To the Editor:

The idea of naming the Potsdam High School track in honor or Bill Lewis is a no-brainer. Who else has done as much for the track program at Potsdam?

Bill continues to provide a humbling reminder of the enormous impact that one person can have on the lives of so many. We can look at the cumulative impact that one person can have on the lives of so many. We can look at the cumulative impact of all the athletes/students he has taught and coached, and we are reminded of the positive influences, the lessons he taught each of us, that we have utilized to change the way so many people conduct their daily lives.

I graduated in 1967. In the late 1960s and 1970s there weren’t many spring sports at our school. There was baseball or golf. Then this soft-spoken yet inspirational, mild-mannered yet positive junior high physical education teacher began to motivate more and more students to become involved in track and field. Yes, this man most of the time succeeded in getting “run of the mill” athletes to enjoy running and evolve into accomplished athletes.

Our coach made each person on the team try to achieve their very best each and every time they competed. The day before a track meet, during a blackboard session, he showed each person what their personal best was and how much it needed to improve, to come away with the team win.

Furthermore, coach Lewis had the ability to encourage us to participate in events we wouldn't ordinarily be in, convincing us to do so because of the points we could earn. Examples: shot put and discuss throwers would run on a relay team. Upperclassmen mentored younger athletes and helped them set high goals.

It is no wonder that Bill’s transition from teacher to guidance counselor was an easy one. He always found time to help everyone at every event; throwers, hurdlers and distance runners. On his free periods during the school day, he would drag the cinder track, roll it and mark the relay exchange zones and the lanes.

After returning to our high school years later and seeing the all-weather track, I can’t help but wonder how much more time coach Lewis could have spent with his athletes if we had a track such as this one.

Coach Lewis built our track team into a dominant force, obtaining many records for our school. I truly believe the honor of naming the track after coach Lewis is long overdue and he is most deserving.

Ronald LaDuke

Potsdam Central graduate