Rusty Edwards
Gadsden County News Service
On Tuesday afternoon, March 30, Robert F. Munroe Day School held a remembrance ceremony in the school’s auditorium in honor of alumnus Nolan Haire, Class of 2015, who died from injuries sustained in a vehicular accident on April 3, 2020, in Tallahassee. Many alumni, former teammates, classmates, parents of players, family, and friends attended this special occasion to pay tribute to Haire, whom many considered a fine young man and talented athlete.
Haire was born in Bainbridge, Georgia, August 21, 1997. Prior to his passing, he had begun working for Pike Electric and was part owner of Talquin Landscaping. Nolan had a passion for playing baseball and enjoyed hunting and fishing and most any outdoor activity in his spare time. He highly valued spending quality time with his family and closest friends and had many uncles, aunts, and cousins he dearly loved.
Nolan is survived by his parents Scott and Delores Haire of Crawfordville; his sister Megan Haire Miller and her husband Stephen Miller, a 2014 Munroe graduate; paternal grandparents Tommy and Peggy Haire of Quincy; and maternal grandmother Mary Cox Blair of Bainbridge. Nolan was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Leon Blair, also of Bainbridge.
The March 30 ceremony celebrated Nolan’s life in many ways. He transferred to Munroe at the beginning of his junior year and already knew many of the students. With his affable personality, he quickly became popular among his peers. There were occasions, however, when Nolan’s easy-going nature and keen sense of humor, some of his most likeable qualities, got him into a little bit of ‘trouble’ at school but nothing too serious. He loved entertaining family and friends by telling jokes and doing impersonations.
When Nolan arrived at Munroe in the fall of 2013, the coaches were extremely excited to have Nolan become a part of the school’s athletic program, especially the baseball program. Nolan had been playing the sport since he was old enough to wear a glove and hold up a bat and spent his younger years playing baseball, participating in summer camps and various leagues as well as attending Florida State games with his granddaddy, Tommy.
During the ceremony, Nolan was also remembered for the many accolades he earned as a student athlete at Munroe, especially for baseball (although he did play basketball) before graduating in May 2015. He was named Outstanding Team Pitcher for the 2014 and 2015 seasons; he led his team to consecutive Class 2A, District 1 championships in 2014 and 2015, as well as the 2015 Class 2A, Region 1 Quarterfinal championship, and the 2015 Class 2A, Region 1 Semifinals. During his senior year, Nolan was chosen by the Florida Athletic Coaches Association as the Class 2A, District 1 Player-of-the-Year, was named by Florida sportswriters to the Class 2A All-State Baseball Team, and earned an athletic scholarship to play baseball at Andrew College in Cuthbert, Georgia.
Among those attending the ceremony were individuals who played an integral role in Nolan’s life. Jayme Williams, Nolan’s baseball coach at Munroe, could not attend but sent his condolences.
“I loved Nolan like a son and miss him so very much,” Williams said.
Joe Ferolito, well-known Quincy recreation director for more than 30 years, attended the ceremony.
“Nolan was a lanky right-hander who threw strikes. An aw-shucks kind of kid who liked to talk about fishing, he reminded me of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn,” Ferolito said.
Ferolito noted that Nolan was a young fellow with long, shaggy hair and a constant mischievous smile on his face.
“You could look at him and tell he was a Haire,” Ferolito added. “He looked just like his dad and granddad, and he had their traits–well-mannered, respectful, with a sense of humor.”
Don Morris, longtime Quincy resident who worked with youth baseball over the years, could not attend but shared his thoughts in a previously written news article.
“A mannerly and respectful young man… a talented youngster.. competitive and a consummate team player …stayed true to his upbringing…a fine Christian young man.”
In addition, several other attendees expressed their fondness of the Haire family and also shared loving remarks about Nolan.
The highlight of the ceremony occurred when Nolan’s parents unveiled a beautiful, custom-made frame featuring Nolan’s high school baseball jersey along with an engraved silver plate affixed inside listing all of his baseball awards and accomplishments. Rusty Edwards (Class of 1979), Kendal Weeks (Class of 2012), and Zack Helms (Class of 2013) along with Jason Boone (past president of both the Robert F. Munroe Board of Trustees and Corporate Board) were instrumental in sponsoring this event.
The program then ended with a closing prayer and song.
Anyone interested in making a memorial donation to Robert F. Munroe Day School in honor of Nolan, please contact the school at (850) 856-5500 for more information.
