SPORTSBEAT Extra: Warren Gleason remembered

Warren Gleason, "G" as he was known in the later years of his teaching career, will be remembered for the difference he made in the lives of students. (Photo by Richard Lamb)

Sportsbeat by Peter Jakey

The sad news of the passing of Warren Gleason reached my desk early Wednesday (April 8, 2015) morning.

It was with a heavy heart that I put together these words, to bring a few thoughts about coach Gleason’s life in Rogers City.  It seemed to be summed up by Ron Schultheiss, who sent a congratulatory letter to him when Warren was inducted into the Michigan Wrestling Association in the fall of 2004.

It mentioned his dedication to the sport of wrestling, but the most important part was a quote about how, “Many lives you touched during your career.”

The popular Rogers City High School (RCHS) teacher/coach left his mark on two generations of students and athletes during a 30-year career in Rogers City. Teacher of many subjects and coach of a variety of sports, the title “motivator” always seemed to fit best.

Even last week, former RCHS boys’ basketball coach Pete Bush commented on Gleason’s influence during Bush’s brief time here. He influenced many, and now will be missed by many.

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When Warren Gleason retired in 1999, publisher Richard Lamb interviewed him for a feature story. His story included quotes saved up by the publisher which were handed out by “G” over the years. As a coach, Gleason was a delight to interview, always handing out a few good-natured gems of information about his teams. Here are a few:

Gleason comments on playing a long round of golf—This year we had a few golfers and a lot more hackers. We lost a lot of golf balls this year. We had quantity but not a lot of quality. Our hackers, the fourth flight of golfers, were so bad it took them all day to finish their round. Sometimes it was getting dark and we had to go out and find them on the course and lead them in.

About a slow crop of runners out for the track and field team—They have no business whatsoever in running sprints. They are terrible. The only thing in a 100-meter dash they are not going to get is lapped. That ‘s how slow they are.

On coaching differences—In wrestling, the more aggresive person can transfer that aggression into controlled violence on the mat. In this sport (track) you can’t take it out on another person, you have to take it out of the track. They do have much in common, track and wrestling, in that you are only as good in the game as you are in practice.

On setting goals—If you think you can or you think you can’t—either way you are right.

How he competed as an athlete—No matter what it cost, I am going to be better than you. I’m going to do it fairly, not cheating, biting or kicking you when you are down. I’m going to do it because I’m going to out-train you and out-work you.

On dedication of wrestlers—All the kids look up to the wresters. They do it not only because of their toughness, but because of their work ethic and their pride. There is a confidence there because these kids have done things other kids don’t even dream about. That carries over into everything else in their life. They are good workers.

His outlook on conditioning—I used to come home in the summer, after working all day in the hay fields, and run five miles of telephone poles. I’d jog one, sprint one, walk one. I was in a condition like nobody and that is how I try to train my wrestlers and the really good athletes, the Jack Fairbanks’, the Mike Grulke’s, the Max Hogan’s and many others. They are the best, as good as anybody anywhere, but they accepted that to attain that level. It is a really good feeling to have people respect you for what you have earned.

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Warren G. Gleason, 78, of Rogers City passed away Tuesday April 7, 2015 at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.

The son of Grant and Mabel Gleason, was born January 28, 1937 in Gulf Port, Mississippi. He was raised by his father, and graduated from Belding High School in 1955. He went to Alma for a year and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He married Vonnie Hock in 1960 in Lakeview, together they lived in Mesick, teaching in Memphis until making their home in Rogers City in 1970.

His contributions to Rogers City were endless, he was hired as a physical education teacher, a drivers training teacher, and taught heath and history at the Rogers City High School. He was inspirational with starting the Rogers City Hockey League in the early 1970s. Mr. G. could not spend enough time with the youth in Rogers City, endless hours coaching football, wrestling, track and golf.  In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing spitzer.

Survivin

g are his wife Vonnie; a son Patrick (Cindy) of Bangor Maine; two daughters, Jennifer (Tom) Nielsen of Oregon, and Lisa Gleason of Rogers City; three grandsons, Grant Gleason, Warren Nielsen and Justin Gleason; and a granddaughter, Sophia Nielsen.

Cremation arrangements are in care of Hentkowski Funeral Home. There will be a memorial service in honor of Mr. Gleason at a later date. Condolences can be made to the family at www.hentkowskifuneral.com.

Memorials are suggested to The Warren Gleason Memorial Fund at the Rogers City High School.