Awakening Courage: Stories of Grit, Resilience, and Toughness

By Steve Miller

Awakening Courage: Stories of Grit, Resilience, and Toughness depicts the gifts and talents of people residing in a rural southeastern Ohio community nestled in the Appalachian foothills. But it could very well be any community in America. The author writes insightfully of the real lives of individuals and groups who transformed their communities. He does this with a clever mix of spirit, storytelling, and practical application strategies which he includes at the end of every chapter in the form of Points to Ponder, Questions for Discussion, and Applications to Community Development.

You will be introduced to ‘gritty’ people who refused to take no for an answer and learned to rise above challenges and adversity and achieve prosperity in the process. They are people of character, humility, integrity, and passion. They are mentally tough, accountable to a cause bigger than themselves and “walk the talk” daily in their journey toward becoming all that they were meant to be, not what someone else said they should be.

As you read this book, you are encouraged to examine your heart, your mind, and your experience about your place in any community - family, neighborhood, school, workplace, church, city or village. You will learn how people can bring their very best efforts to the present moment - which is the only time we have.

So get comfy and grab your favorite brew and be prepared to learn more about the core qualities and traits of change-makers who were not born of privilege, genius, or wealth. They were just ordinary people who seized the opportunities given to them and made a difference and impacted their community along the way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781669800743

Steve Miller

Robert S. Miller, better known as Steve, served as chairman and CEO of Delphi Corporation. In addition, he serves on the boards of Symantec and United Airlines. He resides near Detroit, Michigan, with his wife, Jill.

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Copyright © 2021 by Steve Miller.

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Rev. date: 11/26/2021

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CONTENTS

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Preface

Introduction

PART I. PERSONAL STORIES OF GRIT, RESILIENCE, AND TOUGHNESS

Foreword

Chapter 1 Sam Jones - Building Champions in Life

Chapter 2 Charles Doc Patton - Small Town Doctor ... Big Time Impact

Chapter 3 Brian Rowan - Blindsided: Courage to Dream

Chapter 4 Greg Sikorski - The World was His Stage

Chapter 5 Thelma Standley Grimes - Generational Pathfinder

Chapter 6 Deborah Koons- Finding The Treasure in Others ... The Power of A Faith-Based Community

Chapter 7 Sandra Vaughan - A Life Worth Remembering

PART II. SPORTS MAKING THEIR IMPACT: BUILDING SPIRIT AND TOMCAT PRIDE

Foreword By: Jason Arkley

Chapter 8 Unblemished and Setting The Bar - 1980 Football Team

Chapter 9 Ultimate Warriors - Limping To Perfection - 1989 Trimble Football Team

Chapter 10 Monumental Four-Year Run - 2002-2006 - Trimble Women’s Basketball Makes its Mark

Chapter 11 Undefeated and Undeterred - 2013 Mohawk Mafia - All Game, All Out, All Season

Chapter 12 With A Target on Their Back -

Chapter 13 Distinctive and Excellent - 2014-2015 - Trimble Basketball

Chapter 14 The Road To Canton - 2018 - Holding The Rope Tradition

Chapter 15 Run on for A Long Time - 2019 - Undefeated Streak To 5

Chapter 16 Unbound Underdogs(CATS) - We Thought We Could And We Did

Chapter 17 Unlikely Comeback: 2020 - A Most Improbable Season

Chapter 18 Winning and Competing The Tomcat Way

PART III. EVERYDAY HEROES: CITIZENS TRANSFORMING THEIR COMMUNITIES ONE DAY AT A TIME

Foreword By: Amanda Demarco

Chapter 19 The Glouster Project - We Thought We Could ... So We Did

Chapter 20 Keith Trace Strength Building Foundation - Where Champions are Honed and Chiseled

Chapter 21 Trimble Local Textbook and Supplies Foundation - Making A Difference and Filling A Void

Chapter 22 Chix 4 A Cure - Courage, Support & Love

Chapter 23 Tomcat Bridgebuilders - Seeing Good in Their Community and Working To Make Things Better

Chapter 24 The Glouster Public Library - Transforming Lives One Word At A Time

Chapter 25 Trimble Athletic Complex Improvement Committee

Epilogue

References and Recommended Readings

DEDICATION

Thank you to my son Zachary and my daughter-in-law Christy Hobbs Miller, my daughter Amanda and my son-in-law, Drew DeMarco, for blessing us with seven wonderful grandsons.

My dear grandsons, Kole, Brooks, Graham, Easton, Beckett, Mac, and Kallan:

I had not realized that boys grow quicker than books. But someday you will take it down from the shelf, dust it, and think of me. I hope to be around even if I am too deaf to hear and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be your affectionate ‘Papa’.

