Dennis Reeves
Dennis Reeves
Photo of Dennis with his wife Tammy and two sons, Austin and Dylan
Dennis Reeves (1972-May 23, 2017) was the principal of Kirbyville High School (KHS) in Kirbyville, Texas. He was married father of two. He was known by both students and their parents as a great principal, who always worked help to help and listen to them.
Personal Life
Dennis Reeves was married to Tammy Reeves.
[1] Together the couple had two sons, Austin and Dylan Reeves.
Their oldest son, Austin graduated in high school in May, 2017.
Career
Photo of Dennis receiving a gift from a graduating students [1]
Dennis Reeves became Kirbyville High School's principal in March, 2017. He served as principal until his resignation prior to his death on May 23, 2017.
Memory
On May 24, 2017 a candlelight vigil was be held at the Kirbyville football stadium at 9:00 p.m. tonight, the district said.
A prayer chain was scheduled for 6
p.m. along U.S. 96, starting at the high school.
On May 25, 2017 Dennis's visitation was held at Farmer Funeral Home in Silsbee, Texas from 5-8 p.m. On May 26, 2017 the funeral will be held at the same location at 10:00 a.m. The burial service was held at Knupple Cemetery in Silsbee following the service.
Resignation Controversy
Just prior to his death Dennis Reeves was given an ultimatum by district superintendent and an assistant superintendent - either resign or be fired resign or be fired from his position as the principal of Kirbyville High School.
Dennis Reeves had allegedly had an affair with his former secretary that ended before she was replaced with a different secretary.
During the meeting before Dennis's death superintendent Tom Wallis and assistant superintendent Georgia Sayers confronted Dennis about the alleged affair.
Reeves denied the allegations, but Wallis said he would be placed on administrative leave pending a district investigation.If
the investigation showed Reeves was lying about the affair, he would be fired, according to Wallis' statement. Reeves
was also given the option to resign without any investigation, the statement says.Wallis and
Sayers asked for his school keys, computer and phone.
"He immediately stated he was resigning in lieu of the investigation," Wallis wrote in his statement to police.
"Mr. Reeves turned to his computer and typed his resignation letter."
The woman in the involved int he affiar had told them earlier that Reeves said "if their relationship was uncovered he would kill himself," according to Wallis' statement to police.
According to KFDM News, superintendent Wallis claimed last week that he and assistant superintendent Georgia Sayers went to the high school last Tuesday for a meeting with Reeves on routine, standard school-related issues.
A news release sent today and attributed to Police Chief Paul Brister includes a statement from the superintendent given to police on Friday, May 26.
It reads :
"On 5/23/2017 Georgia Sayers [assistant superintendent] and I met with an employee of KCISD who claimed to have had an affair with Mr. Dennis Reeves, KHS principal while she was his secretary.
She stated the relationship began as a friendship and it turned into a romantic affair.
She stated Mr. Reeves told her that if their relationship was uncovered he would kill himself and that he would make it look like an accident so the insurance company would pay his family."
Assistant Principal Charles Simmons, who was hired by Reeves, resigned his position today in an email, stating he was not resigning because he was "distraught" or because he was asked to, and that he was not leaving for another job.
"I'm not sure where I will end up, but I do know that If I were to stay under the present circumstances it would compromise my integrity and it would not be loyal to Dennis," Simmons said in the email.
"For me to keep silent would also be disloyal to our school and our entire district.
It's not what I want to do... it's the right vs. wrong."
He also said, "I am confident that many of your questions will be answered soon."
Death
On May 23, 2017 Dennis committed suicide in the parking lot of Kirbyville High School at around 4:30 p.m only 30 minutes after resigning from his job as principal. He died of self-inflicted gunshot from a .38 Caliber semiautomatic handgun and was found dead in his Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD. He did not leave a suicide note.
Kirbyville CISD Assistant Superintendent said Kirbyville CISD officials called the police about an hour after the meeting and Reeves was still sitting in his truck, since people were starting to get worried about him.
At an emergency board meeting Tuesday evening, Wallis said an investigation by the Kirbyville Police, Jasper County Sheriff's Office and Texas Department of Public Safety is ongoing.
The campus was immediately cleared as a precaution, he also said.
“Due to today's tragic events, summer classes will be canceled for the rest of the week and staff and students do not need to report to school until Tuesday, after the Memorial Day holiday,” a post on the Kirbyville High School Facebook page stated.
“Crisis Response Counselors will be at Kirbyville Elementary tomorrow from 10-2 offering assistance for those that are grieving this unthinkable loss.
Crisis Counselors will remain available to offer their support to students and staff members as long as they are needed.”