001[music] เฮ เฮ [music] [applause] [music] [applause] [ music] [applause] [music] [applause] [music] เฮ [music] เฮ [music] اللهم [music] I chose Johnson County Public Schools because it's a product of which I am. As a young child, I was inspired by the teachers in the community and so that's what made me really want to be a teacher in the same community that I was inspired in. Johnson County Public Schools is the community of leaders and teachers who come together to benefit their students every day. John County Public Schools is where I went to school. It's where my community is and it's where I got inspired to become a teacher. It's also where now I get to serve my students in my community and continue to see growth and education. My name is Gabby Godwin. I'm a teacher
002at Med School. Great things are happening in JCPS. [music] [applause] Hey Hey hej [music] hey hey hey [music] [applause] [music] [applause] th เฮ [music] not only from coaching stand teaching just for the uh for each individual uh if you have a love for something to share that love to others and that they might uh see themselves as as good citizens you know and help to the community so it's important thing was important to me to be exle for them and and i do run into in fact on yesterday that I was at a place and I met individual that that recognized me right away that I had in school and it does something for you on the inside it makes you feel good and then they you know the comments that they making And you
003want did I make that impact uh on like that and which is which is a good thing for everyone and then that not only from you to them but then that is able they are able to pass it on to someone else which makes life better for everyone. He was very good with kids, but like he w there to be your buddy. He was there to teach you and coach you. He had that uh r sense of humor and and personality that um that he you know you still knew he cared you know and in my time as a coach and being successful I think if you can't make the kids know that you care and build relationships and they don't being friend don't be being mean or being their friend but that's you know,
004you knew he cared. So, you know, that's it ain't just it just want it just want a job for him. I don't think it was uh it was his passion. It's what he chose to do. That's obviously why he did it for so long. [music] start out in basketball and we had some pretty pretty good teams at that particular time. Of course, being uh new at uh I had to learn along with the teams that I was coaching. we stay there for many years and then the new scho came and of course I went there for I guess about the first or years and I would say there as a coach of basketball and at the same time even when I was at the uh middle school in Benson uh I also went into coaching
005football uh with Mr. K S and we stay there like we said for many years there before we moved out to the middle school and there we we uh coached until I retired from coaching football and he continued on stay in basketball for a number of years until I decid to retire from that. Couldn't have been a better person for the job at that time. with his experience, with his knowledge, with his um you know, his knowledge of the community and the kids that you know he's helped raise and helped teach to bring up. was the perfect man for the job and to see that transition going to where they built the new school and to you know one of his staples was always that you know you're blue and gold through and through inside
006the classroom outside the classroom uh even outside in the community you represent us and so he would be the perfect one to uh start laying the groundw for those athletic programs back in the day and we're lucky that he was able to be the foundation there to what we have We instill that mindset that he instilled in us as children back then. Um his you know respect, discipline, honor and to outwork everyone. Those are pretty much his staples and in my talks with uh some of his former players as well um that is what they're efficient today as you know as parents, parents of sons, parents of daughters in the community and wherever they may be uh today. And a lot of them would bring up how during that vital time, that sixth to e
007grade years, um how he would be a role model for them, how he would be a confidant for them, how even when they went to high school and were trying out for other sports, the nervousness and anxiety always had time to speak with them and to make them feel um you know a part of the family that we have down You have to have love for and never let that love die out for and and you have to dislike yourself for and there be tough days for you and you have to boost yourself up a lot of times uh you might not get a on your back every day uh but just if you have like said in your heart desire to do it then you can achieve it and the reward don't come immediately
