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Kathleen Miller Turner (Tulsa, OK)
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I've never met a teacher like Harry Charles, either as a student or a parent. Mr. Charles was that sort of man whose humor was laced with love and whose theatrics were tailor-made for instructing. For decades, each year he took a bunch of kids who had never picked up a musical instrument and turned them into musicians. No, I didn't go on to play flute professionally, nor did I even play it in high school. I did, however, leave Port Neches Jr. High with the confidence to learn new skills, due in large part to Mr. Charles' band class. I'm a writer by profession now, and most of the 40 books I have in print contain some kind of humor along with the message. I credit Harry Charles for that. Someday I hope to see him again in heaven and tell him just how much it meant to sit in his last period class and hear, "All you lovely well-behaved children pick up your instruments and get ready to play. Flutes, you play too."
Well done, Mr. Charles. Well done.
Thursday, July 14, 2011 |
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DOONA LEBLANC (PORT NECHES, TX)
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SO SORRY FOR THE LOST OF A BEAUTIFUL PERSON FLY HIGH MR. CHARLES THANK U FOR ALL UR EFFORTS IN TEACHING POOR SOULS LIKE ME .
Thursday, July 14, 2011 |
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Darrell Commander (Austin, TX)
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I was in Mr. Charles' PRIDE program at Port Neches Middle School from 1984 through 1987. I will always remember his dry wit. He used to give kudos for a correct answer by saying, "Very good. And I didn't pay you anything. You know what that means? You're good for nothing." (Always followed by his trademark chuckle.) He was one of the first teachers to ever use computers as a vehicle for teaching a traditional curriculum (Social Studies and History, in this case.) He was able to use my existing love of computers to spark my interest in those subjects, which remains to this day. At the same time, he cultivated my interest in computer graphics and encouraged the use of that discipline in our projects (for instance, writing a primitive BASIC program on the Apple II to draw various coats of arms from the Middle Ages.) He was the first to introduce me to assembly language programming and very early commercial drawing packages. It's not an understatement to say that I owe my career to Mr. Charles. If he saw some of the things we're working with today, he would probably say that they were "fine" (with an emphasis put on the word to make it clear that he was using it to denote something of very high value, not something that was merely adequate.) He will be missed, but he will never be forgotten.
Thursday, July 14, 2011 |
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Mark Godley (Port Neches, TX)
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RIP, Mr. Charles. He was a great guy. I loved him as my band teacher in Jr High. He made band a fun class. No matter how hard school was, band class was always fun, and something to look forward to. Mr. Charles was always so funny. He kept us laughing. He was an extremely smart man, too. I was always impressed with him. Blessings and comfort to his family. Mark Godley
Thursday, July 14, 2011 |
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Sue Thompson Softy (Pleasant Hill, CA)
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Dear Cary and family
As mentioned in other posts - Mr. Charles was my Band Director at PNJHS 1975 - 1976. He was so special ---and so beloved. He left as band director after our 8th grade year. Being in band the following year without him standing on that wooden box with his baton in the air, looking down and over his glasses at us...made us realize how much he meant to us!
After parenting young teens - I see just how unique and gifted he was - motivating so many of us teenagers toward successful introductions to music and life. How in the world did he do that?
I can only imagine how much you all miss him. Please accept my heartfelt sympathies. He was a wonderful man.
Sincerest regards,
Sue "Thompson" Softy
Thursday, July 14, 2011 |
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