Much More Than A Gym Teacher

I have been looking forward to June 28, 2008 since I first received the invitation last year. It is amazing how fast days go by from year to year, and that is why I feel this day where we honor Mr. Dale Meddock is not only appropriate but long overdue.

When I first met Mr. Meddock I was one of his students at the Ambridge Area Junior High School. I did not know then as I do now that I was in the presence of one of the finest and most influential men I would ever be associated with in my life. I was very fortunate growing up, I had a father and mother who were always there to guide, support, and teach me right from wrong. The bonus in my life was Dale Meddock. Mr. Meddock did not just teach us physical education or coach us in football and basketball, he taught us the value of competition, showed us how to take pride and excel in everything we participated in, made sure we respected ourselves and the people around us, but most importantly he developed young boys into winners; not only in sports but in the classroom and in life. That’s what Dale Meddock is, a winner.

Mr. Meddock to me is so much more than a gym teacher and a coach with a lot of championships; he is a man that knows the importance and has the ability to mold a young student athlete and make him a success. It has been over fifteen years since Mr. Meddock coached or taught me in school, but when I called upon him this year to help me with something that was very important to me and my family he was there to help and support me. In fact he was with me and my family until the very end all the while giving me advice and support for the future.

In an era were more and more young men are looking for someone to call a roll model, a hero, a father figure; a man like Dale Meddock who influenced so many student athletes is not only missed but greatly needed. He showed no favoritism, no prejudice, and he took no excuses; his class, his team, his athletes were just that his. I hope many of you like me were either smart enough or lucky enough to have listened, followed and learned from Mr. Meddock.


Mr. Meddock on behalf of myself and my whole family THANK YOU and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!


Donnie Despines
Class of 1996



(Posted by BK on behalf of Don Despines)