role call. stand. say your name and the year you graduated. slowly people started rising out of their seats. mr. so & so, 1972. ms. so & so, 1980. with every person that stood another hair on my arm rose to attention. mr. so & so, 1982 i flew in from tennessee. ms. so & so, 2001. by the time we had made it around the room a good portion of the crowded gymnasium was on their feet. this dramatic display of respect and adoration was awe inspiring. my skin prickled and a single tear made its way down my face. mr. howard price was an educator, mentor and coach for mariner high school. it was obvious to see the profound impact coach price had in so many lives; students, faculty, and rival coaches alike.
his career was second only to family; his wife and two children. this is the capacity that i know mr. price. we were neighbors. i was always terrified of him. always referred to him as Mr. Price, never called him howard or dad, he commanded respect without saying a word. however, he was the best dad to his children and an exceptional husband to his wife. just as he didn't need to say anything to command respect, he exuded a deep love for his family. i learned just how deep his love for his family and theirs for him went throughout the service.
when his daughter, a dear friend of mine, approached the podium to share her dad with all of us, i caught my breath and placed my hand over my heart. i have never lost someone close to me, let alone a parent, but she held her composure beautifully. she eloquently told of the love her parents shared, recently celebrating 50 years of marriage, and the devotion they shared, her mom had visited her ailing husband every day for the last 2 years where he was receiving care. did the movie the notebook just pop into your head? that is exactly how i felt listening to their love story. needless to say i was a sobbing mess through her testimony of her parents.
the range of emotions i feel at these functions is astronomical; tears to laughter, hairs raised on my arms to a lump in throat. i definitely run the gamut even if i am not very close with the person who has passed. i think it is incredible the impact that one can have in other's lives. i find it unfortunate that most of us don't get to experience that while we are living. despite the fact that mr. price was not physically in that gymnasium you could certainly feel his presence from the many who came to honor his life.
to learn more about coach price and his legacy please read this article.
Coach Price 'touched a lot of lives' | HeraldNet.com - High school sports
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