LETTER: Islander alumnus gains respect for teammate

Recently I had the opportunity to return to my alma mater, Grand Island Senior High School, and rekindle relationships with former classmates and educators from my past. The experience left me with a profound respect for the fine people who have been and continue to be strong advocates for young people in the Grand Island area. I also walked away with a new insight and perspective into a previously unresolved issue in my past.

The recent A-5 District track meet held in Grand Island this spring gave my son the chance to compete for the Creighton Prep track team. Creighton Prep, some Islander fans may recall, was the Omaha school that was the victim of an Islander thrashing in the state football finals over a quarter-century ago at Memorial Stadium. The senior captain of the Islander team, Jim Jeffries, also had a freshman son competing in the district meet for the Islanders. The irony of the situation was not lost on me or my family as I reflected on the past. At the conclusion of the meet, I introduced Jim's father, Bud Jeffries, to the head track coach at Prep who happened to be a young assistant coach for their team in 1978. The coach had a vivid, yet painful, recollection of the game and commented that they had "no answer for that fullback" who ran roughshod over them that night. On a talented team with many good players, Jim was the driving force behind our march to the improbable state championship that year.

For whatever reason, Jim and I were never good friends - or even friends- for the majority of our time in high school. Perhaps we were too much alike and hyper-competitive to make the effort. Perhaps it was my latent envy of his splendid, athletic attributes of speed, quickness, strength and, above all else, a mental toughness and passion for winning that, at its best, served to break the will of the opposition. The low point of our relationship occurred during a basketball practice that ended in fisticuffs and a stern lecture from our parents and coaches.

I have crossed paths with Jim a number of times over the years and feel that this episode is behind us with a growing sense of warmth and respect between us.

It was also fun to introduce my son to the "old guard" educators who were on hand to help at the meet: Mr. Burchess, Mr. Satterly and Coach Uhrmacher. You all taught me a great deal.

Clark Toner

Omaha