WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Timothy Sheaff, a longtime Dowling Catholic High School teacher known nationwide for his role in the high school speech and debate sphere, has passed away.
Dowling Catholic announced his death Friday in a Facebook post honoring the Class of 1986 alumnus for his accomplishments as a teacher and the director of its drama and debate groups.
"He impacted the lives of countless students in the classroom, on the stage, through speech and debate, and in numerous other ways. He was a beloved teacher, colleague and friend who will be greatly missed," the post reads in part.
During his more than 30 years in education, Sheaff was well-known in the debate and speech field. Known for his booming voice and kind mentorship, he was a National Speech & Debate Association hall of fame member, five-diamond coach and national tournament emcee.
Steven Schappaugh, principal at Des Moines Roosevelt High School, tweeted the following:
"...to have lost a dear friend and mentor. He was the voice of the NSDA but he was so much more. I’m grateful for his advice, the laughs we shared, and the opportunities he afforded me."
The NSDA also posted a nearly four-minute-long video honoring the decades Sheaff spent with the organization, his students and everyone in between:
"We are saddened to learn of the passing of longtime NSDA awards emcee Timothy Sheaff ... Tim’s voice, his mentorship, and his leadership will be greatly missed."
You can watch the full video here.
NDSA's national tournament will be hosted in Iowa in 2024 and 2025, an endeavor that Sheaff was heavily involved in preparing for.
Sheaff is survived by his wife, Christy, and their six children.
The Iowa High School Speech Association sent the following statement to Local 5 via email:
"Tim Sheaff was the heart and…the “voice” of all things debate in the State of Iowa. Tim served as the Chair of the Public Forum Divisions of the State Debate Tournament and the Debate Advisory Committee. He was inducted into the IHSSA Hall of Fame last October. In 2019 Tim was inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association Hall of Fame. Tim’s influence, his mentorship, and his friendship will be greatly missed. The IHSSA and its Executive Board express their heart-felt sympathies to the family of our beloved colleague.”