Letter to the Editor

A richly deserved award
To the editor:
     Ben Fridley was recently recognized by the Iowa High School Athletic Association for his many years of commitment to the Hampton-Dumont Schools youth with the Iowa High School Administrator’s Award at the Boys High School Basketball Tournament.
     Ben has influenced decades of students in the classroom and the world of sports as a coach and athletic director. Most people in your two communities already know this, but what some people probably don’t realize is to what level his commitment reached.
     When he assisted head coaches in his early years, beginning in 1978, he not only put his time in with his junior varsity players, but he also stayed for the entire varsity basketball practice as well. His hours at school often lasted from 5-9 p.m., or later, after a full day of teaching. His basketball teams played on Monday and Thursdays and occasionally on Saturdays. While those were late nights, he also accompanied the varsity teams on Tuesday and Saturdays (and don’t forget his wife, Mary, who was either alone at night or following him to all those games).
     As an athletic director he again sacrificed untold hours for the Hampton and Dumont athletes guiding the sports program throughout all the seasons. The number of situations/concerns which arise in a directorship position pose challenges that most of us do not have to contend with in our lives.
     Finally, after he had retired from these positions, he still served as a volunteer coach for the varsity basketball team, again spending numerous nights at practices and games.
     The bottom line is Ben Fridley lived for his students.  His years of service to the youth of your communities speaks volumes for his love of your young people. As a former Hampton coach, I have heard numerous compliments of Coach Fridley from his past students and players. A frequently heard comment was how much they appreciated his caring for them beyond the coach-player relationship.
     If our success is judged by what kind of difference we have made, Ben Fridley will be remembered as a “champion” in every sense of that word for generations to come in Hampton and Dumont.
     Congratulations, Ben! Your award is richly deserved.
Dave Hanneman
Marion, Iowa