MARCOS WILLIAMS β65 By Trish Rhodes, assistant head of Lower School and fifth grade teacher
ALBERT F. βSANDYβ MURRAY β66 By Doug Norry β90, former Middle School Head
When I returned to Landon to interview for the position of Middle School Head, I was asked to speak at a school meeting. Having nothing prepared, I asked the boys who had taken a class with Mr. Murray. Since he taught all 6th grade history classes, every hand shot up. Then I proceeded to explain that Mr. Murray had also been my sixth grade teacher, but not just for history; rather, he taught me from 8 to 3:30. Jaws dropped. Fortunately for them β and for me β lessons have begun and ended with Sandy Murray for 43 years here at Landon. I remember vividly a rock fight in 1984 when I ended up with a visit to the nurse. To be honest, Gordon and I had been throwing rocks at each other, but when Mr. Murray arrived to check out my injury, I said, βGordon hit me in the head with a rock.β Off he went to find Gordon, only to return minutes later, demanding that I tell the full story. 22 Landon Magazine
Needless to say, I learned a lesson has stuck with me for 30 years. That ability to discover the truth and to help boys know the difference between right and wrong continues through 2013. You will never hear a Form I or Form II student utter the words, βI was only kidding.β Their sixth grade dean has made sure of that. Isaac Newton wrote in a letter in 1676, βIf I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.β He borrowed this expression from Bernard Chartres, a 12th century philosopher, who wrote that βwe are like dwarfs on the shoulders of giants,β referring to the ancient scholars. Sandy, you arenβt ancient, but after 43 outstanding years of service, commitment, dedication, passion for teaching history and molding young boys into men, you most certainly belong in the rare class of Landon giants.
The first person I met when I came for my interview at Landon was Marcos Williams. He immediately put me at ease and embraced βmy storyβ with interest and respect. I soon realized that this was not simply an interview technique; Marcos is an authentic human with a genuine interest in each member of the Landon community. He afforded the boys of the Lower School the same level of interest and concern. He happily joked with some, comforted others and always treated them individually with respect. They recognized his loving heart and respected his firm hand, and they worked to do the right thing to earn his respect and approval. Marcos has always felt that the litmus test for doing anything at Landon was whether or not it would have a positive impact on the boys and their education. He supported and assisted faculty, and solved problems, always keeping the boysβ interests and development as the main focus of both words and deeds. Marcosβs transition from Lower School head to director of the Center for Teaching and Learning Resources was seamless. He embraced his new position with the same intellectual curiosity and tireless commitment that he had exhibited in directing the Lower School. Marcos carefully listened to the concerns of parents, teachers and students before recommending a thoughtful course of action. He has always conscientiously worked with boys to help them tackle the challenges of a Landon education β and to reap the benefits of hard work. Marcos covers more ground (on foot) on any given day than any other member of this community. He seems to be everywhere as he solves learning issues or assists students and staff as they make their way through the day. He is one of the most committed and hard-working professionals I have had the pleasure to know. His absence will be deeply felt by us all and we wish him a happy and satisfying retirement.
MICHAEL HINCHEY By Michael Carter, art teacher
Iβm an art teacher and he teaches math, but Iβve gotten to know Michael Hinchey well through our summer trips to Europe. We take 24 or 25 rising 8th and 9th graders on a three-week trip that always includes Italy, sometimes France, Switzerland, Germany, and even Greece. We never get tired of going to Europe. In fact, we could eat from one end of Italy to the other. Heβs the organizer and works out all of the details, and always negotiates little deals to save everyone money. Mike is a public school guy. He used to be a school principal and raised seven kids in upstate New York. He will write a behavior con-