Former Wellington Mayor and Kennedy Elementary School Principal Jim Chisham died early Wednesday morning, and those who knew him say the community will never be the same.
Chisham served as Mayor of Wellington for two terms from 1999 to 2003 and as a council member for 11 years.
“He was very good at his job, whether it was a councilmen’s job or the mayor’s job he would be the one,” said Stan Gilliland, also a former Wellington mayor.
He says Chisham had been involved in the council twice during his lifetime.
“I really enjoyed working with him because he wanted to do the most for the citizens, not just the special interest groups, but do for the benefit of all,” Gilliland said.
Though Wellington City Manager Gus Collins didn’t work one-on-one with Chisham in City Hall, he said the former mayor and council member will be missed.
“He was always very supportive, always very interested and stayed engaged and we had conversations often and he gave me a lot of valuable insight on the past,” Collins said. “It’s certainly a loss to the community.”
Chisham spent more than 30 years as an educator, with 28 of those years in Wellington. He was best known as being the principal at Kennedy Elementary School since it opened in 1970, replacing the old Madison Elementary School at Woodlawn and Harvey until his retirement in 1996. He also served as principal at Washington Elementary School and as a teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School.
“He always had the interest of the kids number one. The mechanics of running the building and teachers was second. He believed in the education side, and the children and their needs,” Gilliland said.
Asst. Superintendent Jackie Glasgow used to work at Kennedy Elementary School in 1976, where she served under Chisham. She says working for Chisham was more like working with family than a boss.
“He was more than a principal. He was like our father. Like our best friend,” Glasgow said. “He truly knew how to make personal connections with his staff and the kids that attended Kennedy. He truly, truly did. He had an amazing gift.”
Glasgow said Chisham had his finger on the pulse of the school’s needs and used his resources to get the job done.
“Jim knew the families. He knew their backgrounds...and that’s what made him a great principal because the parents and kids that attended Kennedy, he knew their backgrounds and their needs,” Glasgow said.
Gilliland also says Chisham earned the title of Distinguished Lt. Governor in the Kiwanis organization, serving as Governor of the Kansas Kiwanis, Heartland Division and served on the Board of the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation for many years including one as Secretary..
Kiwanis member Paula Mortimer was in tears at the news of Chisham’s death.
“We lost a very good man today,” she said.
Chisham worked extensively with Kiwanis, organizing events and rallying the community to help its own. He served as President of the Kansas Kiwanis Foundation from 2002-2003.
“He was the glue of our group. He made all the phone calls. He made all the follow-up...he did everything he could besides the physical work. He was definitely the backbone and I don’t know what we are going to do. I can’t imagine it will be the same kind of group,” Mortimer said.
The Wellington man also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Wellington Chamber of Commerce in 2006 where he was honored for 40 years of commitment and service to local school systems, civic organizations and city government.
More information on Chisham, including his full obituary will be available later at www.wellingtondailynews.com.
Wellington, Kan. —