008it's going to come at the end So [music] work ethic was the biggest thing. Um, you know, he is always led by example. Uh, he wasn't like the biggest communicator, but he knew um how to lead by example. Um, taught us all the right things. Um, yeah, um, you know, he was the best. [music] Yeah, I mean didn't really have to teach competition to me. Um, just I had two older brothers that you know they wanted to be like him and I wanted to be like them. So that kind of uh took care of itself. Yeah, just the amount of time he sacrificed for pretty much everyone other than other than himself. And that's the thing he never sacrificed. However much time he spent there. He didn't sacrifice for us. Like it didn't take away
009from us. [music] But I think more than anything is that his players knew how much he cared about them. And you know, we share stories all the time about how um you know he had he had a way of connecting that no one else could do that. And uh you know el nickname for our players and this and that but he didn't do it in a negative way or you know something to joke a kid. He just had he would come up with you know bird names first players and everyone had a different bird name. Again no one else could really do that and pull it off but somehow when he did it made you know made the players feel special. He was a tireless worker and he really put a lot of effort into
010what he did. He cared about um they like they said he did a lot of things behind the scenes. He did a lot of things our school that people never saw but you saw the results. I I remember him as um in the summer times and and none of us have to be there in the summer time to work but we as coaches want to be there to make our kids better. and the coach was like that. But a lot of days uh coach Riley, they would have football in the mornings. They practice football and then he leave football practice and go do basketball workouts after lunch, go right out of the gym and come out to the baseball field and coach summer baseball at night and do it again tomorrow. And so he was
011he was very dedicated to all three sports that he coached and he wanted the kids to be better. He wanted to help them be better. Not only better be better athletes, he wanted to help them make sure they were better when they graduated. It was less than a year ago and I was at the loads in um in Carry no less and I was wearing a Cleveland shirt and uh the cashier stops me. She goes, "You know Big John?" And I said, "Yeah, I I coached with him. my football coach there and he was like she goes he goes he changed my son's life so this is years later but um talked about he tried out for basketball but didn't have he couldn't have he didn't have money for team shoes and then when they
012handed out the team shoes the order came in he just hands him a pair and son's like I didn't I didn't buy these coach and he goes yeah he did and just handed it to him and he took care of stuff like that and uh she was a single mom uh working and didn't have money for shoes or camp and stuff like that. He took care, paid stuff like that out of his own pocket. But she was just years later, that kid had not been passing uh school but um had not been doing well but end up going to college and a lot of that was a transformation when he took an interest in So here I am and carry um just a little while ago and and that when she sees Cleveland that's. that's
013the image that comes to her mind is that Big John you know um saved her son and changed his life. those things that make big [music] impacts. But like they said, he didn't want to broadcast anybody. like he would hate this. He'll be like that's how he would be about it. You know, do something else. You know, he was humble like that, but uh you know, he would never you would never know he had played division one football. You would never know that. He never tell anybody, you know, but that's just person he was. He wasn't about him. was about [music] everybody else to say except those boys. He and Amy just did one terrific job with them. He was a great father. She's been a great mother and I couldn't have been proud of
014either of them since his pass and Amy has done just remarkable. And those are great kids. Those guys are great. I just loved him. I love him every day. I miss him every day. But I got his boys and I just enjoy spending time with them. That's that's about all I've got to say. New John knows I'm already bragging about it, but I don't need to. [music] You make friends if you're friends for life when you play by you know baseball or any any sport just like going through a war together and you know that's in fact uh I mean it's just like on any team you know you just cherish the days that you played [music] Well, he is if there's one person in my coaching career that is responsible for my good him.
