Coach Drier's grandson wins national award
Coach LeRoy Drier would be mighty proud. The former Marion High School football mentor who guided the Warriors to several winning seasons continues to have an impact on the younger generation.
His grandson, Matthew Wilke of Derby, the son of Dreier's daughter Janelle, has won a national award. And he did it for his grandfather.
Unfortunately, Dreier died of cancer before the award was announced.
Suffering from the disease, the former coach was badly incapacitated. He couldn't get out of bed. What he needed, thought Matthew, was a new kind of wheelchair — one that reclined.
The 10-year-old built a chair that not only reclines, but is easy to move.
He got the idea when visiting his grandfather on the family farm near Hesston. He wanted to make it possible for Dreier to go outside, which he enjoyed doing.
Matthew marketed the novel wheel chair successfully to individuals and institutions. Eventually he won the first place award in the Invention Convention and first place in the nationwide Invent America contest. He received a $1,000 bond and a congratulatory letter from Gov. Bill Graves.
He also was featured in a page one article, with color photograph, in the Dec. 26 Wichita Eagle.
Unfortunately Grandpa Drier, known as "Coach" in Marion, died before the awards were presented. But those who vividly recall the former coach know he'd be flashing a big grin.