As I prepared the manuscript to send to the publisher several dear friends died unexpectedly. Janet Marie Drake Cline displayed uncommon grit, resilience, and kindness throughout her life. She touched countless lives with her caring and devotion to other’s well-being. She will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Brian Rowan, the subject of Chapter Three, lost his long-standing battle with cancer. He was as courageous an individual that I have ever met. His story is worth reading and should serve as a motivator for each of us to live life to the fullest each and every day.

Sandra Lou Vaughan, a tireless worker on behalf of the community and a stalwart in advocating for the needs of others, left us unexpectedly but left a rich legacy for others to follow.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To my family - especially my wife, Peggy, who inspires me and models love, accountability, and graciousness every day. During the submission of this book’s manuscript for editing by the publisher, my wife was diagnosed with Stage One breast cancer. She is a fighter and her prognosis is good due to early detection. She is an ardent example of courage, resiliency, and grit - major themes of this book.

To the many friends who shared memories and anecdotes, and also fact and truth to support my stories. Heartfelt thanks to Jason Arkley, J.D. Kittle, and Amanda DeMarco for writing Forewords to each of the three parts of the book and to Chris Shafer who provided the sketch for the book’s cover - thank you for being part of it all.

A special thank you to my dear niece, Briauna Ward, a unique and gifted individual who inspired me and helped me with the technical aspects of the book including helping me when I experienced glitches and the uncertainty of sending, retrieving and arranging manuscript documents. She amazes me with the positive energy she exudes each and every day. She profoundly impacted me with her childhood wisdom by saying, If I looked at someone long enough, I would see the good in them. She looks challenges in the eye and winks at them.

This book acknowledges all those people who have made grit, resilience, and toughness a lifestyle and not an event.

Speaking only for myself who only recently decided to become an author, writer’s block does sometimes happen and the work gets stalled for a period of time. In my case, I was spurred on by an unfortunate tragedy that befell Matthias Pfister, a teammate of my oldest grandson, Kole, and the son of Kyle and Lauren Pfister for whom I have developed such deep respect. You can read specific details of Mathias’s story by going to tbistrokesurvivorsmom.blogspot.com

Mathias’s story or what I will refer to hereafter as the story of MP-9 (Matthias Pfister has uniform # 9) propelled me to turn up my timetable for completing this book. It hit me like a bolt of lightning that all the things that we as parents, coaches, family, friends, etc. hold dear, can be taken from us in a flash. Themes I lay out in the book such as fear, adversity, courage, grit, resilience, faith, and determination all came to mind as I learned of Matthias’s condition and long road to recovery. Hearing his father and mother speak of the horrific car accident sent chills up my spine and sensitized me to the fact that life is fragile. The car accident left Mathias with traumatic brain injuries, blindness in his right eye, partial blindness in his left, and he suffered a stroke. Doctors were unsure if he would make it but after 5 head surgeries, numerous therapies, and 88 days in the hospital, he defied all odds and walked out of the hospital like a true warrior. MP-9 believes he will be snagging balls in the dirt again at first base. With his determination, I wouldn’t bet against it.

In short, it reinforced my thinking that communities that integrate, reinforce and actualize these themes on a daily basis, are the true winners. The large outpouring of love and support for MP-9 from not only those who know him but from people all across the United States, was phenomenal and a classic example of how communities pull together in times of need. It may be just one of the silver linings that can be taken away from such a horrific event.

I hope that in some small way the efforts in completing this book inspire you to become all YOU can be. Many of you are the future of what this book espouses while many of you are both the past and present of all that is good with the human spirit. You are all amazing and if we have not yet met, perhaps we will meet along our journey to improve life starting in our own communities.

PREFACE

Every citizen has gifts. A strong community knows it needs everyone to give their gifts.

John McKnight

Awakening Courage: Stories of Grit, Resilience, and Toughness, is a book of the gifts and talents of local people in Trimble Township, a rural, southeastern Ohio community nestled in the Appalachian foothills. It could very well be any community in America. The author relates the successful achievements of many residents, despite the economic decline and the out-migration of many of the area’s younger residents. It seems that no matter the walk of life, from preschoolers and beyond, there is no limit to what many have managed to accomplish. Certainly many of these people possess talents and skills that have facilitated their success but the author believes there is so much more to this story. What defines the community of Trimble Township is the Grit Index - the amount of unglamorous, undramatic perseverance you need to reach your targeted goals. It is a special blend of passion and persistence. Grit is the great game changer on the road to excellence and success. All the great stories of local heroes and achievers, who have persevered through setbacks, crushing defeats, rejection, or distress in one form or another, have grit as their secret weapon to success. Gritty people, as you will see in the chapters ahead, have several things in common - they operate at the edge of their comfort zone, set stretch goals in order to improve, and have a sense of purpose that extends beyond themselves which doubles their motivation because now they are seeing how their actions benefit others.

Grit: The Complete Blueprint

Angela Duckworth has written extensively about Grit. She lists five common characteristics displayed by those with Grit: (you will find these displayed by the individuals/groups in the pages that follow).