015I don't know anybody in Wayne County John County connected in any way shap form fashion with athletics doesn't know who Ron is. He's involved everything I know in my county in Wayne where I live and I'm sure up here they all remember him and he must have been an awful good little baser because he sure was good for me. Our next inducty is Richard Narrard come forward. Rived the baseball scholarship from East to East Carolina University where he made the all conference allstate and allamerican teams and was voted the most valuable player. The New York Met signed him in 1967 and the Baltimore Oos in 1969. The ECU Sports Hall of Famer is co-owner of Sportsman's World Incorporated. [applause] Present has been blessed I think to have that but been blessed with two good [music]
016[applause] parents and as mine when you in school room. You don't think about anything, but you're schooling. When you're on the ball field, you don't think about anything but ball. That's that's what I feel like that, you know, in Johnston County, that's the way it was. It was it wasn't any surprise to me that he made all American East Carolina. Uh, at that time that he played for me, I thought he was the best high school. Legion catcher that never seen. And I still say that to people when they ask me about players that coached I still say he the best that I ever saw in high school. [music] I'm passing on my my dad's wishes. Uh out of high school, I had the opportunity to sign for a pretty decent bonus and he had
017drilled and my sister and I you going to college. college because he had maybe ec and and if I can encourage a player to you know try to focus more and and be a better player and a better person and they don't have to go to the major le they don't play college balls it's ok as long as they have that you know that grip and and knowing that I'm still wishes on them makes me that's why do that's why Here [music] But dad uh taking way too soon at age [applause] 54. Uh was a pillar of the community really. He um was um a great friend to a lot of folks and um he was really before servant leader became a thing. Uh that's how I would describe him. But uh I told someone
018the other day um I don't know much about cars. I don't know about much about other stuff but um baseball and church and family. I was dad he was a man of faith family and baseball. I have to pay somebody to um fix my car because he always we were at church on the baseball field. Didn't know how to do any of that other stuff. So I run into people all the time who want to tell me a story about my dad and sometimes they're sports related but most of the time they're related to something he did for them or he went out of the way to help them whether it was personal issue uh he was a tax administrator in the county for a long time. might have been a business issue, but um
019those are the stories um from judges, from coaches, from former players I've get to hear a lot of those stories and exciting. Uh just to remember what kind of person he was uh in the character, he was that was so important to him. He was working the John and something happen I don't remember what it was exactly but they were all over John he had missed something they thought and he and I think John knew it well he time came out there to me the was still alive and he said look all I want you to do is we going stand here and just talk a minut he said I want you to shake your head up and that's [music] Wor said you get back and everybody got on and we had a great about
020that after John was he was I think about him every day I really do I miss him I really really miss him was a great a lot of people in sports included take their two dag on seriously didn't I remember going a road game one night probably playof the game it was it was inisb we didn't go there of and back then we took private vehicles Johnny drove I was in the front seat with him I think there three ball players in the back seat and he made a wrong turn somewhere but anyh we were late getting pared practice and one of the players I think it was way Brown outfield nam he where was John says uh we had car trouble really yeah my car had a steering problem and you got lost says
021lucky guess well I have two prize possession one article that Jim Laer wrote and um in the last part of his article he said in recent years you might have read or heard a lot about love versus respect it's as though the two can be mutually exclusive you can be loved or you can be respected so if you think nobody can be both check with one of John Stot's former players in my 25 years on this job I have never known a coach so universally loved [music] เฮ เฮ [music] [applause] [music] เฮ [music] เฮ เฮ [music] [applause] [music] He. [music] เ เฮ [music] He. He [music] I chose Johnson County Public Schools because it's a product of which I am. As a young child, I was inspired by the teachers in the community and so
022that's what made me really want to be a teacher in the same community that I was inspired in. Johnson County Public Schools is the community of leaders and teachers who come together to benefit their students every day. Johnson County Public Schools is where I went to school. It's where my community is and it's where I got inspired to become a teacher. It's also where now I get to serve my students in my community and continue to see growth and education. My name is Gabby Godwin. I'm a teacher at Med School. Great things are happening in JCPS. [music] [applause] Hey y [music] เ เฮ [music] [applause] [music] [applause] [music] not only from coaching stand teaching just for the uh for each individual uh if you have a love for something to share that love to others
