Dedication Ceremony Held for Robert N. Haarlow

In celebration of O'Neal's 50 years, on Tuesday, September 7th - Founders Day, a reception and dedication ceremony was held honoring O’Neal’s first headmaster, Robert (Bob) Haarlow. A bronze statue of Bob sitting on a bench by renowned sculptor Gary Lee Price was presented. It will be located in the School’s future central campus now under construction. 
 
A Princeton graduate and college basketball athlete, who was headed to Cornell’s program for hotel and restaurant management, was abruptly detoured with a teaching opportunity in Honolulu. Only after two weeks in class, Bob Haarlow claimed, “This is what I want to do.” After two years in Hawaii, Haarlow returned to the mainland to teach at Pembroke Country Day School in Kansas City. The last candidate to be interviewed, in April of 1971 Haarlow was hired as the headmaster of Wallace O’Neal Day School and five months later, the school officially opened its doors. His annual salary was $12,200 – more than twice what he was making in Kansas City.

As the fledgling school had its struggles, Bob Haarlow managed to navigate the rough seas and establish a reputable, college preparatory independent school that has made a lasting impact on the community. He served as O’Neal’s headmaster for 14 years. Though his job was to oversee a school, moreover, he served as a mentor for many students as they encountered life’s lessons.

Suzanne Stinson McNeill ’81 remarked, “Bob and I share an alma mater whose informal motto is “In the Nation’s Service.” When you spend your career and by extension, your life, guiding and educating with distinction a couple of generations of children, you have served your nation. You and the team of educators you assembled are classic examples of servant leaders in the country and we thank you, well done.”

Richard Joyner ’77 recalled, “During high school he helped me to see a horizon that was further out and much bigger than I had ever envisioned or imagined. He encouraged me to go beyond what I thought I could do.”

Bob’s son Chris Haarlow commented, “I know this is about a dad and this is about this wonderful statue and there’s a bench and it’s awesome. Everybody here is near and dear to him. Everybody who has helped to ignite what this place is; everybody who had the smallest piece or the biggest piece in making O’Neal what it is today…he would want everybody to have a seat at that table and to be on the bench and beside him, because that is who he is.”

Head of School John Elmore concluded by launching O’Neal’s “Growing Strong at 50 Years” Capital Campaign for campus revitalization and for O’Neal’s Endowment Fund directed to the School’s teachers.
He comments, “We are all privileged to be a part of this school community. We share in the benefits of what its founders launched five decades ago. Others have seen the vision for the School through its current stability, complete campus and strong reputation. Now we all have an obligation to honor the school our founders started, sustain its current presence and provide support needed for the next 50 years.”

Watch the Dedication Ceremony

Learn more about Growing Strong at 50 Years Capital Campaign.
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