Appreciated Teachers

This is Teacher Appreciation Week.  My education came in six phases – elementary school, junior high school, high school, college, seminary, and doctoral work. Much appreciation goes, not so much to those who taught me the most, but to those who made the greatest impact on my life.  Elementary School is a no-brainer, partly because of frequent family moves due to mother’s illness and Dad’s military service, I attended six schools in six years.  Meryl Acton was my 6th grade teacher.  She often said, “There is greatness in this room.”  As I looked around the room I decided it must be me.  Many years later, I determined, it was her.  I dedicated the first book I authored to her.  In her 90s, she called to thank me. I attended two Junior High Schools in three years, but by-far, my favorite teacher was Mrs. Rowlings, the Typing teacher.  I had no earthly idea how much I would use what she taught me for the remainder of my life. She was a huge basketball fan and celebrated with me when I was awarded an athletic basketball letter in the 8th grade, then again when I earned an athletic basketball  letter in the 9th grade – from a different school.  High School is a tie between two coaches. Joe Tusa, who not only led our school to football championships, but was my 10th grade basketball coach. When I ended up in the hospital with a broken neck, he saved my place on the roster, even though I didn’t make it back for one year. A close second was my baseball Coach, LeRoy Ashmore, who was for many years the winningest High School Baseball Coach in Texas.  What    I will never forget is his frequently repeated comment, “Don’t die on Third.  We can’t win if you guys die on Third.”  Of course, he was talking about baseball, but what a great life-lesson. College professor, Dr. A.J. Quinn taught me it was OK to be human and challenged me to get serious about God’s call on my life, when I was having a bit too much fun in college.  Seminary favorite was Dr. Cal Guy, who enflamed a mission calling in me. While I had Dr. Roy Fish during my first year in Seminary and his first year on the faculty, we did not become friends until my doctoral studies.  Friend, Mentor, faculty colleague, he died way too soon to suit me.  Wow!  How blessed I have been! How greatly I appreciate all my teachers.  Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).