The Kingfisher community was saddened Saturday upon waking up to the news of the death of one of its most ardent supporters.

David Glover, superintendent of Kingfisher Public Schools since June 2022, passed away in the early morning hours of Sept. 14, ending a years-long battle with cancer.

He was 65. ( Ed. note: For a full obituary, see Page 13 of this edition.)

“My heart is heavy as I write this post as my dad, the king of nicknames and the ultimate encourager, is in the ICU fighting his final battle against cancer,” wrote his daughter, Kinzie Didier, hours before his passing.

“For 13 years, he fought with all his might, from using dual canes to cruising around on a scooter, he was determined to keep going to all the places he loved.”

Glover’s time at Kingfisher capped more than 35 years in public education.

He coached basketball for 22 years in Woodward, Okeene and Fairview.

His endeavors earned him several honors, including induction into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame in July 2021.

Glover then served as a principal and superintendent at Newkirk, Bethel and Okarche.

He retired from education in 2013 to take over as assistant director at the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association.

“David was a remarkable individual with an uncanny ability to bring people together, fostering unity and collaboration as a consensus builder,” said OSSAA Executive Director David Jackson.

“We will cherish the time we had with him here.”

After nine years at the OSSAA, Glover was set to return to public education when he was hired as the KPS athletics and operations director in May 2022 by then-Superintendent Dr. Daniel Craig.

Craig resigned later that month and in June, the district turned to Glover.

“Mr. Glover truly loved Kingfisher schools and the community. He was so proud to be our superintendent and always bragged about how great Kingfisher is,” wrote Charles Walker, current president of the Kingfisher Board of Education.

Glover took over as KPS was in the midst of a civil lawsuit, one that was eventually settled out of court in December 2023.

“He led us through a very difficult time, was happy to be here and a pleasure to work with,” said Walker.

The lawsuit brought with it a lot of attention to the district, much of it negative.

Carly Franks, another school board member, recalls how Glover did his best, especially behind the scenes, to keep everyone positive.

“I cannot tell you how many times I called him during the difficult times we faced the last couple years,” she wrote. “He always listened to me and said, ‘We will be okay, Carly.’” Among the upgrades across the district’s campuses that Glover saw through were the completion of the addition to the ag barn, completion of the soccer/junior high football locker rooms, renovation of the soccer/ football concession stand, synthetic turf on the football and softball fields, updated signage marking the district’s major facilities and a major renovation project at Gilmour Elementary School that’s nearing its end.

Glover leaves behind his wife of 44 years, Cyndy, of the home; daughter Kylee Martin and husband David and their son Sam of Bellville Texas; daughter Kinzie Didier and her husband Michael and their children Isaac, Gannon, Grace and Aleigh of Oklahoma City; and a host of other family members.