Keen honored by Masonic Lodge
A short while ago, Coach Dale Keen was awarded the Mirabeau B. Lamar Award of Excellence. This award was started in 1988, under the management of Grand Master Graham Childress. The Lamar award is given to students and educators in recognition of outstanding and personal achievement. This honor is awarded by the Masonic lodge to administrators, educators, or outstanding students, mostly seniors. Dave Barkemeyer of the Masonic lodge presented it to Keen.
He mentioned that Dale has been an outstanding educator for years, a real mentor of students not just because of his coaching in athletics, but because he takes an interest in the students and sets a good example. He honored Keen’s dedication to his family, as he is very devoted. The committee also wanted to recognize Dale for his contributions to the community. Barkemeyer considers him a modern day example of someone who believes in the modern day education system
“Well it was very humbling and I was grateful. My brother said it best, sometimes people are watching when you don’t even know,” Keen said.
It was discussed in advance with Mr. Sprinkles back in April and he was on board. Sprinkles and Principal Stork hid it from him until the award presentation. Keen was very honored and surprised.
“Judge Barkemeyer spoke for several minutes about the history of the award and then suddenly said we have a teacher that’s been here for over 40 years,” Keen said. “I started looking around and I realize it was me he was talking about and then suddenly they called my name. It was me.”
Another surprise to Keen was that almost 40 former runners from Yoe High showed up to watch him win the award.
“I was thrilled to see some of my runners from 30 years ago and I was very grateful to all my runners that showed gratitude by being there and honored me beyond comprehension,” Keen said. There was a reception afterwards for him at the mason hall. He thanked his runners for being there and their hard work. He mentioned he was in that position because of the hard work of some of his runners from the present and in the past. He also told this story of a runner named Carmen Vega.
“Years ago I trained this runner named Carmen Vega who was an All-Stater four years straight,” Keen said. “One morning she came bouncing in to the training room and said Coach I heard you on the radio and you were funny. The radio station had called me that morning at six and wanted an interview because of Carmen and I know I didn’t sound too good. Carmen kept laughing at me and finally I said, Carmen if you will run faster I will get more practice! The point was that I was only in that position to be interviewed because of her efforts. A couple weeks later she came bouncing in again and she said I sounded better on the radio this morning and I said to her you’re giving me more practice. It was all very funny and I shared that story with the group. I hope everyone gets the point of that, it was because of their efforts that I’m there in that position.”