After more than 40 years as a health and physical education teacher, Henry Holmes is set to retire from Peasley Middle School on July 1.

Holmes began his teaching career in January 1980 at Achilles Elementary School at Hayes, and continued his career at Gloucester Intermediate School.

He began teaching at Peasley in 1989, the same year the school opened. The first principal of the school, Danny Fary, knew Holmes from their time at Gloucester High School and gave him the opportunity to get the athletic program up and running.

Holmes was the health and physical education teacher and was also the athletic director and boys’ and girls’ basketball coach for the school. He also coached baseball there for 10 years. He retired from coaching in 2015.“It’s been a beautiful ride,” he said. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it.”

Holmes was voted teacher of the year at Peasley in 1991. He was also inducted into Gloucester High School’s Hall of Fame in its inaugural year in 2005-2006.

He was ...