Marengo Academy hires Barham as headmaster

Marengo Academy has a new headmaster just two weeks after Gary Caldwell stepped down from the post.

The MA Board of Directors announced via press release Friday that David Barham will assume the dual role of headmaster and athletic director.

Barham is a native of Memphis, Tenn. where he attended Evangelical Christian School before graduating in 1983. He opened his college career as a dual-sport athlete at the University of Alabama before transferring to Union University in Jackson, Tenn. to play basketball. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Union in 1988.

Barham’s career in education has included coaching and school administration and has landed him at various spots in Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. Among those stops was a venture in Louisiana in which he owned and operated a private school and boys/girls home.

Barham’s coaching career has seen him assist more than 50 athletes achieve collegiate playing dreams and 10 others achieve professional sports goals. He has won five state championships combined while coaching football, boys basketball and girls basketball.

Barham owns his own consulting business while also serving as a partner in Third River Holding Company.

Barham has been married to his wife, Melinda, for 25 years and the couple has five children (three biological): Rufus Alexander, 31, Robbie Barham, 25, Brandon Alexander, 24, Ellie Barham, 20, and Annie Barham, 15.

The couple has been involved in numerous non-profit and charitable organizations, boys and girls homes, men’s and women’s ministries, marriage counseling and mentoring.

The Barham family will be in attendance at Marengo Academy’s kickoff supper Thursday, Aug. 13 at 6 p.m.