1. Courage - taking a chance when others will not; following your vision, no matter where it takes you; standing up for what you believe in, especially when your beliefs are unpopular; or simply doing the right thing even when easier options exist.

2. Conscientiousness - the desire to do a task well; seeing a task through to completion and not resting until it is done and done right; strong moral principles and values; generally orderly, good organizers, and list makers; stick to their convictions and opinions - opposition only serves to strengthen their dogged determination.

3. Perseverance - those with true grit are able to view struggle as a doorway to pleasure; persevere means to start and continue steadfastly on the path towards any goal you set and frequently this factor alone is the difference between failure and success. However, one of the distinctions between someone who succeeds and someone who is just spending time doing something is this: practice must have a purpose. Long-term goals come into play here. They provide the context and framework in which to find the meaning and value of your long-term efforts, which helps cultivate drive, sustainability, passion, courage, stamina and grit.

4. Resilience - resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. It is having a strong moral compass or set of beliefs that cannot be shattered. Resilient people do not compare themselves to others, instead they are their own yardstick for success. They see difficulties as stepping stones to transformation.

5. Passion - passion creates excellence when mediocrity will do. Passionate people have a deep sense of purpose and are selfless in their actions. They have a will to find a way attitude and don’t accept no for an answer. They are also enthusiastic about the success of others. They take responsibility for their lives but are not afraid to ask others for their support.

Model the Masters

The search after great men is the dream of youth and the most serious occupation of manhood. We travel into foreign parts to find his works, if possible, to get a glimpse of him. (Emerson, n.d.)

The stories presented in the chapters ahead will inspire you, provide glimpses of special individuals, while helping you recognize the power of grit, resilience, and toughness. They will encourage each of you to have the confidence required to change, pivot, or adjust when needed in times of adversity. The author encourages each of you to inspire others, reflect on your everyday actions, increase your self-awareness and leverage your relational capabilities to build positive, impactful relationships.

Most of us are at least somewhat familiar with the term grit but there seems to be a recent proliferation of the term, replete with examples in the literature. But there is no need to lean on experts, scholars and academicians to paint us a picture of what grit is. The author provides real-life examples of Trimble Township residents past and present who demonstrate(d) a combination of passion and long-term perseverance. This book is a celebratory tribute to the great influence these residents have had on the community.

The author takes readers into the athletic arena, the medical profession, a community of civic minded citizens, and relates personal stories of high achievers while sharing the characteristics that make their achievements special. He focuses on the fact that these citizens are the primary assets and activators within their communities. They represent the concept of producers of the future.

Here are some insights and questions gleaned by the author in his research:

• You were not born a winner and you were not born a loser. You are what you make yourself to be. (Holtz, 2020)

• Nothing is impossible. The word impossible itself says I’m Possible." (Hepburn, 2019)

• Why do some people encounter obstacles to goals and it stops them, while others are spurred on by challenges presented to them?

• What happens when you stumble and fail and how can the acronym F.A.I.L. (First Attempt in Learning) be operationalized in these instances?

• How can we surround ourselves with people who know the power of endurance and perseverance?

• How can we devote ourselves to that which provides us joy, purpose, and fulfillment?

• How can we utilize creative thinking and enable ourselves to be seen as capable and confident?

• Can we become not only open to ideas but promote those that have enormous transformative potential?

• Will we build time for daily reflection? Can we look back on our day and see what we have accomplished in order to determine what actions must be taken tomorrow to reach our goals and move forward?

• How can we become connected to the richness around us?

• Can we commit to looking for people seemingly living at the margins and recognize them as potential contributors to community progress?

• We are, after all, not people half full. We are people whose cup runneth over.

• Find something you love to do and stick with it.

• Put the needs of others above your own.

• Live for a purpose greater than yourself.

The author pulls together decades of experience and observations as a former Trimble township resident, teacher, coach, and public servant, to share stories from all walks of life and distills it into a set of practical strategies that will inspire, motivate, and hopefully result in you becoming more passionate and persistent in your daily endeavors within your respective community.

The author hopes you will feel empowered as you read how some have exercised immense self-control and perseverance in light of daunting odds & circumstances – to create a mindset to never quit and to never settle. You will see personal stories of grit and relentless pursuits of passion.

For those who have a platform to influence others and want them to succeed, the lessons will be invaluable. What is a fundamental insight into grit guides the author’s thinking that potential is one thing, what we do with it is quite another story.

Resilience and grit are deeply entwined with resilience being the optimism to continue in the face of failure and tough times while others see continuing as futile or impossible. Grit, on the other hand, is the motivational drive that keeps you on a difficult task over a sustained period of time. Here’s the really neat thing - grit and resilience can be expanded and nurtured. They are not something you are born with and limited to. You can learn to see challenges as opportunities to learn rather than as obstacles. Because these traits are rooted in a growth mindset, you can learn, develop, and build your resilience and grit. It does take practice and dedication but the positive impact on your life will be amazing.

