KCC's Ed Haring remembered as a 'true gentleman'

George “Ed” Haring was a teacher. Those who worked with the former Kellogg Community College president said his demeanor and actions were daily lessons of kindness and thoughtfulness.

Haring’s family has announced the 71-year-old died last Wednesday. Friends are invited to celebrate his life on Friday, Oct. 21, at KCC’s Binda Theatre from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Haring, originally from Francesville, Ind., moved to Battle Creek in 1987 to work at KCC under Dr. Paul Ohm, KCC’s president at the time.

Haring became president of the college in 2004 and retired in 2010. In that time, Haring encouraged growth at the Regional Manufacturing Training Center to help students gain employable skills and helped create Legacy Scholars. The former president also received a national honor from Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year and community colleges.

In 2008 he approved a joint admissions program with Western Michigan University that allowed students from both schools to pursue an associate and bachelor's degrees in engineering at the same time.

Haring was also involved with then United Way of Battle Creek and Battle Creek Unlimited.

Haring was one of the first employees Ohm hired. For the first few months of Haring’s employment at KCC, the pair lived together in a house on North Avenue. The men worked together during the week and visited their wives and children in Illinois and Ohio on the weekends.

“We were not known for our cooking skills,” Ohm said, chuckling as he remembered their time together. “So we were kind of grillers. We had a grill and it was very simple fare we made.”

Ohm said while he was all business, Haring was “primarily a teacher.” The predecessor said Haring was good at maintaining the quality of the institution by paying close attention to the teaching process at the college and being involved with the faculty. Ohm said Haring was able to connect with people on a personal level, doing many things for individuals on the campus.

“He was a good guy,” Ohm said. “He was honorable and honest — all the right things.”

Brenda Hunt, president and chief executive officer of the Battle Creek Community Foundation, said Haring was a man of integrity, standing for what was good and what was right in the community.

His family lived near her on St. Mary’s Lake. Hunt said Haring was always willing to help the neighbors and said he was a kindhearted person.

Hunt said she still remembers getting coffee one morning with Haring to discuss plans for the Legacy Scholars Program. Legacy Scholars is a tuition scholarship program for Battle Creek Public and Lakeview school students who wish to attend KCC.

Hunt said Haring was easy to talk to and work with.

“He was always the same way no matter what setting you found him in,” she said. “And he was loyal and kind and well-trusted.”

Mark O’Connell, current president at KCC, said he learned many things from the three KCC presidents who presided while he’s been employed by the institution. From Haring, O’Connell learned how to work with others in a calm and sensible way — like “a true gentleman.”

“I think it was him; he was just a good listener,” O’Connell said. “The way he handled himself with his words and his actions, regardless of the situation, I think we all learned from that.”

The current president said he shared a hobby of cars and racing with Haring, something few others knew about. Haring raced cars as a younger man. The two shared photos of their limited edition automobiles and worked together to restore an old pickup truck that once belonged to Haring’s father.

“I remember his face when he finally got a chance to drive it,” O’Connell said. “He was beaming from one side to the other.”

Call Enquirer reporter Olivia Lewis at (269) 966-0663. Follow her on Twitter: @TheWrittenPeace.