Tribute to teachers from my youth

This week (May 5-9, 2014) is Teacher Appreciation Week , so I thought I'd take a little time to reminisce and  thank the following teachers listed below for impacting my life. What is interesting about my look back is that the teachers I remember specific things about were the earliest teachers in my life. It was actually pretty challenging to think of any High School teachers with much detail, and I honestly couldn't think of anything worth recalling about my college teachers. I don't know if that's just me or if most people are like that because our teachers early in life are more like our parents/family or because we spent more time with them. After elementary school I mostly remember coaches.   

Looking Back

The Classroom Mom (Helper/Snack provider) in every grade of Elementary School

- Phyllis Marsh  AKA- Mom

Kindergarten / Mrs Poor- Thanks for all the naps on the mats we brought to school, cookies and milk, teaching me the Pledge of Allegiance, and to not eat the paste or crayons.

2nd Grade: Mrs George- Thanks for disciplining me (Yes Spanking in school in 1967) when I pulled the chair out from behind the boy in front of me as he was getting ready to sit down in reading circle.

4th Grade: Mrs Kotterman- Thanks for encouraging me to embrace reading, birthing a passion for History, and writing me letters of encouragement long after I left grade school

6th Grade: Mrs Elliott- Thanks for being HOT! If I knew my wife Becca back then I'd say you remind me of her. Yeah, I don't remember much else from 6th grade =)

7th Grade: Mr Terry- Thanks for showing me that there were things to be learned, even in a winless/scoreless football season. I could see God in you before my own decision to follow him.

8th Grade: Mr Yule- Thanks for helping me see the value of being the mental attitude winner on the football team, and for all the stuff you showed us how to make in wood shop on the lathe.

9th Grade: Mr Cordell- Thanks for showing me how cool it was to be an athlete and a Christian....even if you did go to IU.

HS- Mrs Brown, my Guidance Counselor-  Thanks for giving me the worst advice about what major I should choose in college because I've had a chance to counsel many others in my adult years and I know exactly what NOT to say. 

HS- My Freshman Spanish Teacher (Can't remember her name)- Thanks for giving me an F on a test when you noticed I had written the answers on my desk. Never cheated in anything after that day.

HS- Mr Schug, my biology teacher- Thanks for showing me that being lighthearted in the classroom worked and was fun. I looked forward to your class each day.

HS- Coach Shrader (Shad) My Varsity Baseball Coach- Thanks for believing in me when others didn't and for coming to my Father's funeral my sophomore year in College.

God- Who continues to love me, teach me patiently every day of my life.