The "A True Athlete, Coach and Friend" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Got up about 8:00 AM, dressed and headed out the drive to pick up the morning newspaper.  Wasn't long before I was staring at a familiar face in the Obituaries section of the paper.  That is beginning to happen way too many times now that I am in my mid-70s.  Everyone I know is getting older and in the case of the gentleman today, he was 10 years older than me.  

Mr. Kenneth R. Whisler, colleague and friend.

Mr. Kenneth R. Whisler was a colleague of mine at Manheim Township High School in Neffsville, Pennsyl- vania.  I graduated from the school in 1962 and he wasn't a teacher at the school at that time.  I returned in 1967 to teach at my alma mater and Ken was one of the physical education teachers by that time.  Ken graduated from Hershey High School in 1952 and was a District and Regional wrestling champion.  He also was a semi-finalist in the Pennsylvania State tournament.  After high school he served in the U.S. Navy, then got his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at West Chester University.  He taught at Newport High School for a year or so before he came to Manheim Township.  I got to know Ken one day when we were eating lunch together and began talking sports.  I knew he was the wrestling coach and he asked if I was interested in scoring the wrestling meets for him.  I was married with one child at the time and could use the extra money so I accepted his invitation.  I stuck with him for many years before I gave up the job.  I got to know both Ken and his family in those early years.  Ken was a very accomplished wrestler as well as demanding coach.  But, his teams respected him for his knowledge of the sport and his teaching techniques.  His record of 331 wins and 115 losses is an indication of his success.  He was inducted into the PA Wrestling Coach's Hall of Fame, District III Wrestling Hall of Fame and the Manheim Township Hall of Fame.  In 2018, he was inducted into the Hershey High School Sports Hall of Fame.  I had the chance to know his family by having his two sons in my classes I taught in Graphic Arts.  They were as outstanding in class as they were in athletics.    Tim and Kyle were both fine young men and loved the sport of baseball.  For a few years our school had a program called "Quest" where you were supposed to spend a week of the school year learning something other than the usual classroom work.  Some teachers took students overseas to learn different cultures, but I didn't have the money to do that with three young children by that time.  I offered a week of the board game known as APBA.  It was a realistic baseball game that taught you coaching and managing techniques.  Both boys signed up to spend the week with me.  I got to really know them by the end of the week.  The following summer they joined the adult summer league that I ran.  They had a sister, Kendra, that I knew, but didn't have her in class.  Ken was a member of the Humane Society and loved animals.  I learned so much from Ken while being his scorekeeper for wrestling meets.  His life's lessons he taught to his wrestlers overflowed to me.  He retired a few years before I did and eventually moved away from the area.  I missed his daily talks after he retired, but I will never forget what I did learn from him.  His family will certainly miss him and his outlook on life.  He was a true gentleman and a fantastic coach and mentor.  Rest in Peace, Ken.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.