20070906 Tributes continue for Coach Jack Molesworth

Tributes continue for Coach Jack Molesworth

September 6^th, 2007

I was delighted to receive an e-mail earlier today from Coach Jack Molesworth’s son, John Molesworth.

Mr. Molesworth called to my attention that the Baltimore Sun had a write-up about Coach Molesworth in the Wednesday, September 5, 2007 edition of the paper. And that “Paul Gordon is writing a piece in next week's Frederick Gazette.” We’ll look forward to Mr. Gordon’s story…

I played football for Westminster High School from 1968 to 1971 and would attend an occasional then-Western Maryland College football game during Coach Molesworth’s tenure there. Although I only knew him well enough to exchange hellos, I was always impressed with the high regard for which he was held in the community.

Fortunately there are many folks in central Maryland who have worked hard and touched many lives. However Coach Molesworth was one of those rare individuals who leave an enduring legacy preparing many young men and women for a future of accomplishment.

Meanwhile, if you are not familiar with the life’s work of Coach Molesworth, be sure to read Fred Rasmussen’s piece in the Baltimore Sun.

I have been a fan of Mr. Rasmussen’s stellar writing for many years and he comprehensively captured the essence of this amazing individual. But then again, we would’ve expected nothing less from Mr. Rasmussen.

The story can be found here:

John Molesworth

[ Age 80 ] Former director of Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association also coached college football.

By Frederick N. Rasmussen | Sun reporter, September 5, 2007

John E. "Jack" Molesworth, former executive director of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association and a Western Maryland College football coach, died Friday at Frederick Memorial Hospital of complications from a fall. He was 80.

[…]

In 1948, Mr. Molesworth enrolled at Western Maryland College, where he played center for the Green Terrors football team and boxed.

"He was tall and lanky and always played with a lot of heart. He was also a member of our 1951 undefeated football team," said Victor J. Makovitch, a teammate who became a Carroll County school principal.

"He also ran a successful college catering business with Leroy Merritt, his roommate," said his college sweetheart and wife of 55 years, the former Nancy Walker, a retired Frederick County teacher. "They cooked and delivered hot dogs to students in the dorms."

After earning a bachelor's degree in history in 1952, Mr. Molesworth was a teacher and assistant football coach at Mount Airy High School, St. Paul's School and Westminster High School…

From 1957 to 1966, he was head coach and director of athletics at Frederick High School and worked in a similar capacity at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School from 1966 to 1971. In 1971, he was appointed vice principal of Westminster High School, which opened that year…

[…]

"He was the consummate professional," said Sam Case, a retired Western Maryland provost. "He believed in the educational process and always put his kids and players first. In his coaching, he always exhibited the highest ideals in integrity and sportsmanship."

Rick Carpenter, a sports psychologist and a former athletic director, described Mr. Molesworth as a "role model for the men he coached. He was the type of coach every parent would want their son to play for."

Read the entire article here: John Molesworth

Also, be sure to read: “Molesworth had impact on sports by Stan Goldberg”

Originally published September 03, 2007, By Stan Goldberg Fredrick News Post Sports Editor

FEW PEOPLE HAVE had as great an impact on Maryland high school sports than Frederick County's Jack Molesworth, who died on Friday at the age of 80. People in the county who knew him mainly think of Molesworth as the head football coach at Frederick and then Thomas Johnson high schools. But it was his work with state high school sports in the 1970s that may well be his greatest legacy.

Read Mr. Goldberg’s entire piece here: m“Molesworth had impact on sports by Stan Goldberg”

Another good read is that penned by my Tentacle editor, John Ashbury on September 6^th, 2007: “R.I.P. Jack Molesworth”

William Shakespeare once wrote "The evil that men do lives after them, / The good is oft interred with their bones." That won't be the case with Jack Molesworth.

When he passed away last week from complications from a fall in which he broke his neck, the outpouring of affections was nearly overwhelming. But that came from friends and relatives who knew him best.

[…]

For generations of young men and women, his legacy will remain with them for the rest of their lives. For thousands who never met him, his accomplishments in training those who were struggling to reach adulthood will remain a quiet heritage. He helped shape their lives in ways foreign to most of them. But it worked wonders.

The news of his passing was followed by newspaper articles and commentaries which - for the most part - listed the facts of his life, but failed to provide the flavor of this man who dedicated his long life to the betterment of the society into which he was born.

Read the rest here: “R.I.P. Jack Molesworth”

Indeed.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

www.kevindayhoff.net

E-mail him at: kdayhoff AT carr.org or kevindayhoff AT gmail.com

His columns and articles appear in The Tentacle - www.thetentacle.com; Westminster Eagle Opinion; www.thewestminstereagle.com and Winchester Report.