from The News and Record, with excellent work from Annette Ayres at the N&R…CLICK HERE for all of the photos, and these photos help to tell the story of who this man, Paul Egleston, was…It is almost like a song from years ago, that went like this, “Anybody here seen my old friend Paul, can you tell me where he’s gone, he helped a lot of people, but it seems the GOOD they die young, I just turned around and he was gone”…..
‘A true teacher’: Northwest Guilford coping with loss of beloved coach
from Annette Ayres at the N&R
GREENSBORO — Northwest Guilford High students and staff are grieving the loss of longtime teacher and coach Paul Egleston.
Counselors are at the campus today as news of his death was shared with co-workers, classes, teams and others in the school community.
Egleston was found dead shortly after 5 p.m. Monday at his house in North Topsail Beach. Just two days ago, he had posted photos on Facebook of his scenic views of the sand and surf there.
The cause of death is being investigated. North Topsail Beach police are not releasing details at this time, Captain Andrew Page said on Tuesday morning.
A fixture at Northwest Guilford, Egleston — or “Coach E” as he was known to many — started his career there in 1995. He taught social studies and was the head cross country coach and assistant wrestling coach.
“Paul had such an impact on everything that he did,” John Hughes, assistant principal at Northwest, said Tuesday. “He was a very strong father. He was in the (Army) reserves for a long time. He was a rare breed when it comes to teaching and coaching.”
Hughes began his career at Northwest the same year as Egleston, who he described as being a man of faith and having a love of people.
“You can’t do this job as long as he’s done it successfully without building relationships,” Hughes said. “He was a true teacher. That was Paul. He really enjoyed social studies. He loved coaching. That’s why there are kids walking the halls today in tears.”
Egleston, who served in Iraq, inspired some of his students to enlist and serve their country with confidence.
“It was a big part of who he was,” Hughes said. “He will be missed. You can’t replace someone like that.”
On Egleston’s Facebook page, nearly 100 people had posted birthday wishes Monday in celebration of his 59th. Once news of his death became known, posts began appearing about how much he will be missed and the impact he had on students over the years.
Monica Clark, an English teacher at Northwest, said this past cross country season was her first working as an assistant coach to Egleston.
“He had a huge heart and loved every kid from his classes and his teams,” Clark said Tuesday. “He commanded respect from the start and could be intimidating, but he was also the king of nicknames and cracked everyone up.”
Clark said Egleston pushed runners to realize their potential “and for that, they were devoted to him.”
Egleston is survived by his daughter, Christiana, and his son, Paul Jr.
His wife, Paula, died at age 57 in June 2019 while on vacation in Myrtle Beach.