Outsiders to a community seem quick to label and judge. It’s always amazing to me how smart people have become about someone else’s place of residence. Maybe the reason is that they only see the surface, therefore, they see the glass as always half empty. But let’s be fair and truthful with ourselves. Many within our community do the same thing. We focus on our deficiencies and the incompetence of those around us. We are quick to point fingers and place blame for our condition. Some, on the other hand, see our community as having capacity and choose to concentrate on the abundance of talent and skills that exist in the community. To them, hope springs eternal. This provides them with a sense of optimism and control over their future.

Each day is a new beginning. Whether it is a group meeting at the local restaurant for coffee, or civic minded citizens gathering at the historic railroad depot, they are attacking the day with a sense of energy and gusto that should be the envy of us all. The author refers to these meeting places as the ‘world café’ because all the world’s problems seem to be addressed and sometimes even solved here. But more importantly, these places allow residents to pose meaningful questions that nourish the networks of conversation upon which the vitality of community life depends.

In the pages ahead you will read about these people who refused to quit or take no for an answer. They see N. O. meaning, Next Opportunity. They are prideful people who learned to rise above challenges and adversity and seek prosperity in the process. They possess character, humility, integrity, and passion. They are mentally tough, accountable to a cause bigger than themselves and walk the talk daily in their journey toward becoming all that they were meant to be, not what someone else said they should be. They are special people who have come to believe that Grit Matters. They somehow were able to display an almost effortless courage in the face of stress, challenge, and adversity. Where most might see despair, they found hope. When some would choose to quit, they found a way to charge on.

The author has grown to love the area of Trimble Township and its residents. It is a place where no one fights alone and we are reminded of the gifts within each and every resident. To paraphrase the immortal Abraham Lincoln:

America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our identity, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. (Fins, 2020)

As you read this book, you are encouraged to examine your heart, your mind, and your experience about your place in the community and how you might move from your present situation toward your dream of a desirable future. Practical action always starts with an understanding that every community has more potential resources than any one person knows

Because I contain all that I have been and all that I will be, I can bring my best efforts to the present moment - which is the only time I have. (Tolle, 2004)

Remember - How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Let’s get busy!

INTRODUCTION

It Can Be Done

The man who misses all the fun is the one who says, It can’t be done.

In solemn pride he stands aloof and greets each venture with reproof,

Had the power he’d efface the history of the human race;

We’d have no radio or motor cars, no streets lit by electric stars,

No telegraph nor telephone, we’d linger in the age of stone.

The world would sleep if things were run by men who say, It can’t be done. Anonymous (2020)

OOPS! If you are like most readers, you have skipped the Preface. I urge you to go back and read it now because it sets the stage for this Introduction. This book is meant to be simple, basic and usable. Whatever wisdom it contains flows directly out of the experiences of courageous and determined citizens of Trimble Township. Readers are encouraged to consult the parts that apply most directly to their own community interests and can be read in any order.

Communities cannot be rebuilt by focusing on their needs, problems, and deficiencies. Rather, community building starts with the process of locating the assets, skills and capacities of residents, citizen associations, and local institutions. It has been a venture of love and discovery writing this book. I felt I was on a treasure hunt throughout the township searching diligently for individuals and groups who exemplify the true essence of grit, resilience, courage and toughness. I was astounded at how many great examples that probably warranted inclusion in the book but I chose the ones in which I had more first-hand experience or knowledge.

It is my hope that as you sit with a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, you come to learn about the capacity of your own community and be able to see abundance and the capacity of each member to contribute to the community in positive ways. Think about ways you can work to mobilize the resources in the midst of where you reside to solve issues and feel good about the place you call home.

This book is about guiding communities; about steering them to view themselves not as troubled or incompetent, but as worthy of appreciation and pride. I want to share success stories about neighborhood leaders and remind people of how their communities have gotten to be the way they are today – good and bad. Traditional strategies for improvement often fail so new advances toward opportunity will be revealed as a vital necessity for future sustainability and development.

Coal Towns: Boom or Bust

Trimble Township with its villages, towns and adjacent areas are reminiscent of a bygone area where coal was king and a rugged way of life was formed in the rural foothills of Appalachia. The people are of hardy stock and their ancestry represents a worldly mix of rugged and determined folks eager to carve out a living albeit in often dangerous and challenging conditions. The area represents scores of coal-rich communities in a region that dots the rail lines used to haul coal to steel mills and power plants. But today, decades after the mines shut down, the towns show what remains when an industry responsible for building a region leaves it behind. There are empty storefronts, duplexes sitting vacant or in dire need of repair, and abandoned school buildings. The citizens and local officials are faced with a lack of funding and resources for any large-scale change.

