Evarts alumni

"A Little Piece of Home"

A Tribute to My Teacher
by Bruce E. Marsee
Copyright 2007 TMG

In today's screwed-up educational environment where male role models have become a minority, I sure am glad that was not the case during my educational years at Evarts High School.  Deep in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky where I grew up, and where most of my formal education took place, fortunately there was a male teacher that taught me more then just what was in the books.  What he taught me during those years were to later have a profound influence upon my life, especially in the Marine Corps, college and later in the business arena.  And it was okay if he put his arm on my shoulder while explaining something to me or rips me up one side and down the other for not paying attention during class. This was expected when I was growing up from teachers who had a passion for their profession.

Although in his late forties at my birth, my father and I maintained a real close relationship until his death in 1966.  However, with Dad obtaining only a third grade education there were particulars one needed to learn while growing up in the 1950’s. And learn from someone who had more than a third grade education.

While I was only enrolled in Mr. Charles Grays Mechanical Drawing and Art classes, yet from this one individual I was further to learn public speaking, proper manners, self esteem, how to get along and respect for others.  His patriotism by serving in his country military forces sent a strong signal as to what it meant to be patriotic.  The basic components of electricity were taught by allowing me to install wiring from the schools main intercom system to other buildings that served as classrooms.  A group of us students was also assigned the task of surveying and mapping out our small town of Evarts, Kentucky.  For one of our class talent shows, of which I was the emcee, the dinner jacket I wore belonged to Mr. Gray.

Given the task to correct some lighting at our schools football stadium I drove Mr. Grays Jeep to the field.  After lowering the Jeeps tailgate I began to move the vehicle closer to the lamp pole I was working on.  Being a teenager and eager to get thing over with I neglected to check the distance between the tailgate and the pole. Needless to say it was closer then my young mind realized.  That is until I put a dent in the tailgate once it came in contact with the pole.  After completing the task I returned the Jeep and the key’s and said nothing about the dent.  Today as I reflect upon the event I cannot help but think why in the world did Mr. Gray not tear me apart. After all it was my fault.  In fact I was by myself.  No other person was even close to me.  And it was a vehicle that he had worked and paid for and now one of his students damaged it.  No, this teacher and mentor showed this teenager what it meant to control ones temper and do it with class.  All he said was, “Why didn't you tell me?”  End of story.

Since graduating from Evarts High in 1957 I have seen Mr. Gray only one time and that was a visit I had with him at his home in Louisville, Kentucky in the mid seventies.  While I cannot say enough for this one teacher, whom I consider to be the best teacher and mentor I was ever to come in contact with, it is now time to place my thanks in print because the both of us are not getting any younger.  My hopes is that there are still role models out there, while maybe low in numbers, that can impact a child's life the way Mr. Gray impacted mine.  Mr. Gray, thanks for your devotion to your profession, thanks for the example you set for your students, thanks for your time, thanks for your encouragement, and most of all thanks for believing in my abilities.  So with this I say an overdue, Thank you Mr. Charles Gray.

Bruce Marsee is a Published Author, Freelance Writer and Lecturer after a successful career in Business Intelligence