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Popular retired teacher, known as a 'gentle giant,' dies in crash

Teenage daughter of Edgewood football coach also involved in wreck.

Thomas Highley

Butler County Sheriff's Department deputies Mike Steele and Terry McClanahan inspect the two cars involved in a fatal accident Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the intersection of Cotton Run Road and Oxford-Middletown Road in Wayne Twp.

Daggy, Nick Butler County Sheriff's Department deputies Mike Steele and Terry McClanahan inspect the two cars involved in a fatal accident Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the intersection of Cotton Run Road and Oxford-Middletown Road in Wayne Twp.

ENLARGE PHOTO

Location of two-car crash that claimed the life of Thomas Highley.

ENLARGE PHOTO

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“He was always one of my favorite teachers,” Clint Davis wrote. “His stories were amazing and even if we didn’t do much work in a given day, I always felt like I learned something from the man.”

Another online reader, “Rob,” wrote: “He taught us about life. His stories and jokes always had meaning, and he kept a lot of us out of trouble and tried to steer us in the right direction.”

A faithful servant

Rolen, pastor of Breiel Boulevard First Church of God, said Highley was a man of tremendous faith.

In addition to serving on the church’s elder board, Highley had been active on various board and leadership teams. As administrator of the benevolence program, he worked with people seeking assistance with a variety of needs.

He provided not only a hand out, but a hand up, offering financial counseling with his wife, Rolen said. He also facilitated the church’s recent Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

“He gave them the tools to keep from getting in the same situation again,” said Rolen.

And as a member of the church’s pastor search committee, Highley was one of the first people Rolen met.

“He was a pastor’s best friend, an ally,” said Rolen, who joined the church last July.

The father of two children, Highley had planned to attend his son’s wedding in Massachusetts this Saturday, June 6, Rolen said. The family has decided to continue with the wedding plans and a funeral service will be held later at the Breiel Boulevard church, he said.

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