputation for academic excellence.

"Spring Branch always had cutting-edge education," he said.

How did the district stay academically competitive?

The key, Schaper said, has been openness to change.

"You have to change with the times. You have to keep up with the educational standards. We've had a lot of board members who can see that."

Not only have the district's trustees embraced growth and change, they've been proactive about staying on top of national education trends and best practices.

"You have to meet the needs of every child, not just a few."

In addition to his devotion to Spring Branch ISD, Schaper has served his community over the years. He has been president of the Rotary Club of Memorial-Spring Branch and founded its scholarship program for area high school students. He also served as treasurer of Holy Cross Lutheran Church for about 20 years.

"Ever since we've been here (in Spring Branch), it's been a tight-knit community where we've been a family. You can't even put it into words. I give to my community what my community gives to me."

Giving to others is part of who Schaper is, said Kroll, who now is a friend of Schaper's.

"He was always the impactful leader in his group. At the same time, no job was too small for him. He was a servant leader."

Mary Kay Coleman worked with Schaper when she taught history at Memorial High School in the late '60s and early 1970s and again when she was Spring Branch ISD's first director of communication and community relations.

"Wayne Schaper Sr. is one of the wisest men I've worked for," Coleman said. "I was amazed at watching how he handled things. No conflict went unresolved. It all stems from his personal integrity, his character.

"Once in a wonderful while, something that seems too good to be true turns out to be better than expected."

Schaper and his wife, Ruby, have four grown children.