For many years in the Union County schools it was common practice for teachers to teach split grades. Funds for operating the school system were not as plentiful then as now, and the current laws that govern pupil: teacher ratio had much more latitude. It was nothing unusual for an elementary teacher to have forty or more students in one classroom, and many teachers taught two grades in one classroom. Additionally, some teachers concurrently served as principals.
Many students who attended Luttrell Elementary in the last quarter of the 20th century and in the early 2000s will remember a fine gentleman who served the school as a teaching principal. Many of my fellow graduates of the Horace Maynard High School Class of 1983 knew Mr. Johnny Gregg in this capacity, but I was not privileged to meet him until I joined the faculty of Luttrell Elementary in the fall of 1987.
Mr. Gregg was at so many times a calming influence in the midst of the teaching storm. I had many discussions with him during the course of the eight years I taught at Luttrell. He often shared with me experiences he had as a teacher and principal. When I later became an administrator, I had it easier than Mr. Gregg. I was only a principal, not a teaching principal, but other things seem to never change for principals. Every principal bears a tremendous amount of responsibility for the education of the students in the school served. Responsibilities range from reports that must be filed, students that must be disciplined, parents whose concerns must be addressed, teachers whose needs must be considered daily, and school board members and superintendents that must be kept involved and informed in the operations of the school.
Mr. Gregg was a gentle soul, a kind gentleman who took his job to heart. Conflict was disturbing to Mr. Gregg, and the principal’s job always involves that element. Mr. Gregg on staff the one year I served as principal of Luttrell, and I will always be grateful for his kindness and support. If nothing else, it was a comfort to know that someone had trod the way before, and had survived to tell about it.
Mr. Gregg told me he came to the realization after a few years that he no longer wanted to serve as principal, so he informed his board member. Mr. Gregg stayed on Luttrell’s faculty as principal until retirement.
Mr. Gregg typically had a calming influence on those around him. I never knew Mr. Gregg to have overt discipline problems—as the late Wanza Sharp would have said, “He had order!” He was soft spoken and kind-hearted. Things I remember affectionately about Mr. Gregg was his devotion to UT football. Mr. Gregg struck me as a nervous man, and football was undoubtedly a great refreshment to his soul. Mr. Gregg was a man of faith. He often talked about his church but never boasted of his church work. Mr. Gregg was a family man—he loved and often spoke affectionally of his wife and daughters.
I also remember Mr. Gregg would begin on the first day of school “counting down”. Occasionally I’d meet him in the hall and ask, “Which day is this, Mr. Gregg?” He might say, “Seventy-four of 180.”
I believe Mr. Gregg’s greatest legacy was his positivity. I never heard him say one negative thing about any thing or person. I so often wish I could emulate his example. If Mr. Gregg had bad thoughts, he kept them to himself.
I was saddened to hear of Mr. Gregg’s death a few years ago. The funeral service was at his church. One of the greatest gifts a teacher can leave is not “book lessons”, but rather “life lessons” instilled in their students and friends. I learned a hymn at Mr. Gregg’s funeral, “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us”. I’m sure there is no greater thought that Mr. Gregg would have loved to leave us—the Heavenly Father’s love for us is indeed “. . . vast beyond all measure . . .” Undoubtedly it’s that love that provided Mr. Gregg with the peace he showed even in the midst of the storm.
In honor of Mr. Gregg, Dear Reader, leave you with some thoughts about football from my email collection.

"The word "genius" isn't applicable in football.
A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."
--Joe Theisman NFL football quarterback & sports analyst.

Southerners know their religions:
“Bapdiss”, “Methdiss”, Football

A Southern boy will never say:
I don't have a favorite football team.

George MacIntyre, Vanderbilt football coach,
surveying the team roster that included 26 freshmen and 25 sophomores:
"Our biggest concern this season will be diaper rash."

Rick Venturi, Northwestern football coach:
"The only difference between me and General Custer is
that I have to watch the films on Sunday."