Ed Tallman

The Clarendon School District 1 community was rocked with news of CSD1 Board member James Edmond “Ed” Tallman’s death at his home in Summerton on Saturday.

Born September 28, 1931, in Mansfield, Ohio, he was the son of the late Frederick and Pauline Sanders Tallman. He was a graduate of Hillsdale College in Michigan with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He earned a master’s degree in school administration from the University of Michigan. He served in the United States Air Force and fought valiantly in the Korea War. He retired as a school principal in Hickory, N.C.

He was an avid athletic fan having lettered in baseball and football in his early days and was a football coach at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, N.C.

His love of academics and especially children led him to jobs as both a high school assistant principal and an elementary school principal.

By all counts, he was a devoted educator.

“He was very modest. As a school board member for Clarendon School District 1, he was a tremendous advocate for our children,” said CSD1 Superintendent Dr. Rose Wilder. “He was very supportive of our athletic programs. You could always depend on Mr. Tallman to see the total picture. He knew what questions to ask. I’m quite sure the football players and the athletic department will surely miss him because he would be there. I’m also sure that his colleagues on the board would say the same thing. Due to his impact and his influence on the board, I think Clarendon District 1 is a stronger and better place.”

Tallman was a committed board member for the district’s children at all levels,

“I so admired Mr. Tallman for his love for the children of Clarendon 1,” said Rep. Cathy Harvin. “He was always available to be present at programs that featured the children and their advancement in academic, the arts and athletics. There was not program that was too unimportant for his to attend. He will be sorely missed by the entire CSD1 community.”

Surviving Tallman, in addition to his wife of Summerton, are a daughter, Kathy Tallman of Summerton; two sons, James Edmond Tallman Jr. and his wife Cindy of Claremont, N.C. and David Porter Tallman of Huntersville, N.C.; a granddaughter, Skye Tallman of Hickory; and a great-granddaughter, Aeleast Pope of Hickory; two brothers, Whitey Tallman and Don Tallman, both of Kalamazoo, Michigan; and a sister, Annabelle Bowman, also of Kalamazoo.

“Mr. Tallman’s death has been the greatest loss to Clarendon School District 1’s board of trustees and the entire District 1 community,” said John Bonaparte, chairman of the CSD1 Board. “He gave of himself untiringly. He was an advocate for all children and was a very caring individual in everything he did.”

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at Scott’s Branch High School in Summerton, with Dr. Rose Wilder officiating.

Stephens Funeral Home and Crematory, located at 304 N. Church Street in Manning, is in charge of the arrangements.