The economic, cultural and social void left after the mines closed has been replaced with absentee landlords, and drugs and crime in some instances. Once homes for generations of coal miners, many areas are seen as places to avoid – even by some who roamed the streets and countryside as children. There’s nothing here anymore, says one former resident. "Why don’t they do something about the streets and these absentee landlords’’? You can’t blame them. They are merely seeing the area as a window to their childhood when conditions appeared much better. Dr. Tom Pappas chronicled comments about the Glouster area and shared them in the booklet, Growing Up Grand In Glouster and Trimble Township. With permission (May, 2021) some are shared below.

Jane Ann (Jarvis) Poches, JTHS, class of 1956. says, I would wish for the children today to grow up in that atmosphere ... where money was not plentiful, but care, concern, safe havens, and love were abundant. We basically were able to live and explore without fear. We didn’t have a key to our front door. Judy (Vernon) Pierce GHS. class of 1951, added, What a great childhood we had!! Glouster was a great place to be raised. Helen (Covelle) Walker GHS, class of 1953, grew up in Glouster in the area called, Little Italy. She has many fond areas of her childhood. She was a cheerleader in high school and recalls how her mother would come to football games just so she could walk her home afterward. She enjoyed high school, football games, basketball games, hanging out with wonderful friends, and is proud that most of those friends back then are still some of her very best friends today. She also remembers the tough times. Her brother Andrew was killed at sea during World War II. She also lost two cousins and a next-door friend to the war. Helen was only six years old when the war broke out. This kind adaptation and resilience is an important trademark of Trimble Township residents.

Note: As I was editing this chapter before final submission, my friend, Helen Walker died. She was an exquisite role model for taking leadership and becoming engaged in community development. Riposa in pace, cara Elena.

There have been many waves of soul searching about how to remedy the blight seen in the area. When the mines shut down, it’s like the heartbeat slows down until it comes to a stop. Towns start to atrophy. Their vibrancy begins to fade. Aside from the local post office, the township medical clinic, a Kroger store, and convenience marts, there are few other businesses in the township and most residents work elsewhere. Many are retired or close to retiring and conservative estimates state that about 20% are living below the poverty line. Duplexes are picked up cheap and home prices in general have fallen. Churches are not in short supply, however, and serve as a refuge of stability and protection. They serve in a sense as a spiritual canopy over the villages and countryside.

Just because you are struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Author Unknown

This book is not about who we aren’t and the scarcity of our resources. That may be a given, but it does not need to define us and constitute a measure of our worth. In fact, such communities can be seen as a source of strength, pride, and respect. How is this done? By galvanizing community support and looking at the capacity of its residents rather than their needs. How refreshing! We have within our grasp to create something visionary and realistic. The potential of the community is tremendous. A long-term vision can be facilitated when people understand the satisfaction in helping others. How would you like to take part in an effort to help others visualize the opportunities in your area?

Each of you reading this can bring your own unique experience and insights into this book simply through the act of reading it. In this way you will be creating this book just as you are creating your life, your neighborhood, and the larger community of the world. Read carefully the following chapters and do your best to glean the traits of each person(s) mentioned in the stories presented. Each chapter ends with Points to Ponder, Questions for Reflection, and an Applications to Community Development section, that each of you can use as food for thought. At the very least, I hope you find respect and admiration for the fortitude many have taken in putting their neighbors and communities first. And by the way, for those in the stories still blessed to be with us, offer them a friendly hello and that thank you your parents told you to say when someone does something worthy of recognition. Better yet, join them at one of the local restaurants for that favorite beverage. You will be honoring their efforts and making their day.

He is a wise man who does not grieve the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. (Epictetus, as cited in www.brainyquotes.com, 2021)

It is your gifts, your grit, and your potential that determine your future. Today when you look to the future, I hope you see unlimited potential for all defined not by limitations but possibilities.

Search for the seed of good in every situation. Master that principle and you will own a precious shield that will guard you well through all the darkest valleys you must traverse. Stars may be seen from the bottom of a deep well, when they cannot be discerned from the mountaintop. So will you learn things in adversity that you would never have discovered without trouble. There is always a seed of good. Find it and prosper. (Mandino, 2010)

PART I

Personal Stories of Grit, Resilience, and Toughness

FOREWORD

J.D. KITTLE

When does a person become a cause and a cause fulfilled become a legend?

The people in this section have all contributed to the resilience of our town, its continued spirit, at times bowed, but never broken. Each has brought whatever talent and strength they have, and with their faith and connection to the community, they have persevered to craft unique contributions to this world.

The doctor, the teachers, the businessmen, the pastor, the student, and the traveler, who brings back news of the world; these are six who quietly went about the work of strengthening our community, of contributing to the continuation of its story, even as its purpose and identity of the towns change with changing times.

The people in this section are the center of many stories and some of these are explored in these pages, but many more are out there in the oral retelling of our past. The joking remembrances, the small testimonials about how Sam or Doc, or any of these did something that made a real difference to a person, not in public, but all the more meaningful for its private impact.

