A longtime former Galesburg educator and coach known for his passion and unique, inclusive approach to teaching is being remembered for his impact on former students, players and colleagues.
Hal Devore died at Monday at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg. He was 86.
Devore started his career at Mt. Olive and Farmington high schools, but spent most of his 38 years in education as a history teacher at Galesburg High School during the 1970s, 80s and 90s. He also coached football at GHS and Monmouth College.
Retired GHS social studies teacher Evan Massey said Devore’s “passion and enthusiasm for teaching was unmatched.”
“He was an inspiration to not only so many students, but also to so many teachers,” Massey said. “Hal had such a deep compassion and empathy for all his students. He saw the potential in each student, even when the student may not yet have seen their own potential.
“Hal is at the top of the list of great teachers GHS has had.”
Obituary: Hal Devore — May 27, 1937 ~ February 12, 2024
Born May 27, 1937, in Burlington, Iowa, Devore graduated from Gladstone-Oquawka High School in 1955. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He later graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University in 1959 and received his master’s degree in 1966.
He married Eunice Maxine Cook 1958, in Gladstone, Illinois. She survives, along with a son David of Midland, Michigan, and a daughter Lori Dryg of Bettendorf, Iowa.
Co-creator of innovative American Studies program
Devore collaborated with former GHS English teacher Joe Patterson to start the innovative American Studies program at GHS in the early 1970s. American Studies is a team taught, integrated class combining American History and American Literature.
When Patterson retired, GHS English teacher Gayle Stewart was invited to partner with Devore in the American Studies program.
“A defining moment in my career was being able to teach with Hal. I’m pretty sure I learned as much as the kids did.” — former GHS English teacher Gayle Stewart
“A defining moment in my career was being able to teach with Hal,” Stewart said. “I’m pretty sure I learned as much as the kids did.
“The thing that stood out about Hal was the ability to get their attention, hold their attention, and get them to realize this was important.
“We were together for 12 years, and I believe it was a golden time of teaching.”
Like Massey and Stewart, former GHS English teacher Sheryl Hinman said Devore was an inspiration to fellow teachers.
“The thing I enjoyed the most out of working with Hal was how collaborative he was,” Hinman said. “He was always there to encourage and provide information, but he he was definitely a sharing kind of person.”
Devore listened to his students
Hinman said Devore was able to spot the good in other people, and then reinforce it.
“He was not one to take the stage — he was more likely to let the other people shine,” Hinman said. “And that’s especially true for kids.
“It’s easy for teachers to talk and talk and talk, but Hal was one to bring out of their students their own interests and discussions and opinions. And I think that’s really something that is valuable. They felt like he wanted to listen to what they had to say.”
Glenn Busse, a former longtime social studies teacher, recalls a valuable lesson Devore presented to him early in his career.
“I still remember the first year I was teaching, and Hal came up to me and said he wanted to offer a piece of advice,” Busse said. “He said in a five-day week, you’re going to have one day where you do really good, and one day where you don’t do very good. The other three days depend on how professional a person you are. And that was a great piece of advance I always remembered.
“Hal was just a real down to earth kind of guy. He loved to teach. He never got rattled. He had a gentle demeanor.
“He loved to teach — you could not miss that.”
Stewart said she admired Devore’s ability to relate to students.
“He was very professional in his dealings with his peers and students,” Stewart said. “I think the students also appreciated his honesty and sincerity. His sheer joy of teaching was so evident. Even the hardest nut to crack would eventually, say, ‘OK, he’s pretty good, and he’s pretty with it.’
“He was quick on his feet, and he had such a store of knowledge. He had anecdotes he would share with the kids from his life. He could weave those things into where he really wanted the lesson to go.”
An ‘outstanding’ football coach
Former GHS teacher and varsity football coach Kelly Kane had Devore on his staff at Galesburg and later Monmouth College.
“Hal was one of the first guys I hired on my staff when I came to Galesburg,” Kane said. “As soon as I got here, I talked to him and said, ‘hey, this guy is really good.’
“In a way, he was the least likely person to be a coach. Here’s a really kind, quiet, smaller guy who’s an offensive line coach. Who figured, right?
“But he was so special as a teacher, and he brought that over to the football field. I’ve always said, a lot of the times, the best coaches are the best teachers, and the best teachers are the best coaches.”
In memoriam: Hal ‘Tiny’ Devore
Kane said Devore was an outstanding line coach.
“He was such a bear for the littlest, tiniest details, and that’s what you need in the interior line,” Kane said. “His guys had the ultimate respect for Coach Devore.
“It’s a sad day. Dang it, I miss him already.”
As respected as he was an educator, those associated with Devore say he was an even better person.
“I’m sure anyone you talk to about Hal will have the same descriptors,” Stewart said. “My goodness, he was kind — you’re going to hear that a lot. Witty. Clever. Smart, Generous.
“If you were around him at all, you would remember he had this infectious giggle, and the students thought that was fun.”
Devore also was a professor at Knox College in the teacher’s program. He was member and an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Galesburg and was an active community volunteer.
‘GHS was SO lucky to have him there for so long’
In 1993, Devore was instrumental in developing the Knox County Habitat for Humanity and was a member for 25 years. He was a member of the Christian Community Helping Neighbors, Leadership of Greater Galesburg, and GRETA.
“He had so many activities, and his life after teaching was extraordinarily full with service to his church and the community,” Stewart said.
“He really was a shining example, and Galesburg High School was SO lucky to have him there for so long.”
Devore summed up his life in his own words in his obit, saying, “He taught school. He had a great family. He had a good life.”
Hal Devore American Studies Memorial Fund
The family approached the Community Foundation as a way to further cement the legacy of a great teacher and member of the community. They established a permanent fund called the Hal Devore American Studies Memorial Fund.
Grants from the fund will be made available annually for instructors of the American Studies course(s) to enhance the student experience and further educational effectiveness and place-based learning. Examples include but are not limited to speakers, out of class experiences, program enhancements.
Visitation for Hal Devore will be 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 15 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Service Galesburg Chapel. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, March 16 at First Presbyterian Church in Galesburg.
