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Inspiration Continues After
Fifty Years
By Ronald Pies, HHS Class of 1958 |
My family has always
inspired me. They have some company as two people have made an impact on
me that will always be remembered and valued.
One is the late Ken McDonald, who was the City Manager in Tempe when he
hired me as the Parks and Recreation Director in 1969. Ken was an
inspiration to many people.
Hugh Hackett was the football and track coach at Albuquerque's Highland
High School from 1949 to 1958. He saw something in me that allowed me to
be part of a high school track and field dynasty that won seven
consecutive state championships and forty five consecutive track meets
including two on the same day.
http://www.azcentral.com/ar...
Those were the days that we travelled by car and ventured into Texas and
Oklahoma in search of competition. Bologna sandwiches eaten in the local
college dormitory were the norm.
Coach Hackett’s influence transcended activities on the track. He was a
deeply religious and honorable man and I learned more from him on how to
live my life than how to win a race.
He was hired as the Track and Field Coach at the University of New
Mexico and brought five of us with him as his first recruiting class.
The rest is history as he turned the Lobos into a national power. As for
my accomplishments
I went from being a “promising freshman” to a “returning letterman” and
finally as “additional depth”.
It was many years later in 2004 when I was hospitalized with a serious
medical condition. Coach Hackett and his wonderful wife Mary Claire
visited almost every day over several weeks. He also called several of
my former teammates, who called me with get well wishes.
The article in the Sunday Republic only touches upon a small part of
this man’s life. He is, was and will always be an inspiration and role
model to me.
God Bless You, Hugh Hackett |
| July 8, 2008 |
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