05/26/2026
Undoubtedly the youngest principal in the history of Schley County schools was William Ralston MacDonald. In 1940 the 25 year old bachelor and Vidalia native was paying $14 monthly rental for a room in the Lucy Dyess home across the street from the old gym. The gym was familiar to him also because he doubled as the coach for the school’s athletes. He could take a 3 minute walk every morning and be in his office on College St. He met his bride to be in that school building, where he had been a teacher for two years prior to being assigned as its principal. The young English teacher and librarian, Jean Mauldin, from Cairo Ga, became Mrs. Macdonald in the summer of ‘42. The previous summer, with the winds of war howling 6 months before the Pearl Harbor attack, he left Ellaville for Army service. Less than 90 days before the end of the war with Japan in Sep of ‘45, the 30 year old hero and Captain gave his life on Okinawa. On this Memorial Day in May of 2026 you are remembered, William Ralston MacDonald. Captain MacDonald is buried in Andersonville National Cemetery, Section A Site 196.
— Ernie Jones
