Our Past Is Present September 10, 2018

September 10, 2018

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            The late Rob Stevens wrote a piece for “The Weekly Republic” newspaper in 1981 titled “Simpler Closes Coaching Career.”  This article, of course, was about the late Al Simpler.  Rob started the article with:  “The year was 1958… students at Junction City Senior High began school that fall attending only half days – in the morning – while they waited for the new school building to be completed.

            The 1958 football season saw the Blue Jays compile a final season record of six wins and three losses and a third place finish in the Central Kansas League. Al Simpler and his wife Helen came to Junction City from Oklahoma and became a part of the tradition of winning in Junction City athletics.  His term of service as a coach track and football athletes lasted for 23 years.  There were 19 winning football campaigns and seven playoff appearances; a media state title in 1976; the first true championship in 1969 and runners up in 1976.  His record at Junction City High School as a football coach was 142-74 and 3. 

            When asked why he was retiring, Al Simpler stated that “it wasn’t really because of three straight losing football seasons, it was more about his allergies and being on his feet for so many hours each day.”

            Even with the impressive record he had at JCHS, Al Simpler is often remembered as being a person who worked hard to get scholarships for his athletes and taught them the things they needed for life -  like being responsible for their own  actions.  A portion of the article from which this information came, stated that there was the time Al had to leave his best players home because of discipline problems before the season finale.  Al also stated in the article that “if a kid isn’t on time to make the team bus, we leave him at home.” 

            Something for us to think about as the fall sports season begins.  Is it only about winning the game or is also about life’s lessons being taught by playing in a sport?  I am sure I know how Coach Randall Zimmerman would answer that question.  

            Well … thanks for reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.