Jerry Smith retires after 29 years in education, athletics years ago
By Eric Clark
Sports Editor
"Change is good, and that's what I need, a change."
That's what former Marion Middle School Social Studies teacher and high school assistant football and track coach Jerry Smith said he was looking for after retiring almost a month ago from the district he faithfully served for 18 years.
"I've been doing this for close to 30 years," Smith said. "I just decided it was time to find something different to do."
For a man that has been serving students and administration for the past 29 years Smith may well deserve the "change."
Out of high school, Smith headed to Coffeyville Community College for a year, before registering with the Navy.
After his tenure in the Navy, Smith enrolled at Fort Hays State University where he played defensive back for Tigers, and earned a teaching degree in physical education.
In the early '70s, Smith began teaching in Courtland High School, now known as Pike Valley High School, and remained there for two years before he and his wife Lois made the move to Copeland High School where they stayed for three. Prior to his time at Marion and after his years at Copeland, Smith taught at Pawnee Heights High School for six years.
During his time at the three different schools, Smith functioned as a physical education teacher and a football, basketball, and track coach, in one capacity or another.
For the three seasons he was at Copeland, Smith functioned as the head coach for the football and track teams, as well as the head basketball coach for both the middle and high school girls' basketball teams.
"They had me doing a lot," Smith said about his experience at Copeland. "It was a fun thing, but it was a lot."
When Smith and his family moved to Marion back in the mid-'80s, ironically, Smith was looking for change.
"When I moved here, I had taught PE and they wanted me to teach social studies. It was good to refresh my enthusiasm," Smith said.
Smith made note of another irony that he stumbled on following a conversation with his wife after announcing his retirement.
"The kids that graduated this year, most of them were born when I arrived," Smith said. "They're a good bunch of kids and it's nice to go out with them."
Smith said his educational experience at Marion got a shot of adrenaline when the Florence middle school moved several years ago into the new middle school building next to the high school.
"The move rejuvenated all of us, the teachers and the students," Smith said. "It made us all feel good about a nice classroom. The kids were really enthusiastic about the whole event. It was a lot of fun."
According to Smith, retirement benefits extend far past monetary rewards. Smith and his wife just welcomed a grandchild into the world, a change that he is well aware of corresponds with his new-found free time.
But Smith's steady need for change and excitement may in fact, lead him to another field into his retirement — public relations, a gift that he says most of his family members possess.
Smith's son, Chris works for Banner Health in Greeley, Colo. as the director of management support, while his daughter, Jodi, is an assistant sports information director for the University of South Florida in Tampa.
"We just feel comfortable talking to people," Smith said about his family.
Smith said seeing his children, Chris and Jodi, succeed in their respective fields encouraged him in his quest for a career change.
"In education there's not really a ladder to climb so the amount of (monetary) incentive is minimal. Once you're a teacher that's about as high as you can go without further education," Smith said. "But the rewards (in education) are astounding when you see kids who are succeeding and you know you had a little to do with that, it makes the monetary rewards a little less important. I look back and I'm glad I taught. It's just time for me to move on."
The 29-year education veteran, also has found enjoyment on the athletic fields during his career. Smith said one of his most memorable experience as an assistant football coach at MHS was when the Warriors made the Class 3A state football championship game.
"The year we went to state for football was a great experience," Smith said. "The community got involved with it and it brought everyone together."
Smith, head girls' basketball coach at the time, also recalled the year his Lady Warrior basketball team got past Inman High School in the sub-state finals to advance to the state tournament in 1991-92.
"We were behind in just about every game at half-time and we'd pull it out in the end," Smith said. "We came back against Inman and made it to state, it was great."
Smith also has seen his share of state-performing athletes in track as well. He said that while track isn't as "flashy" as other sports, he has found the same enjoyment in the sport.
Smith said he plans to continue coaching football and track at the high school if MHS will allow him to do so, and plans to explore avenues in the public relations field in the months ahead. But while the changes will alter his life, Smith said he'll take his experiences and memories with him in his latest journey.
"I have a lot of really good memories," Smith said. "You get a few notes here and there after your students graduate. I have a lot of good feelings that I'll take with me, especially the faculty I worked with at the middle school over the years. It's been a good run."
