Amanda Bishop
NCR Editor & Publisher
While Principal Richard Pearce retires soon, his name will continue on at West Nassau High School, with the baseball clubhouse dedicated in his honor Monday night.
Pearce graduated from WNHS in 1982, taking the baseball field as a pitcher in high school and, after serving in the U.S. Army, pitching at Brewton-Parker College.
He taught in Georgia before returning to Callahan, serving as baseball coach of the Warriors for 17 years and guid-
ing them to 305 career wins. A sign on the clubhouse wall reads, “He built young men – teaching them discipline, humility, sportsmanship, and the quiet confidence that comes from being believed in.”
The coach and teacher moved into school administration, serving as athletic director, dean of students, assistant principal and finally principal.
“He made hard decisions with fairness, celebrated successes with pride, and always kept students at the heart of every choice,” the sign reads.
Pearce listened, supported, and showed up. He worked quietly with dedication and “helped shape a school climate where students felt safe, staff felt supported, and families felt welcomed.”
The baseball program received a new dugout with locker rooms, a restroom, and a coach’s office via the added millage dollars. It sits along the first base line due to easement requirements, as the railroad tracks run adjacent to the school property. The clubhouse opened with the start of the 2026 season.
Family, friends, current and past baseball players attended the clubhouse dedication ceremony. After three decades of educating and mentoring, Pearce will retire as the Class of 2026 graduates. But as the sign notes, his service left a lasting impact as “a coach, a leader, an educator, and a man whose influence will be felt for generations to come.”