From teaching “all three R’s” in a two-room schoolhouse in 1954 to being school superintendent and principal, Wilbur Barnes has given a lifetime to the Russell County school system.
Barnes, 56, has been the principal of Russell Springs Elementary for 10 years. But Barnes is more than a principal. He is a husband to Margie, father to his children Brad and B.B., and master to his faithful dog, Ugly.
Ugly goes everywhere with Barnes, except to school.
She knows Saturdays and Sundays are her days with him. “I don’t know how she knows what day it is, “Barnes said. “But she does.”
When he’s not at school, Barnes works on his farm. People usually find him on his tractor with Ugly following behind. After 34 years in the Russell County school system,
Barnes often thinks about retiring. “I guess I’ll just get up and not go to school,” he said. “But if my health stays good, I’ll stay a few more years.”
