THOMASVILLE — Frank Delaney Jr. is finally ready to graduate. Thomas County Central High School’s principal will close a 39-year career in education this week.

Delaney, 64, is attempting to stay out of the spotlight in the waning days — he declined to be interviewed for this story — but his students (past and present), staff and friends want “Papa D” to know how much he’s meant to them.

“Through the years that I have been at TCCHS, knowing the man they call Papa D has been an honor, a privilege and a great learning experience I will never forget,” said Tate Donaldson, a member of the class of 2009. “To many, he has been dedicated to the world of education and eager to guidance, loyal to God, his family, our school and all of its students. He has been able to administer the right punishment to those who have done wrong and is neutral in sides of conflict.

“He has also shown enthusiasm of teaching, the joy of school spirit, the true meaning of being a Yellow Jacket and has always been yielding to talk to students about problems at school or home.”

Donaldson, who said Papa D would be greatly missed by all who know him, wished more generations of students could experience the educator.

“Knowing that his door was always open when I needed someone to talk to after my dad passed away; I would always look to him for guidance when I needed it,” Donaldson said. “He told me to believe in God and he will guide me and I would succeed in everything that I put my mind to.”

Teresa Moore said all students are equal in Delaney’s eyes. He was an assistant principal when she graduated in 1987.

“Papa D treated every student as one of his own,” she said. “If you needed a good swift kick in the behind, he would give it to you. If you needed a shoulder to cry on or a hug, he was always ready to oblige.”

She also knows how devoted Delaney is to his students and how demanding he can be about their welfare. She was in the cafeteria one day when Central endured one of the worst episodes in its history.

“I remember when Stacy Hicks was stabbed on campus. Papa D grabbed the (killer) by the shirt and pushed him against the wall, and all he could say was, ‘Why did you kill one of my kids?’” Moore recalled. “When you are a student under Papa D, you are not just a student, but his child. He loved all of us as he loved his own children.”

Coach John Booth remembers Delaney’s disarming nature.

“He was a master at diffusing problems at the front door that never made it to the hall, much less to the faculty and the students,” he said. “There is no telling how many mad mamas and daddies or lawyers that Frank ate up and chewed up in his office, and they came out laughing like hell.”

Delaney joined the Thomas County School System as a math teacher in 1969, then served as an assistant principal from 1972-93 before taking the helm at Central.

Senior Chelsea Carter said Delaney “is one of the greatest men that Thomas County Central High School will ever have bless the doorway simply by walking through it.”

“His friendliness, faith and family outlook toward everyone is just as genuine as his smile,” Carter wrote in a school paper. “This man has easily affected the lives of his students, faculty as well as anyone else who has come in contact with him. He once said, ‘We’re God’s creatures, and we are put on this earth to serve and help each other. As long as I’ve got breath in my lungs, that’s what I intend to do. Every day is an opportunity granted to me to try to have a positive impact on the lives of those I am blessed to serve.’ He never pushes his convictions on anyone and would never dream to make anyone uncomfortable, though he has an unapologetic faith that he refuses to keep hidden. I believe that his dedication, faith and pure kindness have gained the pure love of his students and co-workers.”

Ed Pilcher’s admiration and affection for Delaney runs extremely deep. The football coach worked with him for 17 years before departing recently to take over the program at Bainbridge High School.

“He is about the best ‘people’ person I have ever known,” Pilcher said. “I tell this story all the time. I see parents go in there (into his office). They were a little ticked off, go in there and see him about a problem. When they come out, they’re all smiles and they’ve done bought five chicken dinner tickets.

“He’s just a great ‘people’ person, a great boss to work for, always positive, always wanting kids to succeed. I’ve just never met a man like him before.”

Even Sarah Annie Floyd, the biggest fan of Central’s biggest rival — Thomasville High School, has grown to appreciate Delaney over the years.

“There are some shoes that you just don’t fill … and that’s a pair of them,” she said. “When someone like Frank Delaney decides it’s time to move on, you fill those shoes the best you can to overcome them not being there the best you can. And, even then, you aim to just get by with everyone else working that much harder.

“I’m not even ‘in’ the school system, but from the kids’ standpoint and the community, he will never be replaced. I know that much.”