By Scott Harvey
Bonham – The service of a former Northeast Texas educator and coach continues to be honored today, as Bonham ISD administrators elect to name the high school gym after Leonard Gerner.
Citizens in attendance at Monday's meeting gave Gerner a standing ovation as he thanked the school board, who will determine a time this fall to formally dedicate the building in his honor.
Gerner's long career in education included a stint as principal and coach of four different sports. He served in Ector for 10 years, and then in Bonham for 28 years. He served two terms on the Bonham ISD's Education Improvement Council.
Gerner earned a Master of Education degree in 1952 from East Texas State Teacher's College (now Texas A&M University-Commerce). His honors include induction into the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame; the Fannin County Senior Citizen of the Year award, given to he and his wife, Marie, in 2000; and the Citizens of the Year Award for Bonham in 2005.
The Board sub-committee will continue developing the procedures and the form for naming school facilities and receiving requests from alumni and community.