023and that they might uh see themselves as as uh good citizens of you know and and uh help to the community so forth. So it's uh it's important thing it was important to me to be an example for them and uh and uh I and I do run into uh in fact was on yesterday that I was at a place and I met individual that that recognized me right away that I had in school and it does something for you on the inside it makes you feel good and then they you know the comments that they make and you want did I make that impact uh on like that and which is which is a good thing that not only from you to them but then that is able they are able to pass it
024on to someone else which makes life better for everyone he was very good with kids but like he w there to be your budd he was there to teach you and coach you but he had that uh r sense of humor and and personality that um that he you know you still knew he cared you And in my time as a coach and being successful, I think if you can't make the kids know that you care and build relationships and they don't being friend don't be being mean or being friend but that's just you know you knew you cared. So you know that's it ain't just it just want a it just want a job for him. I don't think it was uh it was his passion. That's what he chose to do. That's obviously
025why he did it for so long. [music] start out in basketball and we had some pretty pretty good teams at that particular time. Of course, being uh new at uh I had to learn along with the teams that I was coaching. we stay there for many years and then the new school came open and of course I went there for I guess about the first three or years and I would stay there as a coach of basketball and at the same time even when I was at the uh middle school in Benson uh I also went into coaching football uh with Mr. Stev we coach retir from coaching football and he continued on stay in basketball for a number of years until I decid to retire from that. Could have been a better person for
026the job at that time. with his experience, with his knowledge, with his mind you know his knowledge of the community and the kids that you know he's helped raise and helped teach to bring up. who's the perfect man for the job and to see that transition going to where they built the new school and to you know one of his staples was always that you know you're blue and gold through and through inside the classroom outside the classroom uh even outside in the community you represent us and so he would be the perfect one to um start laying the groundw for those athletic programs back in the day and we're lucky that he was able to be the foundation there to what we have We instill that mindset that he instilled in us as children
027back then. Um his you know respect, discipline, honor and to outwork everyone. Those are pretty much his staples and in my with uh some of his former players as well um that is what they're efficient today as you know as parents, parents of sons, parents of daughters in the community and wherever they may be uh today and a lot of them would bring up how during that vital time that sixth to e grade years um how he would be a role talks model for them how he would be a confidant for them how even when they went to high school and were trying out for other sports the nervousness anxiety always had time to speak with them and to make them feel um you know a part of the family that we have down there
028we have to have love for it and never let that love die out for it and and and you have to dis yourself for and and there will be tough days for sure uh so you have to stay course and you you have to boost yourself up a lot of times uh you might not get a pat on your back every day uh but just if you have like said in your heart desire to do it then then you can achieve it and the reward don't come immediately it's going to come at the end So [music] work ethic was the biggest thing. Um, you know, he is always led by example. Uh, he wasn't like the biggest communicator, but he knew um how to lead by example. Um, taught us all the right things. Um,
029yeah, um, you know, he was the best. [music] Yeah, I mean didn't really have to teach competition to me. Um, just I had two older brothers that you know they wanted to be like him and I wanted to be like them. So that kind of uh took care of myself. Yeah, just the amount of time he sacrificed for pretty much everyone. Uh other than other than himself. And that's the thing he never sacrificed. However much time he spent there. He didn't sacrifice for us. Like it didn't take away from us. [music] But I think more than anything is that his players knew how much he cared about them. And you know, we share stories all the time about how um you know he had he had a way of connecting that no one else could
030do that. And uh you know el up nickname for our players and this and that but he he didn't do it in a negative way or you know something to joke a kid. He just had he would come up with you know bird names first players and everyone had a different bird name. Again no one else could really do that and pull it off but somehow when he did it made you know made the players feel special. He was a tireless worker and he really put a lot of effort into what he did. He cared about um they like they said he did a lot of things behind the scenes. He did a lot of things at our school that people never saw but you saw the results. I I remember him as um in
