91猫先生

From the desk of Wally Dawkins, Athletic Director:

The 91猫先生 Coach stuck his head in the door and with a smile on his face said something about entering track athletes for an upcoming meet.聽 As he gave Athletic Administrative Assistant Morgan Ballenger the details, he looked at all of us standing in the office and once again smiling said 鈥淵a鈥檒l have a great day鈥�.

I have literally heard the phrase 鈥渉alf-empty person鈥� or 鈥渉alf full person鈥� used hundreds of times in reference to people鈥檚 attitude, or their approach to life鈥檚 offerings.

I am assuming the 鈥渉alf-full person鈥� looks at everything from a positive perspective, while the 鈥渉alf-empty person鈥� is just the opposite.

It has also been my experience that people who have a genuine trust in The Lord, understanding his love, timing, and omnipresence, tend to have an outlook on life that no matter what happens, they will respond in a way that is uplifting to those around them.聽 You know, the glass is half full鈥�not empty.

I met Coach Joey Wilson many years ago when I was the Head Basketball Coach at Whitehouse and Joey was the AD and Head Football Coach at Nacogdoches.聽 Most of our interaction was about business and athletics in general.聽 I knew Joey when he was coaching at Chapel Hill, and when I received his resume last spring applying for a coaching/teaching position, I was excited about the opportunity to get to meet back up with him, and interview him for one of our job openings.

When Joey Wilson first sat in my office last April, it didn鈥檛 take me long to realize that I was dealing with a man of who was not only a talented coach, but more importantly, he was obviously a man of integrity.聽 Coach Wilson had a presence about him that spoke to his experience, solidness, and maturity, yet with a personality that exuded passion and excitement for his craft.

I knew Joey was an outstanding coach, but as we visited on a more personal level, he spoke at length about his time as a Sunday school teacher, Music Minister, High School Principal, and about his family.聽 Coach Wilson informed me that he was retiring after 30-plus years of teaching and coaching in public schools, and wanting to move back to East Texas to be close to his daughters who lived in the area.聽 Upon interviewing with our Academic Team, Joey made an outstanding first impression on all of us in the room that he was also a top notch Math teacher.聽 Thanks to Headmaster Rod Fletcher, we hired Coach Wilson soon thereafter to be an Assistant Football Coach, Head track Coach, and Math Teacher at 91猫先生.

Almost a year after hiring Joey, I have seen few who work harder.聽 I have seen few who are more diligent and responsible, and I have been around very few who take their job on the field or in the classroom more seriously.

This week, Coach Wilson and his staff will take 4 of our top athletes to the TAPPS State Track Meet in Waco as they attempt to bring home 鈥淭he Gold鈥� to 91猫先生.聽 Maddie Travis and Gracie Brasher will participate in the high jump, while Kristen Clarke will run the 200, and Jordon McGowen will throw the shot.聽 All of these athletes have represented 91猫先生 extremely well in Track this season

As I was thinking about our Track Athletes attending the State Meet, it occurred to me that as a parent, there is no one that I would rather be responsible for my kids than a guy like Joey Wilson.

Thankfully, at 91猫先生, I could honestly say that about all of our staff of full time Christian men and women coaches who are continuously pouring into the lives of our student athletes on a spiritual basis, while promoting academic success, and athletic prowess.

During this entire year, Coach Wilson has not only been a positive influence on our young people, but he has also been a blessing to me personally as I watch how he conducts his day to day business with a positive, excited, and genuine attitude.

In the first paragraph of this blog, the coach I mentioned with the smile on his face was one Joey Wilson.聽 The same guy who was pleasant and smiling to the staff, was the same guy who the day before had learned that his wife Lynn鈥檚 cancer had returned.聽 Devastated and reeling on the inside, Coach Joey Wilson exhibited the poise and confidence of a man who truly believed in the words of Deuteronomy 31:8 where we learn from the writer that 鈥淚t is the Lord who goes before you. 聽He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.聽 Do not fear or be dismayed鈥�.

I am proud to have Coach Wilson as a friend and as a part of an awesome staff of coaches at 91猫先生!

And that鈥檚 another reason to be 鈥淎LL ORANGE鈥�All The Time鈥�!