John Gott, who served as superintendent of North Thurston Public Schools from 1971 to 1991, will be remembered at a memorial service Saturday afternoon.
Gott died at his Lacey home on April 1. He was 94.
Gott and led the district through several expansion projects during his tenure.
"He was considered a visionary by many, leading the district during a time of tremendous growth and school construction," NTPS wrote in a news release.
His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Capital Event Center (ESD 113) at 6005 Tyee Drive SW in Tumwater.
During his 20 years with the district, the school district's enrollment increased from 6,776 to 11,766. Gott oversaw construction of four new elementary schools: Evergreen Forest, Meadows, Pleasant Glade and Seven Oaks.
The original South Sound High School and the North Thurston School District Administrative Center also were built during Gott's tenure.
Five more schools — including two of the district's three high schools, North Thurston and Timberline — underwent extensive upgrades.
Chinook and Nisqually middle schools, and South Bay Elementary also were modernized under Gott.
The district office was named in his honor in 2011.
Gott, who earned a doctorate in education administration from Washington State University, also was active in the Thurston County community. He was a member of the Rotary Club, served as the director of the Lacey Chamber of Commerce, and was a United Way board member.
Gott is survived by four children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. His wife, Coeta Roth, preceded him in death.
His full obituary was published in The Olympian on April 8. Memories of Gott can be shared on the Funeral Alternatives of Washington website.
This story was originally published April 18, 2018 10:52 AM.