Sylvester Lee "Syl" Rains

Doctor Sylvester Lee “Syl” Rains, 85, a retired public school educator, passed away on Thursday, February 27, 2014 in Tyler, Texas. Memorial services will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Lindale, Texas on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. with Rev. Rick Ivey, Rev. Roddy Bland officiating. Syl was born on September 6, 1928 in Hutchinson, Kansas to Oscar and Marie Rains. He was a 1945 graduate of Tyler High School. He received an Associate of Arts degree from Tyler Junior College and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas. He began teaching in the Dallas Independent School District in 1949. He taught at Thomas A. Edison Elementary School, where he established and operated the first after-school recreation program in Dallas in cooperation with the West Dallas Social Center and the United Way. He later taught at W. E. Greiner Junior High School in Oak Cliff. He received a Master of Education degree from Southern Methodist University in 1953. He was appointed principal of Ascher Silberstein Elementary School. He received a Doctor of Education degree from the University of North Texas in 1961. He was the first principal of the Harry C. Withers Elementary School and later became principal of John B. Hood Junior High School. In 1969, he was appointed Acting Director of Prototype Program Development and Process Evaluation in the new Department of Research and Development of the Dallas Independent School District. He established and became Director of the Research and Evaluation Center for Learning, a cooperative effort between the school district and the Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Medical School, for the study of learning and learning disabilities. He served one year as Corporate Director of Education with LTV Education Systems, Inc. before joining the Houston Independent School District in 1972 as Assistant Superintendent for curriculum matters. In 1974, he became Deputy Superintendent for Instruction in the Spring Branch Independent School District. In 1978, he was Associate Professor of Education at Sam Houston State University. District Superintendent assignments included the Public Schools for the City of Savannah and the County of Chatham (GA) and the Gladewater County-line Independent School District (TX). He retired from Education in 1987 and became a stockbroker with Shearson Lehman Hutton and, later, with Murray Traff Securities. Upon retirement in 1990, he moved to Hideaway Lake, where he enjoyed sailing, golf and tennis. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Joan Hellinger Rains; his sister, Cherry Ann Rains of Austin, Texas; two daughters, Melinda Gail Rains Smith and husband, Schaun of Kuwait and Rosanne Rains Beckcom and husband, Chris of Cedar Park, TX; four grandchildren, Zachary Adam Smith of Binghamton, NY, Kelly Joy Smith of Durango, CO, Ian Beckcom of Houston, TX and Caitlin Beckcom of Austin, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 367, Lindale, Texas 75771.

Sylvester Lee "Syl" Rains

September 6, 1928 - February 27, 2014