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October 15, 2022
I just found out that my high school track coach passed away yesterday.
His name was Phil Welker and he was 86 years old.
He was also an English teacher and I was lucky enough to spend a free period in his classroom during my senior year.
I was supposed to help him grade papers but he let me have the time for myself.
Which is how I ended up eating bologna sandwiches while forcing myself to read classics such as "A Moveable Feast" by Hemingway and "I'll Always Have Paris" by Art Buchwald.
Go figure.
A few years ago, back in early 2019 - my high school - Oakton Cougars Athletics - held an inaugural sports Hall of Fame event and Coach Welker was one of the well deserved inductees for his work with the track and cross country teams over the years.
I had not seen Coach Welker for more than 40 years - but he remembered me and actually apologized for not spending more time working with me because he said he felt I was better able to do the work on my own more than the other kids on the team.
He also told me he believed I had a lot more potential and could have achieved more if he had spent more time working with me.
Keep in mind - he had coached hundreds, if not thousands of kids, in his career and he was remembering me - I was blown away.
For a fleeting moment, "cynical me" thought that maybe this was just what he said when he met a kid he had coached - but then, just before Christmas 2019 and out of the blue I get this hand written card from Coach Welker.
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Joe,
I'm way, way overdue but finally I'm acknowledging your kind comments to James Moffatt Alexander III with respect to our friendship all those years ago.
You were such an earnest young man and a self starter, which is a reason for my neglect on the field.
In my small high school, I ran 9 events. There was no real coach - only a track - sponsor.
Left to my own devices I became a student of those events which continued after I reached college, and I was reduced to hurdles and L. jump.
So, to make a long story shorter, these factors made you quite memorable to me.
I must confess that there are many students I no longer remember.
Hoping this finds you well along your journey now.
Nancy and I are pleased with the life we've had and relish the gifts of old age while complaining of its difficulties.
In 1970 after being frustrated for the 2nd time I applied for the track job at Oakton I dropped by a friend's house for a bourbon and empathy.
Wallace, whose bro captained both the Football and Track teams and Clemson in 1941 heard me out and offered this gem
"Looks to me like a case of, if you're not with the girl you love you'd better love the one you're with".
Good advice.
Joe, all my memories of you are good ones.
Faithfully,
"Coach" Phil Welker ------------------------------------------
Coach - all my memories of you are good ones too...
P.S. I just signed up to be a volunteer track coach at the local high school.
