Former State Schools Superintendent Henry Marockie Remembered As Effective Leader
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WHEELING - Former West Virginia Schools Superintendent Henry Richard "Hank" Marockie was praised by colleagues for both his leadership qualities and knowledge as an educator, and they say he inspired the next generation of educational leaders who followed him.
Many noted he and his wife Mary - also a noted state educator - made quite "the dynamic duo."
Marockie, 88, of Wheeling, passed away Wednesday at his home. He spent 11 years as West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools from 1989 until 2000. Before that, Marockie was superintendent of Ohio County Schools for 17 years.
It was under his leadership that Ohio County's high schools were consolidated, resulting in the construction of Wheeling Park High School. Also built during his tenure were Wheeling Middle School, and Woodsdale and Elm Grove elementary schools.
Those who followed him in leadership said they were inspired by him.
"I worked with Dr. Marockie from 1969 until his retirement," said former Ohio County Schools Superintendent Larry Miller. "He always looked out for the welfare of Ohio County Schools. He was a leader of leaders. He always led by example, and he was always true to his beliefs."
Former Ohio County Schools Superintendent George Krelis termed Marockie "a wonderful leader."
"He provided Ohio County Schools with the leadership needed when we consolidated schools," he said. "He made it happen, and it became the model for what other school districts did."
Marockie was also adept in curriculum development, Krelis added.
"He just knew what direction to go in for the students, and he was just a great leader," he said.
After he moved on to be state superintendent, Marockie went on to have further impact on educators across the state. During his tenure in Charleston, he brokered the end of an 11-day statewide public school personnel strike in 1990.
Marockie, in a 2018 story for The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, remembered when then-Gov. Gaston Caperton approached him six days into that strike, telling Marockie, "I'm turning it over to you." He already had been working for the previous six days to negotiate the strike's end.
"I started working with the union presidents, acknowledging that we had to pay our teachers more. They had no increases in five years and that's what brought on the strike," he said. "The main thing is that we had the governor with us. ... Don't let anyone fool you -- the person who really has the money is the governor."
Krelis said Marockie was a leader who knew what it was like to be in the trenches. Krelis was hired as a regional coordinator for Ohio County Schools when Marockie was superintendent.
"I modeled some of the things I did in my career after some of the things he did," Krelis said. "He was a mentor to me and others in Ohio County. Across the state, he made people want to model the things he wanted to implement."
Former Ohio County Schools Superintendent Dianna Vargo is now the director of education programs at Wheeling University, and she spoke of how Marockie inspired her.
"Dr. Marockie was the epitome of vision and leadership," she said. "All of us who were fortunate enough to have called him mentor are better because of his most impactful life."
Current Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller noted Marockie was state superintendent when she was first hired as a teacher in Ohio County.
"He has a great deal of respect from people all over the state," she said. "He was responsible for creating initiatives and having innovative ideas. He was also responsible for several schools being built under his tutelage.
"He held a high standard for education. He also had a great deal of respect for everyone who worked for him. He strived for excellence in all he did - along with Dr. Mary."
Former Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) 6 executive director and Marshall County Schools Superintendent Nick Zervos called Marockie "an outstanding individual."
"He was really good with the community, and really great with people," Zervos said. "He was a great state leader. He worked well with the legislature and with superintendents.
"He also always put the interests of students first."
Zervos called Henry and Mary Marockie a "dynamic duo" for education, and he added they both had leadership qualities second to none.
"He also really applied facts to the case before making any move," he said. "He didn't fly by the seat of pants. He used research to guide him.
"He will be a sadly missed friend."
Retired West Virginia Board of Education member Dr. Jim Wilson remembered Marockie, former Marshall County Schools Superintendent Don Haskins and former Brooke County Schools Superintendent Bob Lindsey often aligning themselves to lead the way in local education.
"Henry was kind of a legend around here," Wilson said. "The first phone call I got when I was headed to Charleston (and the state board of education) was from Hank Marockie. He asked me if I really did know what I was getting myself into.
"He was quite a leader, and I enjoyed being around him. He was a very pleasant gentleman."
Wilson indicated Marockie also used to take some ribbing from others in education.
"We used to tease him and tell him Mary was the superintendent, and he was just the mouthpiece," he said. "He did a lot of good for West Virginia, and for Ohio County."
Former Ohio County Board of Education member Robert Dunlevy - also a current member of the State Board of Education - also praised Marockie's leadership.
He remembered a conversation he had with former State Schools Superintendent Steven L. Paine, who succeeded Marockie. Paine told Dunlevy that Marockie had guided him to be the leader he was.
"You couldn't find better leadership in the education business than Dr. Marockie - there's no doubt about it," Dunlevy said.
Marockie's influence in education continued after his retirement. He served on the West Liberty University Foundation Board. The university had already placed him on its Wall of Honor.
Marockie also served in other parts of the community. He was one of the founders of the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Heritage Festival and was part of the original planning committee for the Festival of Lights.
Family and friends will be received Sunday from noon-2 p.m. and 4-6:30 p.m. at Kepner Funeral Home at 900 National Rd. in Wheeling. A wake service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1225 National Road in Wheeling, with entombment to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.