Nonprofit Mississippi News Most believed that a Mississippian would become the first superintendent of education in the new state. A Mississippi State education professor recommended Richard Boyd (a local superintendent from Ohio) apply for the position. Jack Reed, a Tupelo businessman, was the first to chair the new Board of Education. He impressed Boyd and convinced his fellow members that Reed was the right person to lead Mississippi’s public schools into the future. Boyd, who was 92 years old, died in Cleveland, Ohio at a hospice. He was close to his three daughters. “Dick Boyd was a difficult person to work for. He was the first (appointed), superintendent, and he was originally from out of the state, a Yankee,” said Andy Mullins, of Oxford. Mullins has a long history in education in Mississippi and was a special assistant for Boyd while he was state superintendent. Mississippi’s schools had a statewide elected superintendent for education before the 1980s. The state Board of Education was composed of three elected officials from the state: the superintendent, attorney general, and secretary of state. Education proponents, which included the then-Gov. William Winter and others were able push through a proposal for amending the Constitution to replace an elected board with a nine-member appointed board. This board was referred to in early days as the layboard of education. The board would then select the superintendent. Education reformers believed that the state’s schools shouldn’t be run by politicians who are only interested in winning the next election. As the chair of the Mississippi Economic Council during the 1960s, Reed led efforts to keep public school open, even though many political leaders wanted them to close. He was then appointed to the Board of Education, and was chosen by his fellow members as the first chairman. The first task of the new board was to select a superintendent. Many believed the choice would be Biloxi Superintendent OlonRay or Jackson Superintendent Bob Fortenberry. Both were strong supporters of Winter’s education reform efforts. Reed was adamant that an outsider was necessary to pass Winter’s Education Reform Act of82. This Act was passed in December special session. It came after voters narrowly approved the constitutional amendments to replace the elected board and superintendent with an appointed board. Reed, who was 91 years old, died in 2016. Mullins stated in the Journal of Mississippi History, that if Boyd had failed, there could have been legislative attempts to make Boyd a new superintendent. The historic Education Reform Act (which included mandated kindergarten) could have been endangered. The Education Reform, which was also known as the historic Education Reform, included a mandatory school attendance requirement, a statewide testing program and a teacher raise. Mullins stated that Boyd was a professional educator who won the trust of the governor and legislators. He also managed to win the support of Mississippi educators, who might have initially been skeptical about being led by someone outside. Boyd and local superintendents worked together to pass the Education Reform Act. Boyd, who served five years as superintendent of schools, returned to Ohio in order to become an interim superintendent. He was back in Mississippi in 1997. Later, he moved to Oxford and worked at the Barksdale Reading Institute*. He also taught at the University of Mississippi. Boyd and Mickee lived 18 years in Oxford before moving back to Ohio. Boyd, who was honored by the University of Mississippi School of Education in 2019, said that he would advise upcoming education graduates to visit places where they feel they can be of service to students. Many graduates are afraid to leave their comfort zone and go outside their comfort zone. “I admire graduates who will do this despite their own backgrounds.” Boyd and Winter were both out of office when Boyd arrived in Mississippi. But they quickly became friends. Winter, Boyd, and Mullins were part of a group that visited Major League Baseball stadiums each summer. They visited every stadium over the course of more than 30 years, some more than once. Mullins stated that Boyd was last seen in the group around two years ago, when they visited Cleveland’s Progressive Field, Boyd’s hometown. He couldn’t travel anymore. He was kind. Mullins stated that he was an expert in education. He loved it. He was also patient and saw the best in everyone. He would tell me if I was mad at someone that he had some good qualities.” Boyd, who was an avid golfer and runner up until the end of his life, was forced to leave his home to go to a hospice in his final days. A cappella from Boyd’s first high school visited the hospice recently and sang the school fight song in front of an open window. Mullins stated that Boyd seemed at peace after the tribute was paid by his daughters. Maybe schools in Mississippi should also sing Richard Boyd’s praises. *The Barksdale Reading Institute was established in 2000 by Jim Barksdale and Sally Barksdale. Mississippi Today’s board includes Jim Barksdale.