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Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: Brian Henegar paid a visit to WLAF following his run on Jeopardy! See Henegar’s interview with WLAF’s Susan Sharp HERE on demand.
By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Past principals and teachers, as well as current educators in the local school system are lauding recent Jeopardy! champion Brian Henegar for his three episode winning streak and for “representing Campbell County so well.”
Donnie Poston was principal at Valley View Elementary School when Henegar attended there. Poston said he is proud of Brian’s accomplishments and it “tickled him to death to see him up there” and that Valley View Elementary had “been blessed with outstanding students and citizens.”
“I knew he was going to be on there and was watching, but I wasn’t positive he had been one of my students till I saw him and thought, I know that little smile,” Poston said.
Poston said he remembers Brian as a “good kid with a very supportive family.”
Henegar remembers his time at Valley View Elementary and said his fifth grade teacher Ab Card was his favorite elementary school teacher while there.
“I learned so much under him as a teacher,” Henegar recalled.
Poston also said it was a wonderful feeling to see a former student compete at that national level.
“When I saw him up there competing, it put a big smile on my face. He was so impressive with his answers; that let me know he has continued with his education, that boy is brilliant,” Poston said.
He said Henegar “represented Campbell County and LaFollette wonderfully.”
Current Campbell County High School teacher Ann Browning said she remembered Brian as a high school student. She said she and others at the high school had been cheering him on while he competed on Jeopardy!
“He was always so bright and friendly and clearly a trivia buff! It was such fun to cheer him on each night. I’m pleased he had the opportunity to let his light shine,” Browning said.
Henegar said his favorite high school teacher was Connie Tackett.
Henegar’s former LaFollette Middle School English teacher Laura Broyles also said she was super proud of his accomplishments.
She remembers Henegar as being “very intelligent and unique.”
She recalled a sixth grade spelling bee competition that Henegar was in. “He recieved the word gorilla to spell, but spelled it guerilla, like guerilla warfare which should have been acceptable, and I thought it just showed how much of a genius he really was, even then,” Broyles said. Broyles contested the judge’s decision, but to no avail. Henegar said he remembered that spelling bee well, but considering his recent three time Jeopardy! win, everything “worked out fine” in the end.
“Brian was always so smart; he’s a wonderful reflection on Campbell County and we’re all so proud of him!” Broyles said. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/20/2023-6AM)