School board members hailed recently elected member W. D. “Doug” Aubel and bid farewell to outgoing member James W. Duffy.

Aubel ran unopposed in District 2 to replace Duffy.

The recognition took place at the December meeting, the first since November’s elections.

Aubel, who has not been sworn in, sat in the audience while Duffy sat at the table with the other board members.

“Once you get sworn in, for the next four years you’ll get sworn at,” Chairman Donald B. Carnes jokingly warned Aubel.

Board members Elizabeth R. Williams, Kathy P. Coffee and Ada Whitehead were all returned after running unopposed. “We work together and we do the best that we can, that’s all we ask,” Carnes said.

Duffy noted that he had no children when he was elected and his only agenda was the good of the children in the county. He noted that the board’s members have been nothing but supportive of the system and the students.

“It’s been my honor to serve on this board,” Duffy said. Coffee said that Duffy’s and fellow board member Beverley P. Hawthorne’s backgrounds were helpful when additions were being made to Central High School.

“We have enjoyed having him on the board and having his ideas,” Carnes said.