Kent Eyler – Principal, Asst. Superintendent, Superintendent – 1967-1985
During 15 years in Shelby, Kent Eyler served as assistant principal and principal at SHS and superintendent of Shelby Schools.
Born in Lima on September 24, 1927, Mr. Eyler graduated from Lima High School in 1945 as a class leader and a three-sport athlete of distinction. He was a WWII Navy veteran. He then earned his bachelor’s degree in education at Ohio State University in 1950 and his master’s degree at Bowling Green State University in 1960.
Kent began his teaching and coaching career at Centerburg High School in 1950. His wife Margaret gave birth to son Steve ’70 in 1952. In 1953 he began teaching history and started a successful coaching tenure in basketball and baseball at Woodville High School until 1962. During that decade sons Don ’73 and David ’77 were born. Next he served as principal at Washington Township High School and then Elmore High School.
In 1967 Kent came to Shelby. During the ensuing 15 years, SHS saw soaring class sizes along with successes in education, music and athletics. As SHS principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent of Shelby Schools, Kent demonstrated strong leadership before retiring in 1982.
He relished interacting with students and faculty members. Post-retirement when asked which administration position he most enjoyed, without hesitation Kent said, “Being the high school principal and having the day-to-day interactions with the students and faculty was one of my favorite things and very rewarding. Humbly, I was pretty good at it.” Many would agree. As one SHS graduate and long-time resident observed, “Mr. Eyler was an excellent leader as others strived to do their best under his watch.”
Kent’s civic and community involvements included Shelby Rotary Club which he served as president in 1979, First Lutheran Church, Shelby Club, Ohio Retired Teachers Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Legion, Shelby Country Club. He loved and closely followed the Cleveland Indians, Ohio State Buckeyes and Shelby Whippets. He died March 26, 2021 at 93 in Riverside Hospital in Columbus.