A beloved school nurse brings heart, healing, and high fives to five Owensboro schools
After decades in emergency rooms, military hospitals, and even serving under President Ronald Reagan, Denney Cecil could have retired with an impressive legacy. But today, he’s best known in Owensboro’s elementary schools simply as “Mr. Denney,” and he says this chapter of his career is the most meaningful one yet.
“I’ve been blessed all through my career,” Cecil said. “I’ve loved everything I’ve done and I couldn’t believe the next step would be as rewarding as the next.”
Cecil, a Navy veteran and lifelong nurse, began his career as a military medic at San Diego’s Naval Medical Center—one of the busiest hospitals on the West Coast—before working at the President’s Hospital in Washington D.C. under President Reagan. “I remember [George H.W.] Bush was Vice President,” he recalled. “The biggest thing I got to do one day was man the security post for him coming through.”
Throughout his career, Cecil has worked in high-intensity surgeries and fast-paced emergency rooms—but he says he feels just as fulfilled now serving as a nurse to young learners. “What it does for my soul—whatever gets drained, gets refilled in that first half hour of school,” he said. “I get to start every day in assembly or greeting them at the door with hundreds of high fives a day, and there’s nothing like that.”
Cecil joined Owensboro Public Schools three years ago and currently serves as a roving nurse. In the 2025–2026 school year, he’ll rotate between Foust, Sutton, Hager, Cravens, and Emerson Academy—riding one of his four motorcycles to each campus, often his Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic.
The sight of Mr. Denney pulling into a school parking lot has become a highlight for students. “The best is when the kids are out at recess and they’re just screaming, ‘Hey Mr. Denney!’ and they’ll run from the playground to the fence, especially the little ones,” he said.
His impact extends far beyond the nurse’s office. With the support of nurse technicians at each school, Cecil makes it a point to stay visible and involved—whether it’s giving high fives in the cafeteria, judging a coloring contest, or explaining what it means to be a veteran.
“Two teachers in my first year came up and gave me huge hugs,” Cecil recalled. “They said how thankful they were that I showed up for kids outside of the nurse’s room. The day that I lose that, is my last day as a school nurse.”
Sutton Elementary School Principal Krista Thompson agrees. “Denney puts kids first always! He builds strong relationships with students, staff, and families. His positive attitude is infectious and I hardly see him without a smile on his face,” she said. “Denney is definitely a ray of sunshine at Sutton!”
Cecil believes that personal connections create a safe space for students to share how they’re feeling, both physically and emotionally. Being on a first-name basis with students, he says, helps foster trust and emotional openness.
“Looking at life through these kids’ eyes, you can learn so much,” he said. “It’s grounded in reality when you have a reason to be happy every day.”
For Cecil, that reason is clear. “This job,” he said, “is priceless.”