Page 38 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

One day I read that Coach Quinn had become one of the winningest coaches in Florida
high school football history so I called to congratulate him. He thanked me and, as
always, he asked me if there was anything he could do for me.

Then in late 1990,1 heard that Coach Quinn had terminal cancer. I called to ask him if
there was anything I could do. I could hear the tears in his voice and I felt incredibly
sad. It had been 20 years since I had seen him but just hearing his voice took me back
to those high school years when he had meant so much to me. I knew I had to go see
him.

I drove to his home not even knowing if he would remember me. After all, he had
coached hundreds of players. But he did remember me and all our times together in
great detail.

I tried to tell him how much he had meant to me when I was just a kid, how his lessons
had gone to my heart and how they had paid dividends all my adult life. We prayed
together and then it was time to go.

He waved from the door as I drove away. I suppose we both knew we would never see
each other again.

Coach Quinn had wanted to live through the Thanksgiving holidays but he died
Thanksgiving week. I took that Thanksgiving season as an occasion to be thankful for
how much Coach Quinn had meant to my life.

I will always thank God that Coach Quinn was in my life.”

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