Amos E. Neyhart, who is credited with introducing driver-education classes into the high-school curriculum, died July 5 at a nursing home in State College, Pa. He was 91.
In 1931, when Mr. Neyhart was an assistant professor of psychology at Penn State University, his parked car was hit by a drunk driver. Concerned that teenagers were driving without proper instruction, Mr. Neyhart began teaching volunteer students from State College High School, using his own 1929 Graham-Paige automobile for lessons.
His first formal courses began in 1933. He later presented the first teacher-preparation course in driver education and the first seminar on the topic for college professors.
Over the course of his career, Mr. Neyhart was honored for his work by the American Automobile Association, the Society of Automotive Engineers, and other groups. In 1958 he received the Pennsylvania Meritorious Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded in the state.
Mr. Neyhart retired from Penn State in 1964 when he was director of the Institute of Public Safety in Continuing Education.
Francis Parkman, the first president of the National Association of Independent Schools and a former headmaster of St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Mass., died July 15 at a nursing home in Needham, Mass. He was 92.
A graduate of St. Mark’s and Harvard College, Mr. Parkman became executive secretary of the National Council of Independent Schools in 1948. He held that post until the organization was succeeded by the nais in 1962. He then served as the new group’s president for a year, and remained active as a consultant to the group for several years.
