Here's to you, Coach Duncan

On May 24, I attended a dedication ceremony held in honor of JC Duncan, a long-time Cassville basketball coach.

Being the daughter of a 1972 Cassville High School graduate, I have heard my fair share of Coach Duncan stories, and I am slightly ashamed to say that I often wondered if my father was embellishing the truth when he shared his memories of his former coach.

On Saturday, as I was walking into the facility that has been newly renamed the JC Duncan Gymnasium, I felt a little out of place because most of the people attending the event were around my father's age. Later, as I sat on the bleachers waiting for the event to begin, I was amazed by the conversations around me.

Each person attending the dedication ceremony spoke about Coach Duncan with an enthusiasm that matched what I had often heard in my father's voice. Most of those in attendance had a funny or touching story to tell about the former Cassville basketball coach, and each person conveyed the same respect that my father has always had for Coach Duncan.

When the ceremony started and former students, friends and family members stepped to the podium to share their memories of Coach Duncan, it became even more evident how much of an impact JC has had on the community.

At the end of the dedication ceremony, Coach Duncan had an opportunity to speak to all of those who turned out to honor him. When he addressed the audience, it was obvious just how much the ceremony meant to him.

"It has been a wonderful 52 years in Cassville," said Duncan. "The people of Cassville have been good to me. I hope I've repaid them a little bit."

Although JC Duncan was never my coach or teacher he was both to my father, who passed on some of Coach's lessons about basketball and life to both myself and my brothers.

I've heard some people say that we are all products of the lessons we learn from those around us. In the spirit of that theory, I would like to believe that most of the children and grandchildren of Coach Duncan's students have been shaped, at least indirectly, by his lessons.

If you have a Coach Duncan story you would like to share with our on-line readers, please feel free to post it in the comments section below.