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Butch Furse
Sometimes people overlook the tremendous extent the role teachers, coaches, administrators and solid school systems play in grooming future generations. That was not the case a few weeks ago when our good friend, retired teacher, coach, principal Roland Carter died after a long battle with cancer.
The accolades that came during his illness and at his funeral were more than impressive. Many of his former chemistry and physic students are now enjoying successful careers because “Coach Carter” not only taught the basics that gave them a solid foundation for college challenges that could be ahead, but also issued a directive telling students “to reach out for your goals.”
A few years ago “Coach Carter” showed me a list containing over 20 names of his former students who were in the medical field. He mentioned others who attained advanced degrees in other fields and those who became teachers.
It was quite evident and more publically noted about “Coach Carter’s” successful coaching when his football, track and baseball teams brought to Aurora five state championships during his 10-year coaching leadership.
In the last few months before his death many people inquired about his condition and they always ask “How’s ‘Coach Carter’?” I mentioned to him he had titles in classroom teaching, athletic coaching, principal and administration. Yet, many former students who were not on football, track, or baseball teams still call him “Coach Carter.” “So which do you prefer, Mr. or Coach?”
He laughed and said, “Coach Carter.”
In his own eyes he had always viewed himself as coach of his students in the classroom as well as those on an athletic field. As a principal he felt a good faculty, a good curriculum and a good relationship with students were important.
Thank goodness our present school system still holds those beliefs and we have lots of “coaches” in that system to carry on that tradition in the classroom as well as on the athletic field.
The words on Rollie Carter’s funeral folder said it best:
“A good coach can change a game
A great coach can change a life
A great coach is hard to find, difficult to part with and impossible to forget.”
We might add then it’s a no-brainer why he liked to be called “Coach Carter.”
RL Furse is publisher emeritus of the News-Register
