Folks in Harlan County are mourning the loss of a well known educator.

64 year old Enoch Foutch died Tuesday night when his truck ran off the road and caught fire in western Kentucky.

Foutch was a principal in Harlan but most recently was a physics professor at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College.

Wheeler Conover worked with Enoch Foutch while he taught physics for more than one decade.

Conover says while Foutch was a great educator, he had the best attitude.

"He'd come in everyday with a smile on his face and say... 'I love my job. It's not work, it's fun," said Conover.

Educators say Foutch had a special way of connecting with students in the region.

"It was very obvious he had practical approaches to teaching physics. It was very common for him to say 'and the old county boys do it like this' and he would go and explain the metric system," said Conover.

Foutch also worked in the Harlan Independent School System during his career. He was principal at the elementary school.

"Mr. Foutch was a hard worker and you always knew where he stood and you always knew what he expected," David Johnson, Superintendent of Harlan Independent Schools.

Educators say they cannot believe they have lost such a great mentor.

Funeral arraignments for Foutch are pending.