Former PCHS superintendent Dean Brewer dies on fishing trip

Philosophical differences forced the Pinckneyville Community High School Board of Education in 2001 to end Dean Brewer's nearly three decades of service as principal and superintendent.

Brewer, 66, died Friday after being suddenly stricken during an annual fishing trip to Canada.

Visitation will be held Monday, July 7 from 4-7 p.m. followed by the funeral service at the First United Methodist Church in Lebanon, Ill.

Brewer retired from Lebanon High School after serving there from 2001 to 2004. Before that, he served many years as principal and superintendent of the Pinckneyville Community High School.

Survivors include wife Cheryl, sons Todd Brewer of King Salmon, Alaska and Brad (Katie) Brewer of Cutler and two grandchildren.

Brewer had a Masters in Education and Administration.

Memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church ARP for the installation of a new elevator and will be received at the church or through Moss Funeral Home in Trenton who is handling the arrangements.

Brewer was a beloved educator in Pinckneyville who did his job well as PCHS principal. The board's issues were professional, not personal.

In the early 1990s he was passed over twice for the job as superintendent. Then received that appointment in 1994 and served through 2001.

He was visionary in approaching the subject of a new Pinckneyville Community High School in 2000.

Voters paid the board back for terminating Brewer's contract 15 months early by defeating the new school referendum 2-1.

Negotiations ensued to pay off the remaining 15 months of the contract.

In a special meeting, the board approved a settlement agreement with Brewer. Brewer would receive a maximum of $91,000.

Brewer approved the settlement calling for graduated payments depending upon Brewer's employment status in the next several months.

"This brings closure," board member Debbie Plumlee said at the time.

"Basically this is the agreement that we envisioned when we began this process," board President Ted Cunningham said after the vote.