This page is for the expression of thanks, gratitude and love that our teachers showed us in the 60's. Take the time to share your gratitude to any teacher that made an impact on your life.

Coach Bird meant alot to me in high school. While some coaches revealed a hidden rage in their personality. He had a firm quiet resolve about football. He could be very firm, but I dont recall him ever loosing it. I have seen coaches loose it and be angry and vile to a degree, but Dale had a soft and tender inside that made it hard to believe he was really angry. Not only was he a good coach for me, but after high school at times when we talked I could see he was a great friend also. To this day I allways enjoy talking to him. I love Dale Bird.

One of my football teammates and Coach Bird altered my life (for the good) significantly during one JV game at Redskin Field. We had been told in the lockeroom before the game that the Mansfield Madison players were hotheads and undisciplined so "don't react emotionally to their name calling, dirty plays or any other funny business they might pull". So when I tackled their fullback and he went berserk I ignored him (OK I admit after all these years I may have thrown an extra elbow in the mix as he was going down). When the ref came over and announced we were both out of the game I took my turn going berserk.

I'm not sure who caught my arm as I was taking a swing at that ref from behind but whoever it was altered my entire future, as Coach Bird fully explained to me at halftime (although the term "explained" doesn't quite capture or describe his "teaching methods" that night). In fact I still think I feel a piece of his boot up my posterior from time to time.

In reality, my football career came precariously close to ending that evening, for had I connected with the back of that ref's head I could have been banned from Coshocton football (and high school football anywhere) for good. I'm not sure whether it was a magazine or a football program coach Bird rolled up, using it as a drumstick on my head as he was drumming this lesson into me (guess I could have checked the printing that remained inked on my forehead afterward), but I do remember Bruce Rose sitting beside me on the adjacent bench situated at a right angle effectively timing and dodging Coach Bird's swings. Since I was already numb from the first blow, as those who ever experienced the awesomeness of Coach Bird's power will readily remember, I had to constrain the humor of watching from my bowed head position Bruce Rose bobbing and weaving Muhommed Ali style, avoiding Coach Birds sweeping right strokes as he praciced his bass drum techniques. Take it from me, you never wanted to be Coach Bird's bass drum! 

Even before I left for home that night I knew Coach Bird was not only 100% correct, but I was already realizing the value of one of life's hugest lessons that would wind up saving not only my future in sports but later, my military career as well. Reacting to unforeseen mistakes, disappointments and misfortunes of life in an undisciplined or uncontrolled way (whether it is manifested by uncontrolled anger, bitterness, or contempt), as I had done with the ref, can emotionally bankrupt one's life and future. 

Dale Bird has always been one of my heros and the topic of conversation at many of our family reunions. This gentile giant was always a positive example of restrained power and personal discipline and I feel blessed and thankful for the part he has played in my life. Thank you Coach Bird!

Coach "Fred" Butts was the running back coach during my Coshocton High days and he was always fun and entertaining as well as educational. Seems like he had a funny story or joke regardless the situation we found ourselves in at any given time.

One thing he taught running backs to do if we wanted to get better was practice our crossover and side-drag steps (boring football lingo) while walking anywhere. "Imagine the sidewalk cracks being the opponent and side or crossover step past them", he suggested. He also suggested carrying a football everywhere, practicing "securing it" so we would not fumble.

Well if you ever visit Springfield Mo., where I now coach the backs for Evangel University be careful walking on the sidewalks because you're likely to come across someone coming the other way carefully smothering a football in his arms while "juking and jiveing" past every crack he passes. I guess that somehow coaches influence lives generations after they have gone on to other endeavors.

It wasn't only technique that Coach Butts passed on to us. He was a humble man who somehow communicated a caring father-like interest in everyone fortunate enough to have him as their mentor. In fact he and Coach Bird were the first people outside my familiy to call me and congratulate me when I became a squadron commander in the United States Air Force 23 years after they last coached me on Coshocton High's football fields. 

Over the years I have become increasingly aware of how fortunate and blessed of God we had been, growing up in a place like Coshocton Ohio where teachers and coaches like "Fred" Butts surrounded us. In my life Coach Butts stood above the crowd.

Thank you and God Bless you Coach Butts!

My gratitude and love to

Mrs.Klein-for giving me eternal love of the word-written and spoken and between the lines

Mr LeFaver-The best choir director ever who taught us to sing from deep within and SIT UP!!!

Mr Miller-who made geometry an art form and gave me an awareness of all the wonderful shapes and angles given to us by the Divine and celebrated by man.

Monsieur Rose-who demonstrated the power of loving kindness with a smile and a bow tie. Il y a longtemps que je t'aime.

Mr Rettos-who brought history to life in the midst of raging hormones and unruly testosterone.  Talk about magic...

Their gifts continue to shape me

In Memory of Mary Belle White

For those of you that were afforded her ability to teach typing, bookkeeping, business law, and other business related subjects, she is dearly missed as my teacher and friend.  

                                                    Greg Darr,  1972

I keep teasing John about how hard his tests were in high school, but i was thinking the other day that he really made you think about world history. It was not just memorizing, you had to know the ins and outs of the subject to get an A on his tests. In all honesty i was not willing to pay that price, so I got C's. Thanks John for not making tests for slackers like I was....Bob

Thank you Mr. Rettos, for your insights on the War in Vietnam. You caused me to think deeply. You were a good teacher.

I thank him every time I see him in Coshocton- he taught us that a whole world existed beyond Coshocton and that there was history before our lifetime. He made us learn & think!

Mr. Rettos gave me hope that I could study history forever. Thanks to the Kent State shootings and the Vietnam War, Mr. Apple taught me how to respect people who saw the world a whole different way. Mr. Miller told me something I never forgot: "If you can't explain it, you don't understand it." Mr. Vanaman taught me how to do something I do every single day, which is drive a car in this mad, mad world. And dear Winogene Kaser taught me Latin, which I forgot entirely, and how to love learning, which I remember.