031the summertimes and and none of us have to be there in the summer time to work but we as coaches want to be there to make our kids better. and coach was like that. But a lot of days uh coach Riley they would have football in the mornings. They practice football and then he leave football practice and go do basketball workouts after lunch go right out of the gym and come out to the baseball field and coach summer baseball at night and do it again tomorrow. And so he was he was very dedicated to all three sports that he coached and he wanted the kids to be better. He wanted to help them be better. not only better be better athletes, he wanted to help them make sure they were better when they graduated. It
032was less than a year ago and I was at the loads in um in Carry no less and I was wearing a Cleveland shirt and uh the cashier stops me. She goes, "You know Big John?" And I said, "Yeah, I I coached with him. my coach football there and he was like she goes he goes he changed my son's life so this is years later but um talked about he tried out for basketball but didn't have he couldn't have he didn't have money for team shoes and then when they handed out the team shoes the order came in he just hands him a pair and son's like I didn't I didn't buy these coach and he goes yeah he did and just handed it to him and took he care of stuff like that and
033uh she was a single mom uh working and didn't have money for shoes or camp and stuff like that and he he took care paid stuff like that out of his own pocket. But she was just years later, that kid had not been passing uh school but um had not been doing well but end up going to college and a lot of that was a transformation when when he took an interest in in their lives. So here I am and carie um just a little while ago and that when she sees Cleveland that's that's the image that comes to her her mind is that Big John you know um saved her son and changed his life. those things that make make big [music] impacts but like they said he didn't want to broadcast anybody like
034he would hate this he be like that's how he would be about you know do something else you know he was humble like You know would never you would never know he played division footall you would never know that never tell anybody you know but that's just he wasn't about him was about [music] body else to say except those boys. Just did one job with them. He was a great father. She's been a great mother and I couldn't have been proud of either of since his just remarkable. And those are great kids. Those guys are great. I just loved him. I love him every day. I miss him every day. But I got boys and I just enjoy spending time with them. That's about all I have to say. Everybody new knows I'm already bracing
035about I don't need to. [music] friends life when you play you know baseball or any sport just like going through a war together and you know that's in fact uh I mean just like any team you know you just cherish the days that you played [music] Well, he is if there's one person in my coaching care that is responsible for my good would be him. I I don't know anybody in Wayne County John County connected in any way shap form fashion with athletics that doesn't know who Ron is. He's involved everything I know in my county in Wayne where I live and I'm sure up here they all remember him and he must have been an awful good little baseball player because he sure was good for me. Our next inducty is Richard Narard come
036forward. Roster received a baseball scholarship from east to East Carolina University where he made the all conference all state and all American teams and was voted the most valuable player. The New York Met signed him in 1967 and the Baltimore Oos in 1969. The ECU Sports Hall of Famer is co-owner of Sportsman's World Incorporated. Present. [applause] I've been blessed I think to have that but I've been blessed with two good [music] [applause] parents. And as my daddy would say, when you're in the school room, you don't think about anything, but you're schooling when you're on the ball field. You don't think about anything but ball. That's that's what I feel like you know in Johnston County that's the way it was. It was it wasn't any surprise to me that he made all America East
037Carolina. At that time that he played for me, I thought he was the best high school and legion catcher that I' ever seen. And I still say that to people when they ask me about players that coached I still say he's the best that I ever saw in high school. [music] I'm passing on my dad's wishes. Out of high school I had the opportunity to sign fory decent bonus and drilled and my sister and I you going to college going to college because he had maybe e great education and he saw the need for that and and if I can encourage player to you know try to focus more and be a better player and a better person and they don't have to go le col it's okay as long as they have that you
038know that and and knowing that I'm still passing my dad's wishes onto them makes me that's why I do it that's why I do [music] But dad uh taking way too soon uh at age [applause] 54. Uh was a pillar of the community really. He um was um a great friend to a lot of folks and um he was really before servant leader became a thing. Uh that's how I would describe him. But uh I told someone the other day um I don't know much about cars. I don't know about much about other stuff but um baseball and church and family. That was dad. He was a man of faith family and baseball. I have to pay somebody to um fix my car because he always we were at church on the baseball field. Didn't