So, each life lived with purpose touches so many others and in a small town, these contributions are not diffused away, because so many of the people stay put. In our town, there were people who weave sturdy baskets out of paper-thin strips of hickory. The people captured on these pages have kept the pieces of this town gathered together in their weave, their contributions being as much in the lives they live as the events they participated in and the quiet kind of courage that they contributed.

Local heroes become possible because of perspective: their stories allow us to see and understand the place, the times and ultimately ourselves through their experiences and lift us up by their examples. At the same time, the people here made concrete contributions that people remember personally. The reader of this book may know these heroes and have their own experience with them, and so, are also part of the story.

When a town becomes more than a point on the map, and becomes home to multiple generations of people, legends become both possible and necessarily, to tell the story of the place. It is the story told through the eyes of its own people. Beyond that, so many people have a connection to this string of coal mining towns, the people, and its history. Many people that have moved away or have had family here still feel a sense of belonging. For these cousins, there is a sense of home in this place, even if they never lived here, they feel the influence.

The villages of Trimble Township have a strong sense of place, part of its story is poverty and decline of industry, but above that bass note is the brighter sounds of its people and the multi-generational friendships, the intertwining of lives, families, and the common experiences. In this community, certain individuals offer a leadership example, and their cause can ride above the limitations to meet the needs of a community. And the key to understanding their contributions is to realize it is not just the specific things they did and their impact, but to also see how these examples help the community to know itself, to embrace an identity, and be proud of who we are.

And so the stories pass on.

Joseph Kittle, Jr (Former Trimble Township Resident)

Chief Science Officer,

CytoSPAR llc

Printed with permission May 21, 2021

CHAPTER ONE

SAM JONES

BUILDING CHAMPIONS in LIFE

One Man’s Life Can Be a Great Story

Some people are legends in their own mind. Sam, however, is the real deal. His experiences and achievements are indeed legendary. He is an extraordinary person. Arguably, the very best storyteller of all time. Absolutely no one tells a story with as much expression and feeling as Sam. Those of you who know him and reading this now are probably chuckling because you know I am speaking the truth. Sam takes a story and is like an artist with a brush, each word is masterfully stroked in giving his audience a vivid picture of the essence of the story.

Sam is a great communicator. He can be talking one-on-one or to hundreds. People do not want a lot of cold facts, useless statistics, or pie charts. They like humor, drama, comedy, history, and tragedy. They want to laugh, see and feel what happened. They want to share the significance of the story. Sam, through his stories, inspires, connects, animates, entertains, and makes us feel good. I would rather listen to Sam than watch a movie, read a book, search the internet or engage any other information source.

Our Own Story and Mental Script

The story we tell ourselves and the role we play in that story determines the quality and direction of our life. Successful people are able to overcome adversity by telling themselves a more positive story than the rest. Instead of a drama or having a woe is me mindset, they define their life as an inspirational tale. Instead of being the victim, they see themselves as a fighter and over-comer. People like Sam think you can influence the outcome of your story.

But that’s only part of Sam’s intrigue and engaging persona. He is a giver, first and foremost. This energetic individual has taken his toughness and gregarious personality to distant lands and sometimes hostile places. Can you imagine being in Madison Square Garden with 20,000 people cheering against you? This crowd entered the Garden excited and eager to see their fighter pummel the young kickboxer representing Sam’s Gym in small, Glouster, Ohio. Daunting? For us, maybe, but not Sam. Sam was not there by some fluke. From 1974 to 1978 Sam was the United States Bando Kickboxing Champion. I’ll say it again - Sam was a FOUR TIME NATIONAL CHAMPION! In addition, he was a ninth level black belt. Sam explained to me that holding these titles paved the way to this bout in Madison Square Garden. In other words, he earned the right to be there. Was he intimidated by the partisan crowd? It was just the opposite. It revved him up, got the adrenalin pumping and produced that steely look that signifies his focus. Those that know him are then thinking to themselves, Game on! He will never let himself or the people of the Glouster area down.

The Rest of the Story

Sam was going up against a traditional boxer while Sam was to fight kickboxing style. The local boxer’s manager informed Sam that he wanted him to limit his kicks in order to protect his boxer’s legs and that eight kicks each round had to be above the waist. If Sam did not comply he would lose a point a round. This limited Sam immensely and forced Sam to back up in the ring in order to be able to deliver a high kick. When he did so, his opponent just kept moving in and inhibiting Sam from being more effective with these high kicks. When the final round was over, Sam’s opponent won the match on the judge’s card, out-pointing Sam 78-77. The hometown Puerto Rican (on National Puerto Rican Day) was bruised and battered and if he didn’t know the name Sam Jones or where Glouster, Ohio was before, he sure knew it after that fight. I wonder if this former opponent knows that Sam was inducted into the National Kickboxing Hall of Fame in 1993. I bet he was not surprised after being on the receiving end of Sam’s fists and kicks in what must have seemed like an eternity in the ring.

