Longtime Williamsburg principal, teacher Jack Foley died Wednesday

An icon at Williamsburg Independent School, Jack V. Foley, died Wednesday morning.

Foley served as a teacher and longtime principal of the school. He was principal from 1969 until 1992.

“He will be remembered for his high expectations of performance and his unique, carrying concerns for all students,” officials at Williamsburg School stated in a Facebook page post announcing his passing. “Mr. Foley demanded excellence!”

Brenda Woods, who attended Williamsburg recalled being in Foley’s high school geography class in the early 60’s.

“He was really good,” Woods said of Foley as a teaching explaining that while he was very strict, he was also thorough.

“He had a wonderful personality and was very friendly and nice,” Woods said when asked about what Foley was like outside of the classroom. “He would help you anyway he could!”

Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison and his wife Maria, who both taught at Williamsburg during the last several years of Foley’s tenure as principal, described him as everything a principal should strive to be.

“He was the epitome of a school leader,” the couple wrote on their Facebook page. “In our eyes, he was just about perfect.”