039know how to do any of that other stuff. So I run into people all the time who want to tell me a story about my dad and sometimes their sports related but most of the time they're related to something he did for them or he went out of the way to help them whether it was um personal issue. Uh he was a tax administrator in the county for a long time. might have been a business issue, but um those are the stories um from judges, from coaches, from former players I've get to hear a lot of those stories and it's exciting. Uh just to remember what kind of person he was uh in the character, um he was that was so important to him. He was working the John and something happened. I don't remember
040what it was exactly but they were all over John. He had missed something they thought and he and I think John knew it. Well, he came out there to me while the was still alive and he said look all I want you to do is we going stand here and just talk a minute. He said I want you to shake your head up and down. That's all. I said, "John, what what did you get?" He said, "Don't worry about it. I'm handling this. Just shake your head up and down." I said, "But on you. Does that mean they are going to get on me?" He said, "Sure it does." And he turned around back and he changed the call and everyone got on me. But we had a great about that after John was he
041was I think about him every day. I really do. I miss him. I really really miss him. He was a great great a lot of people in sports included took their sales to seriously did I remember going a road game one night probably a playoff game it was it was in leisb we didn't go there very often and back then we took private vehicles Johnny drove I was in the front seat with him I think there three ball players in the back seat and he made a wrong turn somewhere but anyh we late getting to the park and they they already started in practice and one of the players I think it was way brown remember outfield her name he said where yall been Johnny says uh we had car trouble really yeah my car
042had a steering problem looked and he you got lost says lucky gu well I have two prize possession [music] you might have a love as though canut exclusive you can be loved or you can be respected so if you think nobody can be both check with one of john st former players in my 25 years on this job I have never known a coach un led and [music] เฮ [music] เฮ [music] เฮ เฮ [music] [applause] [music] เฮ [music] [applause] [music] He. [music] He. เฮ [music] He. [music] He [music] I chose Johnson County Public Schools because it's a product of which I am. As a young child, I was inspired by the teachers in the community. And so that's what made me really want to be a teacher in the same community that I was inspired
043in. Johnson County Public Schools is the community of leaders and teachers who come together to benefit their students every day. Johnson County Public Schools is where I went to school. It's where my community is and it's where I got inspired to become a teacher. It's also where now I get to serve my students in my community and continue to see growth and education. My name is Gaby God and I'm a teacher at school. Great things are happening in JCPS. [music] [applause] He themselves He he [music] th hey He [music] [applause] [music] [applause] [music] not only from coaching stand teaching just for the uh for each individual uh if you have a love for something to share that love to others and that they might uh see as good values of you know and and uh
044help to the community so it's important thing it was important to me to be an example for them and uh and uh and I do run into uh in fact was on yesterday that I was at a place and I measurement that that recognized me right away that I had in school and it does something for you on the inside it makes you feel good and Then they know the comments that they make you and you want to did I make that impact uh onion like that and which is which is a good thing for everyone and then that not only stands from you to them but then that is able to they are able to pass it on to someone else which makes life better for everyone. He was very good with kids, but
045like he w there to be your buddy. He was there to teach you and coach you. He had that uh r sense of humor and and personality that um that he you know you still knew he cared you know and and in my time as a coach and being successful I think if you can't make the kids know that you care and build relationships and and that don't mean being friend don't be me being being mean or being their friend but that's you know, you knew he cared. So, you know, that's it a just want to it just want a job for him. I don't think it was uh it was his passion. What he chose to do obviously he did it for so long. [music] start out in basketball and we had some pretty
046pretty good teams at that particular time. Of course, being uh new at it, uh I had to learn along with the teams that I was coaching. uh we stay there for many years and then the new school came open and of course I went there for I guess about the first or years and I would stay there as a coach of basketball and at the same time even when I was at the uh middle school in Bon uh I also went into coaching football uh with Mr. Stevon and we stay there like we said for many years there before moving out to the middle school and there we we coached until I retir from coaching football and he continued on stay in basketball for a number of years until I decid to retire from that