Readers – hear this – No way, No how does Sam or his fighters ever give anything less than their best. He won’t have it. Winning is nice but giving your absolute best effort is always number one. Be a champion in life, is Sam’s mantra.

Sam’s Sanctuary

Sam has been a trainer in the sport of boxing for decades. He is the owner of Sam’s Gym in Glouster, Ohio and has been since 1960. His father Eddie Jones first opened the gym in 1936. It is believed to be the oldest boxing club anywhere. It is here where the master hones the skills of legions of young fighters, some hopeful to get a shot at the big time, others just happy to be off the streets and engaging in a healthy alternative. Whatever the reason, Sam’s Gym provides an outlet and a sanctuary from life’s other distractions and upheavals. You can see them hanging on every word from the veteran mentor who minces no words but is always encouraging, engaging, and masterful in getting each fighter to believe in him or herself. He uses the metaphor of being knocked to the canvas but having the resolve to get back up and back into the game. True in boxing, just as true in life, don’t you think?

When that bell rings, you have three minutes out there, Sam said. And maybe you’re cruising along, doing okay, and boom, then you’re down. So what it taught me is to get up. When you’re knocked down, get back up, your lungs are burning, you’re tired, but just keep battling. Never give up."

Anyone who walks in Sam’s Gym cannot help but be impressed. First and foremost all visitors are treated with respect. When Sam talks, everyone listens. His fighters always say, Yes sir Here’s why Sam connects with his boxers:

When they enter Sam’s gym, they internally ask three questions:

1. Does Sam care about me? Mutual concern creates connection between people. Boxers know Sam is always there for them. Abraham Lincoln said, If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend. Make no question about it. Sam will care for you and be your friend for life.

2. Can Sam help me? Can he lift me to a higher level than I ever thought possible? They quickly come to understand the benefits of working with Sam.

3. Can I trust Sam? Sam will never make you feel that he is more important than you are. In other words, his boxers are his project and his sole reason for what he does as coach/trainer. Make no mistake, Sam is in charge and has the expertise and is all too willing to share it with you. You have to be committed and I know of few boxers who don’t get that concept early on while working with Sam. They quickly discover what they don’t know and the enormous benefit of Sam’s expertise.

"A good friend knows all your best stories but a best friend

Has lived them with you. Many people will walk out of your life, but only true Friends leave footprints in your heart. There’s nothing like a really loyal, dependable, good friend. Nothing, Good Friend." (Unknown, 2020)

The above passage may very well represent the thoughts of many of the boxers who enter Sam’s gym. They often bring their own baggage but Sam, the master, connects with each and every one of them. He gets to know their hopes and dreams and makes it his mission to meet their aspirations. He expects hard work in return.

The walls are adorned with historic pictures of days gone by as well as legendary boxers like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, and Larry Holmes. These are not pictures cut out of magazines. Sam has known these legends personally. Talk about enhancing his credibility. But for all of that, Sam would be just as thrilled to have pictures of those who frequented Sam’s Gym on the wall. He connects with each of them and has traveled extensively to weddings and other events integral to the lives of his friends and protégés in the ring. He could run for governor or any other office he chose to run for, and win! That’s why, if you want anything done, you go to Sam. He will look you right in the eye and tell you if he’s in or he’s out. He will give you reasons either way. I can tell you first hand that when he says, yes, you are ecstatic because you have just garnered the support of the most influential person in the township. To have Sam at the table is a big deal. It lends instant credibility to your undertaking. Believe me; he won’t get involved if he isn’t 100 % behind the endeavor. In fact, if you cannot get Sam involved, you better rethink what you are doing. Something may be missing. When in doubt, ask Sam.

The Champion for Life Mindset

Champions find a way to win. A real champion believes strongly in him or herself. He/she exudes this self-belief in all that is undertaken. You see it in their eyes, it’s in their presence, and it radiates so strong that it even makes opponents wonder if Sam’s fighters know something they don’t. What goes on inside a champion’s head? What do they worry about? What do they focus on? It’s more than a status or a title to be held. It’s the simple dedication of your life to a goal.

Challenge yourself every day. If you know deep down inside that you train harder and smarter than anybody else, you won’t have fears when it comes to facing the world. Sam wants his boxers to acquire a good attitude more than he wants them to secure a title. From discussions with Sam, I would distill his emphasis with boxers down to the following:

• Mental Confidence - to do something no matter how hard it is. Tackle the challenges along the way because you get to do what you love. After learning much through Sam’s training and investing in hard work, boxers see themselves growing and all the sparring and conditioning with others in the gym now seems worth it. They become confident not only in their boxing ability but in their potential and value as a person. Sam has a way of getting you to know who you are and what more you can become even when no one else does.

