Earl W. Apgar

Earl was born on February 20, 1944, in Lebanon, Ohio, to the late Earl Apgar and Kathryn (Gray) Apgar.

He married Carol Jean (Pence) Apgar on January 28, 1966, in Lebanon, Ohio, and she survives him in College Station. He is also survived by his brothers Del Apgar of Cincinnati, Ohio; Michael Apgar of Lebanon, Ohio; son Brad (Goly) Apgar; and grandchildren Aidan, Addison, and AJ Apgar of College Station, Texas.

Earl graduated from Ohio University with a BA in education in 1966, and an MA in 1967. He began his 35-year career with the Toledo Public Schools as a teacher, coach, advisor and dean of students at Start High School. Earl later became assistant principal and acting principal at Rogers High School, principal at DeVeaux Junior High School, School Improvement Leader for the Rogers High School Learning Community, and ended his career (the first time!) in 2002 as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources.

Because education was Earl’s lifeblood, he returned to TPS only months after retirement as a consultant in the development and implementation of TPS charter schools; and in 2004, he became CEO of the Toledo Education Center (Phoenix and Polly Fox Academies), retiring again in 2007.

As important as the education of children was to Earl, equally important was his commitment to the Toledo Public Schools community. He was a mayoral appointee to the Toledo Board of Community Relations for the city of Toledo, and he served on the boards of the Youth-to-Youth Drug Prevention Program, Partners in Education and Harbor Behavioral Healthcare. Earl also chaired numerous TPS committees and several successful levy campaigns.

Earl found great reward in preparing future school leaders for their roles in a constantly changing educational landscape, and taught administration and supervision courses at both Bowling Green State University and the University of Toledo. He was also passionate about improving administrator performance, mentoring many beginning school leaders in TPS. Earl was active in the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel (TAAP), serving as a trustee and as director of the TAAP Leadership Academy.

Always a proud Bobcat, Earl served as president of the Ohio University Alumni Greater Toledo Chapter, and the OU Society of Alumni and Friends Board.

In 2007, Earl and his wife left Ohio to join their son and his family in College Station. Inspired by his new locale, and armed with the desire to continue working in his chosen profession, he became a supervisor of student teachers at Texas A&M University, and held that position until his illness. He was a graduate of the College Station Citizens University, election worker and assistant judge for College Station city elections, chair of the College Station Historic Preservation Committee, and president of the Woodland Hills Homeowners Association.

When Earl took time for himself, he enjoyed a good bottle of wine on his patio with Jean and dog, Andy, by his side. He was a master gardener who created beautiful outdoor living spaces, and he was an avid Cincinnati Reds and Browns fan.

On a trip to Colorado six years ago, Earl fell in love with the Rocky Mountains. Shortly thereafter, he and Jean purchased their own mountain retreat in Seven Devils, North Carolina, where they summered each year, enjoying the wildlife and scenery of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Earl could be found on his balcony each morning and each evening watching the sun rise and set over Grandfather Mountain, wondering how a small town boy found his way to this magical place.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station.

Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Earl’s memory are asked to consider Hospice of Brazos Valley, 502 W. 26th St., Bryan, Texas, or a charity of the donor’s choosing.