Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Monday June 21, 2010

"Coach Mel used to tell me, "Frank, you have to work hard, there is no easy way" and "and by the way son, on your way to the top, make sure you get there the honest way and don't make a big show of it, let others blow your horn for you."

The above is a statement from Dutch Savage (dutchsavage.com) to his fan base at the passing of former Elkton High School athletic coach Mel Masonheimer. Dutch Savage is the professional moniker of Frank Stewart, Elkton High All State athlete in Football, Basketball plus Track and Field, vintage 1954.

Coach Mel Masonheimer was one of a very few people who impacted me positively when I was in school. As Frank pointed out in his online tribute coach was a man who had the gift of identifying with "rough" kids and hammering home via teaching and example the importance of integrity. By today's standards he would have been carried out of town on a rail by most school boards due to his insistence on abiding by the rules he set and spelled out for his teams. No smoking, C average, 10 PM curfew and no cokes. The first year I played on his team, a player who probably was on the way to All State was caught by coach at 11:30 PM standing in front of a gathering place smoking and on the spot he told him he was off the team. Under intense pressure he refused to budge. He lost a good linemen but he won an even deeper respect and we all knew the rules were for everyone.

50 years after he moved on from coaching to higher levels in the field of education, if you mention his name to athletes of that era in the Elkton area, a hush will fall on the conversation and terms of admiration will begin flowing from tongues controlled at that point by hearts still brimming with thankfulness for having been touched by "Masonheimer."

The purpose of today's comments is obvious: Those who are in a place of leadership as teachers, coaches, parents could learn many lessons from Frank's comment from Coach Mel that can impact our charges for good. We can and must learn the power of encouragement. Coach knew the intricacies of each sport he coached and insisted on fundamentals. He was the German version of Lombardi and instinctively communicated the same truth to us; he had our best interest at heart. He was compassionate in the way he commanded our best effort in our quest for excellence.

One of the truths that Paul taught Titus rings the bell in the life of all who are effective in encouraging people to reach beyond their self is found Titus 2:7, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works,"

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit.

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