Former LCISD teacher slain in Valley

A former speech and drama teacher at Lamar Consolidated High School was found murdered Monday in his Harlingen apartment.

John Farr, 49, who taught drama, speech and debate at LCHS from 2000-2002, was employed as a speech teacher at Harlingen High School South, where he coached the speech and debate team.

A 16-year-old has been charged with capital murder and is being held at a juvenile detention center in San Benito.

Police said Farr's body was discovered at 4:40 p.m. Monday. Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy.

“Any time anyone who was a member of Lamar CISD passes away, it is sad,” said superintendent Thomas Randle, who joined the district in 2001. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

‘A very nice guy'

Maxine Phelan, a retired teacher who taught English at LCHS for many years, said Farr was well-liked by staff and students.

“John was a very fine teacher,” she said. “He loved going to contests, and he had a lot of success with his kids. He was a very nice guy.”

Another retired teacher, Cliff Vogt, agreed.

“He was super-nice,” Vogt said. “He would give you the shirt off his back if he could.”

Vogt said just before classes were out in May, he and school secretary Betty Spradley made tentative plans to visit Farr in Harlingen.

“He was a neat person. The kids loved him. I don't think there was anybody who didn't like him,” Vogt said Wednesday morning. “When they called yesterday (with news of Farr's death), I just couldn't believe it. I'm glad they caught the person. We live in a strange world.”