Craig Porter Jr.

Craig Porter, Jr., 65, died on April 19, 2013 in a San Angelo nursing center, following years of multiple complications arising from his diabetic disease. A Memorial Service for Craig will be conducted at The Anglican Church of the Good Shepherd in San Angelo at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2013 with the Reverend Stanley Burdock officiating. As Craig wished, ashes from his cremation will be scattered over the grounds of Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal, Virginia. Arrangements are by Johnson’s Funeral Home.

Craig was born in Austin on February 24, 1948 with the family moving to San Angelo in February of 1951. He graduated from Central High School in 1965 and thereafter attended The University of the South, the University of the Episcopal Church at Sewanee, Tennessee, receiving his BA degree in 1978, with a major in English Literature. Then he attended Texas Tech University, receiving a Masters Degree in English. Commencing in the late 1970s, Craig taught English at a private Academy in Georgia, then transferred to teach at Battle Ground Academy, at Franklin, Tennessee for several years.

In the summer of 1983, Craig commenced a long term association with Randolph-Macon Academy, a Methodist sponsored, co-educational military academy in Northwest Virginia. Although his tenure there has been as an English teacher, Craig was also named as the English department head, then the Director of Admissions of the Academy for 5 years, and thereafter he was elevated to Academic Dean in 1995. Perhaps his most memorable experiences during the Admissions and Deanship era were the four summer trips he made to the Republic of China, where he met with the parents of prospective students for the Academy, with many of the students thereafter coming to R-MA from China for their high school studies. In 1999, and with the difficulties of diabetic life impacting his abilities, Craig returned to his greatest passion, teaching in the classroom full-time, which continued thereafter until his retirement in June of 2011, concluding 29 years at Randolph-Macon.

Craig was honored at his formal retirement function in the late spring of 2011, being described as “Teacher, Administrator, Legend” of the Academy. Although his time as an Academic Dean had ceased more than ten years prior to retirement, perhaps his greatest honor at the several retirement functions was the repeated loud chanting out toward him of the nickname bestowed upon him by the student body of his beloved school, the acronym of “DP”, for Dean Porter.

Craig is survived by his father, Craig Porter, of San Angelo; his brother Judd R. Porter and wife Koleta, of San Angelo; his niece, Amber Porter of Frisco, Texas; his uncle, Earnest Porter of Ocala, Florida; his aunt, Mary Carter of Dalhart, Texas; and a number of cousins, the children of his uncle and aunt.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Ty Hughston for his care and attention toward Craig, and also thanks to the caregivers of Meadow Creek Nursing Center, and the personnel of Hospice of San Angelo for their services to him in his last days.

Memorials may be made to the Craig Porter, Jr. English Scholarship Fund at Randolph-Macon Academy, Front Royal, Virginia 22630, or as the donor may otherwise choose.