A Coach Like No Other

I am grieving a very special man. He was an inspiration to me starting back in 6^th grade. His name was David Kellar. I will not tell a lie. I was terrified from all the stories of mile runs and the crazy hard 50 true false football test. I came from an elementary were physical education was running like 5 laps around the gym then playing freeze tag, duck-duck-goose, and simple easy games. So when I got my schedule for 6^th grade and saw I had Coach Kellar I was beyond scared.  I quickly realized that he expected hard work and lots of effort. I have no idea in what he saw in me. I barely could do a mile under 10 minutes when I started his class, and in three years my mile never got below 8 minutes, but I was in the best shape of my life in middle school.  He choose me to be a huddle leader of all people.  A huddle leader would get equipment together before and after class and to lead stretches and exercises. We also took attendance on the bus ride over to the recreation department.  I got close to this awesome man during my three years in his class:  the first year because of sheer luck and the last two because I went up to him on the first day of school asking him to switch me to his class.  He retired the same year I finished 8^th grade, and I will never forget him coming up to me and saying how much he enjoyed having me in class and that he wished me the best.  Over the years I continued to stay in touch with him. He was a major reason why I went into education majoring in middle grades. While in college I was able to interview him and the main thing he reminded me of was to demand respect, be though, and the kids will respect and enjoy being in your classroom.  I can only hope to be such a well-respected and loved teacher. So when I was sending out wedding invitations around 8 years ago he was at the top of my list of who I wanted to invite.  I was so honored to have him at our wedding it made the day so much sweeter. I will now treasure the picture of him, me, and Mrs. Elrod even more. I hope my children have a teacher just like him one day.  I will never forget him and I would like to thank his family for sharing him with all of us. I will think of how healthy he is now running the streets of gold now smiling down on us. May God comfort his family and all that loved him.

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