047could have been a better person for the for that job at that time uh with his experience with his knowledge with his um you know his knowledge of the community and the kids that you know he's helped raise and help teach to bring up he was the perfect man for the job and to see that transition going to where they built the new school and to you know one of his staples was always that you know you're blueing gold through and through inside the classroom outside the classroom uh even outside in the community you represent us and so he would be the perfect one to uh start laying the groundw for those athletic programs back in the day and we're lucky that he was able to be the foundation there to what we have [music]
048we instill that mindset that he instilled in us as children back then um his you know respect discipline honor and to outwork everyone those are pretty much his staples and in my talks with uh some of his former players as well um that is what they're efficient today as you know as parents, parents of sons, parents of daughters in the community and of them would bring up how during that vital time that grade years um how he would be a role model for them how he would be a confident for them how even when they went to high school and trying out for other sports the nervousness and anxiety always had time to speak with them and to make them feel um you know a part of the family that we have down [music] You
049have to have love for and never let that love die out for and and you have to yourself for and there will be tough days for you course and you have to boost yourself up a lot of times uh you might not get a pat on your back every day uh but just if you have like said in your heart desire to do it then you can achieve it and the reward don't come immediately it's going to come at the end Ja. [music] Work ethic was uh the biggest thing. Um you know, he is always led by example. Uh he wasn't like the biggest communicator, but he knew um how to le by example. um thought us all the right things. Um yeah, it's um you know he was the [music] best. Yeah. I mean
050dad didn't really have to teach competition to me um just cuuse I had two older brothers that you know they wanted to be like him and I wanted to be like them. So that kind of uh took care of itself. [music] just the amount of time he sacrificed for pretty much everyone else than himself and that's the thing he never sacrificed however much time he spent there he didn't sacrifice for us like he didn't take away from [music] But I think more than anything is that his players knew how much he cared about them. And you know, we share stories all the time about how um you know he had he had a way of connecting that no one else could do that. And uh you know el up nickname for our players and this
051and that but he he didn't do it in a negative way or you know something to joke a kid. He just had he would come up with you know bird names first players and everyone had a different bird name. Again no one else could really do that and pull it off but somehow when he did it made you know made the players feel special. He was a tireless worker and he really put a lot of effort into what he did. He cared about um they like they said he did a lot of things behind the scenes. He did a lot of things at our school that people never saw but you saw the results. I I remember him as um in the summer times and and none of us have to be there in the
052summer time to work but we as coaches want to be there to make our kids better. and coaches were like that. But a lot of days uh coach Riley they would have football in the mornings. They practice football and then he leave football practice and go do basketball workouts after lunch, go right out of the gym and come out to the baseball field and coach summer baseball at night and do it again tomorrow. And so he was he was very dedicated to all three sports that he coached and he wanted the kids to be better. He wanted to help them be better. Not only better be better athletes, he wanted to help them make sure they were better when they graduated. It was less than a year ago and I was at the LS in
053um in Carry no less and I was wearing a Cleveland shirt and uh the cashier stops me. She goes, "You know Big John?" And I said, "Yeah." I coached with him. my coach football there and he was like she goes he goes he changed my son's life so this is years later but um talked about he tried out for basketball but didn't have he couldn't have he didn't have money for team shoes and then when they handed out the team shoes the order came in he just hands him a pair and son's like I did n't I didn't buy these coach and he goes yeah he did and just handed it to him and took he care of stuff like that and uh she was a single mom uh working and didn't have money for
054shoes or camp and stuff like that. He he took care, paid stuff like that out of his own pocket. But she was just years later, that kid had not been passing uh school but um had not been doing well but end up going to college and a lot that was a transformation when he took an interest in in their lives. So here I am in Carry um just a little while ago and that when she sees Cleveland that's that's the image that comes to her her mind is that Big John you know um saved her son and and changed his life. those things that make make make big impacts [music] เฮ Hello. What Wait. for Everything. So. So. So. So. He. And so. So. So. So. So. So. So. Yes. Not. at po Tak. So.
055He. Ah . Here Cha. So.