Remembering a hero teacher who taught a future governor, TV star and award-winning students
Editor’s note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history – some funny, some sad; others heartbreaking or celebratory; and some just downright strange.
Jan. 2, 1996: Thelma Champion Beeler, a longtime teacher at Lafayette High School, dies.
Beeler started her teaching career in a two-room school house in Mount Zion when she was just 14. After teaching in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, she accepted a position at Lafayette in 1945 teaching drama, speech, debate and English.
Among the thousands of students she taught were future Kentucky Gov. John Y. Brown, Jr., and actor Jim Varney. Beeler is credited with starting the school’s award-winning debate program and with leading the drama students to 10 state titles in drama competitions.
After 29 years in the classroom, she retired. But even after retirement, she couldn’t stay away from the classroom and started substitute teaching immediately after. In all, she taught for the Fayette County school system for 67 years and was inducted into the University of Kentucky College of Education Hall of Fame in 1992.
This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 7:49 AM.
