Eddie Batey Honored with Portrait

The Alumni Executive Board honored Faculty Emeritus Eddie Batey with the 20th artwork in the Faculty Portrait Series. Family and friends gathered in the Dining Hall October 17 to celebrate the unveiling of his portrait, painted by Mississippi artist Katherine Buchanan. Led by AEB President Horace Carter ’89, the evening featured tributes from Headmaster Pete Sanders, Headmaster Emeritus Ellis Haguewood, and Christ Covenant School Dean of Students Malcolm Saxon ’93. Shelby County Commissioner David Bradford ’95 presented Batey with a resolution acknowledging his accomplishments.
The portrait helps tell the story of Batey’s 38 years at Memphis University School through various depictions, including an image of cross-country runners, inspired by a photo taken by Brandon Ehrhart ’93 more than three decades ago. Batey coached the Owl harriers from 1984-2000, and his 1991 and 1992 teams won state championships. Among the well-wishers at the unveiling were 13 of Batey’s cross-country alumni, who shared stories not only of his dedicated coaching but also his lessons that developed them into “Champions of Character.”

Also among the artifacts in the portrait is a Rise Against Hunger bag of grain, representative of a service project Batey oversaw during his years as Civic Service Organization advisor. A book by his father, Richard A. Batey, “Jesus and the Poor,” and a handmade cross represent his commitment to Christian values and service.

“A generation of MUS alumni can point to Eddie as transforming their understanding of the need to be servant-leaders, especially to Memphis and Memphians,” Sanders said.

In 2007 Batey founded the Memphis Leaders program, a curriculum that was part city and school history, part leadership development, and part volunteer projects and field trips. Pictured in the portrait is the late History Instructor and Archivist John Harkins’ book “Metropolis of the American Nile,” as this chronicle of Memphis and Shelby County “formed the backbone of the Memphis Leaders program,” Batey said.

A thread of character-development runs throughout Batey’s tenure and his work in counseling (Lower School and Upper School), teaching (science and psychology), and coaching (including basketball and track). In 1989 he received the John M. Nail Outstanding Teaching Award, and in 2014 the Jean Barbee Hale Award for Outstanding Service.

A Rhodes College graduate, Batey earned his master’s in counseling from the University of Memphis while teaching science at MUS full time and coaching three sports. Upon receiving his diploma, he added to his course load the teaching of psychology to Upper School students. In 1984 he was promoted to director of counseling, a position he held until 2002. He and his wife, Honour, enrolled their son, Xander ’09 in MUS.

“Memphis University School owes a debt of gratitude to Eddie Batey,” Sanders said. “As a coach, a teacher, a counselor, and an advisor, he gently and humbly pushed our students to place others before themselves and to value strong character as the highest measure of success in life.  For all of us at Memphis University School, this portrait will serve as a reminder of the service that Eddie rendered to our students, his colleagues, and the entire MUS Community.”

See photos from the unveiling HERE. See the unveiling video HERE.
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