• Social Support - Sam helps create a social network where his boxers are supported. There seems to be a mutual respect among boxers and having the support of those who believe in you and want to see you do well not only in the ring but in life is crucial. Sometimes you just need someone to say, Keep going. I know you can do it. You need such friends when you may not have the strength to believe in yourself. Sam is invaluable here because he can relate his experiences through his art of storytelling.

• Work Ethic - Boxers are some of the hardest working athletes in the world. There are no guarantees of success so it takes a high degree of motivation.

• Training Routine - It’s easy to tell who the boxers are when you walk into the gym because their entire shirts are drenched. The more experienced boxers are always moving (skipping rope, shadow boxing, doing bag work, and calisthenics). They listen intently to Sam who may yell out a number in Sam’s famed numbering system. The fighter’s job is to land a blow in the spot corresponding to the number. Boxers must train for endurance and this requires discipline. This means watching what you eat and drink and getting the proper sleep. Sam wants his fighter to stay out of trouble when they are not in the ring or training. It takes guts to keep fighting when you get hit and perhaps hurt in the ring. I get sweaty thinking about all the work involved.

• Fighting Technique - Sam wants his fighters to be calm and ready, alive and calculated. He wants them to see everything in their opponent. Ideally, they seem to know where to look and from what angle and what’s coming next before their opponent even knows. Know the strategies that will allow you to perform at the highest level possible. You must understand what your opponent is trying to do in order to be at your best. Sam is a master at this himself and imparts this to his fighters.

When He rolls up His sleeves

He ain’t just putting on the ritz ...

There’s thunder in His footsteps

And lightning in His fists

(Mullins. 2021)

On a Personal Note

Many years ago I was playing on a softball team with Sam. This is when I first came to know him. I vividly remember a game when Sam came in with a cast on his hand. He had fallen off a roof as I recall while working construction. It didn’t take Sam long to figure out he wasn’t being helpful sitting on the bench (something he definitely was not accustomed to). He managed to get a hold of some scissors or other cutting device and proceeded to cut the cast off his wrist in order to swing the bat and catch better. This was my first exposure to this guy who was revered by so many. I started to get the picture why. He did not know me but I always felt like I grew up with him. He knew people from my hometown area in an adjoining county and was always encouraging. Sometimes we were a little eager to celebrate (win or lose) in those days. Maybe because our sponsor was a beer distributor and had something to do with that. When we found ourselves in foreign places, like bars, we didn’t worry too much about being heckled by the locals because Sam was there. We all got a little braver I suppose.

I was coaching high school baseball and junior high basketball and had Sam’s sons on the team. As it is with coaching there is invariably the question of how much playing time does a player deserve. I can tell you that the player almost always thinks it is not enough and the parents tend to agree with their son. If Sam ever felt like this he did not share it with me. He let me coach and although Sam was as fierce a competitor as I have ever seen, he let me do my thing. He never tried to use his influence with the school administration or school board members. I tried hard to be fair with all players and was less than perfect with decisions, probably no less with Sam’s sons but I never heard anything but encouragement from Sam and I am grateful to this day for that.

So what’s the point of this personal story? Sam inspired me to do my absolute best just as he does with his boxers in the gym. He wants us all to reflect on our actions, to increase our self-awareness and to leverage our relational capabilities and build positive, impactful relationships.

When I die, I cannot take with me what I have, but I can live in others by what I gave.

Thanks Sam!

Side-Notes and Accolades

• Sam also initiated the Boxing for Books annual fundraiser to create an opportunity for people of all ages, not to fight each other, but to fight for their schools. The 2019 Boxing for Books event was the largest, best attended, and financially successful in history. For more than 40 years, with a safety-first approach, Sam has helped raise thousands of dollars for the Trimble Local School District. In the early 2000’s, he and brother-in-law Dr. Tom Pappas recognized the dire need for new textbooks and modern electronic, instructional materials to better serve the teachers and students.

• Sam is a cancer survivor. He fought the dreaded disease with the same mindset he uses when entering the ring. He gives back to the community with much personal expense and energy. He and his wife Ellen are a testament to the devotion and passion one can have in bettering their community. They provide a beacon of hope for those living in rural Trimble township. Sam uses his charisma in paying forward to the community and wants everybody to be a winner and recognize the importance of giving back to others. He invokes his fighters to, Respect your mother and father and be a productive citizen, that’s our mission right there.

• Sam was awarded the inaugural Sam Jones Model Citizen Award at the seventh annual Appalachian Heritage Luncheon at the Ohio Statehouse. He was recognized for being a role model for citizens of all ages in Trimble Township and Athens County for more than a half century.

• Sam was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in 2017. He joins the ranks of legendary Ohioans like John Glenn, Phyllis Diller, Paul Newman, and Bob Hope.

• Sam has the unique distinction of being inducted into both the prestigious Trimble Local School’s Wall of Fame and the Trimble High School Athletic Hall of Fame.

Points to Ponder

• Be yourself a positive story. Life is