By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier
While Connie Herzig was
trying to pick out an outfit for
Monday’s Fetterman Award
luncheon, she realized that
much of her wardrobe represented
her 17-year career as
Cooperstown Elementary
School physical education
teacher and girls track coach.
Herzig received the Clark
Sports Center’s annual Patrick
C. Fetterman Award Monday,
given to a member of the community
who is dedicated to
serving local youth, especially
in the area of athletics. The recipient
embodies the meaning
of outstanding sportsmanship,
inspired leadership and caring
service and is named after the
gym’s longtime associate director.
During her speech, Herzig
displayed a number of t-shirts
she either had made or were
given to her, most of which had
sayings which represented her
teaching and coaching philosophy.
``I’ve always tried to teach
kids that how you live life is the
most important thing,’’ Herzig
said. ``If they try their best, and
do their best, what more can
you ask for?’’
Herzig displayed one t-shirt
which read ``Fill a Bucket’’
which she wears to remind her
students to try to help others
and be positive.
``You can either fill someone’s
bucket with a compliment or
good deed, or be a bucket dipper
by being mean or doing the
wrong thing,’’ she said.
Herzig said coaching track is
also a great vehicle to reinforce
the same philosophies she
teaches in elementary school.
``In track, you’re all alone,
there’s no else to bail you out by
making a big shot or scoring a
touchdown,’’ she said. ``They
have to rely on themselves, and
it’s a great character building
sport.’’
For 16 of her 17 years of
coaching, Herzig worked with
boys track coach Don Howard, a
past Fetterman Award winner
who retired from coaching in
2006. Howard and his wife were
on a cruise Monday, but Howard
wrote a letter which was
read by Clark Foundation
Chairman Jane Forbes Clark.
``You are the perfect example
of what this award is all about,’’
Howard wrote to Herzig.
Many of Herzig’s friends and
colleagues also spoke after Herzig’s
speech.
Cooperstown Superintendent
Mary Jo McPhail said she
admired Herzig for volunteering
her time to the Red Hot
Ropers, a popular jump rope
program Herzig began at Cooperstown
in 1992.
``For eight years Connie
coached the program after
school without pay before the
district decided to pay her,’’
McPhail said.
Bud Lippitt, also a CCS Elementary
Phys. Ed teacher,
echoed McPhail’s sentiments,
saying Herzig routinely stays
into the evening hours working
on school related activities.
``Your dedication is priceless,
and you’ve led the way for me,’’
Lippitt said.
Herzig said she felt a bit like
Huck Finn, when the Mark
Twain character runs away
from home and sneaks back to
view his own funeral.
``Everybody usually says
great things about you after
you’re gone, but I’m still here,’’
Herzig joked.
She then ended her speech
by saying: ``In the end, it isn’t
about what you wear it’s what
you choose to do, and how well
you do it.’’
Past Fetterman Award winners
include: 1994: Lavern
``Beanie’’ Ainslie; 1995: Jack
Vineyard; 1996: Ted Kantorowski;
1997: Malcolm Brooks;
1997-98: Jerry Townsend; 1998-
99: Don Howard; 2000: Dick
White; 2001: Pat and Ed Hazzard;
2002: Stephen ``Sharky’’
Nagelschmidt; 2003: Frank Miosek;
2004: Ted Spencer; 2005:
Terry Bliss; 2006: Dave Adsit.
2007: Bob Snyder.
