Many adjectives come to mind when trying to describe Daniel Gilmer McLaurin, who died July 31, at age 100. A few are “intelligent, brave, kind, generous, loyal, cooperative,” and “dedicated, innovative, and respected.”

The last three words particularly describe his role as an exemplary leader in educational circles.

After reflecting on the nearly 50 years that I knew Mr. McLaurin, and after talking to top leaders who worked with him, including Dr. Conrad Welker in the 1950s and ’60s in the Natchez school system and Dr. Billy B. Thames in the 1970s of Copiah-Lincoln Community College, where Mr. McLaurin served on the board of trustees, three words were repeated: Dedicated, innovative and respected.

For 40 years, he led the way in creating a local school district that became a blueprint for other districts. Beginning in 1937 as assistant superintendent and in 1950 as superintendent, his abilities were so highly regarded that in 1952, when the Mississippi Legislature mandated that all school districts were to be abolished and then reconstituted, Adams County alone was charged to become a single district for both county and city. The new district became a model later used by other Mississippi districts.

Because of new industry in Adams County from the late 1930s through the 1950s and the resulting population growth, new schools were needed.

Existing schools were maintained, and from 1949 until 1961, eight new schools were constructed and others expanded.

Later, after a federal court order required all high school students to be housed in one building, the new Natchez High was also expanded.

These well constructed buildings, now many decades old, still function admirably.

As a result of the re-districting, students who had been attending deplorable one-room school buildings in the county now had access to state-of-the-art educational opportunities.

In order to staff these new buildings with the best instructors available, Mr. McLaurin developed an extensive recruiting effort. Dr. Welker said he had the best organization for recruiting in all of Mississippi.

I am personally grateful to Mr. McLaurin, because my career in education began when he hired me to teach.

Along with additional instructors, new curricula were developed, new programs established and strong programs enhanced.

Routinely, the local school system was rated at the highest accreditation levels of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Mississippi Office of Accreditation.

Special efforts were formed to retain students so they would finish high school, including a unique summer counseling program involving students, parents and school counselors.

The community’s personal involvement with and support of the schools was another unique innovation.

To retain teachers and help them further their educations, Mr. McLaurin set up yet another ground-breaking concept. In the early 1960s, graduate-level classes began being taught in Natchez by professors from Ole Miss and USM.

From this innovation soon came undergraduate college classes at USM-Natchez campus. In 1972, Copiah-Lincoln Community College began offering the first two years of college in Natchez, and later, Alcorn State University began offering higher level programs here.

Many educators say none of this would have happened without the foresight and dedication of Gilmer McLaurin.

Throughout his career, Mr. McLaurin continued his own education. After graduating from Millsaps College, he received master’s degrees from Peabody College and the University of Alabama and attended the University of Chicago, U.S.M. and Columbia University in New York.

Many innovative school programs resulted, including special education classes, speech therapy and classes for the gifted and talented.

As a result of Mr. McLaurin’s dedication and innovation, he earned total respect. Dr. Welker said, “Mr. McLaurin was always raising the bar. He carried the position of superintendent as far as he could.”

Dr. Thames agrees. “Because of him,” he said, “Natchez had excellent schools. He was a strong leader, admired and respected by all, both the white community and the African-American community.”

George West Jr. was the first African-American to serve on the Natchez-Adams School Board. Appointed in 1967, he served 29 years. Recently he said, “Mr. McLaurin knew what it took in the educational arena to make things go well. He was a great leader.”

That compliment is echoed by today’s superintendent, Dr. Anthony Morris, recently named Mississippi Superintendent of the Year.

He said, “What impressed me about Mr. McLaurin was that until 2005, when he moved from Natchez to Kentucky, he’d call me regularly to talk about how things were going, how we were succeeding. He was always interested.”

Daniel Gilmer McLaurin left an indelible mark on the world of education. Legions of people remain deeply grateful.

Carolyn Vance Smith is a local educator and a friend of Gilmer McLaurin.