Benet instructor an iron man

Thomas "Tim" White is making Benet Academy history as the first person to teach for 50 consecutive years at the Lisle high school. The exceptional achievement includes missing only one day on the job when he asked in advance to help celebrate his wife Pat's birthday.

The educator attributes his longevity to good health, an inherited work ethic and the fact that he likes his "kids."

"I've always enjoyed the repartee with kids," White said. "You need to be honest, fair and just with kids. They like to receive orders and be held to it."

During his tenure at Benet, previously named St. Procopius High School, White has taught science, math, religion and English. As English department chairman, he continues to teach four preps most semesters in subjects such as advanced composition, AP English, British literature and college prep literature.

For many years, this Renaissance man also coached football, basketball, softball and baseball. He retired from those demands in 1979 to devote more time to serving as a deacon in the Catholic faith at his parish, Holy Angels in Aurora.

A husband and father of two, White has had an incredible career, but it almost didn't happen. A career in teaching was never in White's strike zone.

As a high school student at Marmion Academy in Aurora, White thought he should become a doctor. However, financing a medical degree was improbable for a family with six children before student loans existed.

After school, White worked for a local newspaper. When the paper's sports editor became ill, White took over the workload.

"Here I was, a little 16-year-old and the sports editor of a newspaper," White said. "I was a contestant on (the television show) 'What's My Line' and they never guessed my job. However, the show never aired because the program went off the air."

White paid his way through St. Procopius College, now Benedictine University, and commuted from home to save expenses. A part-time job in a chemical lab threw White a change-up.

"My dad got me a job at Morton Salt Company in Chicago doing analysis work in the lab for three summers," he said. "I thought I was going to become a chemical engineer because I was taking all these chemistry courses."

What the experience did teach White was that he needed a profession that offered more interaction with people than with test tubes.

Back in the classroom, White decided to take some English courses because he loved to read and write. When he aced the course's three required papers within the first week of class, the surprised professor said they were the best he had ever received.

"Father Leo was the most dynamic teacher in the world," White said. "I loved every minute of his classes. He was such an entertainer."

White admired Father Leo's dedication and positive resilience, so when an opportunity presented itself to teach an English and journalism class for a few weeks at St. Procopius High School toward the end of the academic year, White halfheartedly accepted, thinking he would model Father Leo's style.

The principal sat in on some classes and offered White a faculty position. What clinched the deal for White was packaging the job with coaching football, basketball and baseball.

White encourages young students to go to college and strive to be educated.

"Stop worrying about where you are going to be and take advantage of what the university has to offer you," White said. "Study astronomy if you want to get up there and meet a guy that studies the stars. Get an education. Your career may change."

Part of the drive to educate his students brings White to many corners of the world. To date, he has chaperoned 42 senior class trips to places as varied as London and Machu Picchu in Peru. A trip to the Yucatan Peninsula is next, then France.

White continues to keep up with the careers and whereabouts of many of the students he taught. He tries to never miss a reunion. For the alumni newsletter, he writes the "Fourth Floor" column to keep everyone in touch.

White estimates that, including some college classes and university workshops, he has taught roughly 85,000 classes. And he still loves coming to work every day and adding to that number.

"As a teacher, you never go to work thinking that you are doing something trivial," he said. "The best part of teaching is the kids and the knowledge that you are doing something quite worthwhile."

Former students value the education earned in Mr. White's classes. He does much more than engage students and model good character, he challenges his "kids" to reach further than they thought possible and never settles for apathy.

The Benet Academy Annual Homecoming Alumni Reunion will honor White at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, in St. Jude's Activity Center.

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