Redmond High School - Juniper Yearbook (Redmond, OR)

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Don Rich the man by Mark Stofko One of the enduring traditions at RHS ended November 25, 1987 when Athletic Director Don Rich died of a heart attack. Rich's ten- ure spanned a period that encom- passed some half dozen superin- tendents and two buildings. Rich was born in Payette, Ida- ho. Before coming to Redmond, he taught and coached at three east- ern Oregon schools, Crane, Arling- ton, and Scio. During his initial years at Redmond, he also served as an assistant football coach un- der head coach Doc Savage. In 1971, when Savage left for La- Grande, Rich took over as head football coach, a responsibility he retained during his first year as Athletic Director. He later took on the duties of assistant wrestling coach. Rich had taught at Redmond for over 24 years, teaching several different subjects. Among these were health, psychology, and most recently Northwest History. Many RHS coaches spoke of Rich's ability to make their job as easy as possible. He was never afraid to put in the amount of time necessary as an athletic director, said interim co-Athletic Director In my 11 years of coaching, I have never met an athletic direc- tor that assumed so much respon- sibility for the presentability of the school's athletes and the qual- ity of the school's athletic pro- grams as Don,'i stated P.E. and health teacher Debby Nickell. Another frequently cited attri- bute was Rich's ability to make difficult decisions. According to personal finance teacher Bill Miles, who had known Rich since 1950, some people felt that they were treated unfairly at first, be- cause Don was so honest, but they later realized that someone had to draw the line. Kinney noted that Rich asked two questions when making decisions: whatis best for the overall athletic program, and, if the decision affected a certain individual, what's best for that person. Miles, who played college foot- ball with Rich, recalled that Don had excellent technique in his blocking. That's the way he was in everything he did, whether it was his teaching, coaching, or his per- sonal life. He was a good, sound technician? Nickell felt Rich provided a fa- ther image for others. He was one Glen Kinney. of the best friends I've ever hadf, Friends remember: by Lois Nortlu-up Don Rich was a lead- er, a teacher, and a friend! Certainly Don was re- spected and admired for many of his contribu- tions to the young peo- ple of Redmond, but I was most personally im- pacted by his commit- ment to the advance- ment of girls sports. During several years of ' association with Don, I 12 Student Life Watched him assume leadership in Redmond and in the Intermoun- tain Conference in the development of girls athletics. In 1967 two sports were offered for girls, today we have eight, much to the cred- it of Don. He had a strong belief in the val- ue of all young people having the opportunity to be involved in sports. by Mike Schiel Have you ever had a friend who had the hon- esty and courage to look you in the eye and tell you when you were wrong? Don Rich was this kind of friend to me. Don took the time to tell me how others per- ceived actions I had tak- en. He offered some- times blunt, to-the- ,l SQ point advice, that mad me re-think what I wa doing. Don was my role rn del, my mentor, he W the force or glue th kept many of us o track and focused o continuing task of ma ing RHS the best scho possible. He believ deeply that the soho was for the kids, not t staff, or the cornmunit

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facelift ly Brenda Anderson l Clean-up day this year oc- urred on October 5, a no chool Monday. At the be- inning of the school year, he students were warned of possible closed campus if he litter problem did not ome to a stop. The clean-up day this ear just went fantastically. There were residents who alled the school district and he school office and said Prince Bobby Culpepper and prin- cess Kelli Edwards stand at midfield during half-time. Sherry Herman with her escort Jon Jinings who was filling in for quarter- back Eric Ballew, Clean-up highlights homecoming how impressed they were to see the students participat- ing in cleaning up the schoolf' said Counselor Mike Schiel. In the years before, clean- up day had really helped to improve the look of the school. Years ago when the clean-up started, the people involved were the ones re- sponsible for the grass around the student parking lot. The clean-up went very well and in cleaning up the school, it really got people going, but I thought of it as a popularity get together and contest, said Jenniffer Smith. Clean-up went well and I think that we should do more things like this more often, not just for spirit week, stated a junior. At the clean-up they had a barbeque for the students Queen Julia Baker looks to her king, GT. Hausner, in amazement and joy after being crowned. Deena Symons and Dawn Hammack pull weeds during clean-up day. Many students participated in the cleaning of the RHS grounds and the empty lot across from the school. who participated. Most of the students went home, but the remaining went inside and made posters for the spirit week poster competi- tion, and shared in the fun of a huge pizza party from Pie- tros Pizza Restaurants. This was an extra reward for the students who partici- pated in the activity so much. Altogether, clean-up this year went fantastically, said Schiel. Student Life 'l'l

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0 o iii' Don Rich Athletic Director Illli?-RMTI0 mmf- 0 5 a X by Glen Kinney T Many people have no idea as to the many things of a charitable nature that Don Rich iid as a normal part of is life. They would never hear it from him! E-Ie was a doer, who nev- r sought personal cred- it. I shall personally cherish the memories of hay close friendship with Don. by Barry Branaugh Don was probably considered by most to be a gruff man. He took his job very seriously. He wanted school stu- dents and athletes to be the best possible people that they could be. Maybe we didn't always have the most success- ful teams, but our ath- letes almost always ex- hibited the most class. Once Redmond was playing another school, and I was mouthing off to one of the opposing players. The very next day, I was in his office at his request. He asked why I did what I did. After I told him my sto- ry he said, You flat out screwed up. I-le wasnit gentle in the way that he talked to me, because that wasn't his style. After he finished, I asked him why he sin- gled me out to talk to. He told me that I was a better person than the Way I had acted. Right then, I knew that he cared about me, and the type of person I grew up to be. by Ken Noah Don Rich was an ex- traordinary man. He was, in fact, one of the most self-less people I've known. The day be- fore his death he talked to me about several things he wanted to do before the end of the year. Things that would have greatly improved our school. I owe him a debt of gratitude, as does our school . . . and our community. I hope we can repay his gener- osity by living the ex- ample he set. Studs- K Lf 13