Wayne Haver Obituary, Death: Fort Smith Honors Former Southside High School Principal

FORT SMITH, Ark. — The Fort Smith community is mourning the reported death of Wayne Haver, the longtime educator and former Southside High School principal whose decades of service left a lasting mark on generations of students, teachers and families.

Haver spent 48 years with Fort Smith Public Schools before retiring in 2018. His career included teaching, serving as an assistant principal and ultimately becoming Southside High School’s longtime principal. He was only the second principal in the school’s history and remained in the position for more than three decades.

His influence extended beyond the principal’s office. Haver became closely associated with Southside’s traditions and was remembered for his distinctive habit of playing the school fight song on the harmonica at pep rallies and other events. The Arkansas Congressional Record praised his leadership and described the legacy he was leaving behind when he retired.

Southside’s own history also recognizes Haver as the school’s longest-serving principal, crediting him with 36 years of leadership and a significant place in the institution’s development.

News of Haver’s reported passing has prompted memories from those who knew him during his remarkable career. For many former students and educators, his name remains connected to their years at Southside and to the traditions that shaped the school community.

At the time of publication, an official cause of death had not been reliably confirmed through an authoritative public source. Funeral or memorial arrangements were likewise not available in verified reporting.

As Fort Smith remembers Wayne Haver, his legacy is reflected in nearly five decades devoted to public education and in the generations of students and educators who experienced his leadership.

Wayne Haver leaves behind a lasting legacy of service, leadership and commitment to the Southside High School community.