Part-time work keeps retired teacher/coach busy
By Marlys Kruger, Sports Reporter
Wednesday, June 25, 2008 12:39 PM CDT
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Former Boyceville track coach Larry Gilbertson prepares to start a race at the 2008 Division 3 sectional track and field meet in Colfax.Photo by Marlys Kruger/Dunn County News
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After teaching physical education for 32 years and coaching a sport for most of those years, Larry “Bud” Gilbertson retired from the Boyceville School District in 2003. But he continues to stay involved with the school and teaching without being in a gym or on a field.
Gilbertson spends part of his day working as the athletic coordinator for the school district, working 10-12 hours a week, setting up games and meets, scheduling officials and arranging bus transportation. In addition, he works as a WIAA track and field official and cross country official, along with teaching classes in hunter safety for 23 years, and snowmobile safety for 25 years.
Born in Arcadia and raised on a family century farm, Gilbertson attended Lakes Coulee Elementary school, which was a one-room schoolhouse for grades 1-6 with one teacher.
“I probably got my start in teaching there because when the teacher was working with the third and fourth graders, the first and second graders could ask for help from those of us who were fifth and sixth graders,” he said.
After graduating from Blair High School, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a biology major from Eau Claire, and later a Masters degree in physical education from Winona State. He did his practice teaching in Colfax, and was hired to teach physical education and coach track at Boyceville.
Gilbertson was the boys’ track coach for 25 years, sending athletes to the state meet 19 different years, and had multiple athletes qualify three times. This was during the time when only first- or second-place finishers in the sectional moved on to state. He was the school’s first cross country coach and also coached junior high football and elementary and junior high boys’ basketball for many years.
When asked about highlights in his life, Gilbertson spoke about his personal life first.
“The birth of my daughters is at the top of my list,” he said. “Jill is a kindergarten teacher in Prescott and Sonja works for UW-Stout.”
His wife Susan works part time as an administrative assistant for the special education department in the Boyceville district.
One of his coaching career highlights was in 1989 when his track team was leading the state meet after the first day of competition. Unfortunately, it couldn’t hold on and finished in fifth place. Gilbertson was honored as the WIAA District 1 Coach of the Year that year, which includes coaches from the northwest part of the state.
“The most important part of coaching for me was that I tried to instill a good work ethic for every one of the students I worked with, and I hope that it carried over into their lives after high school,” he said.
One former athlete of Gilbertson believes a lot of his work ethic came from his days on the track team.
Rob Bosshart is the varsity boys’ basketball coach at Spring Valley High School and was on the Boyceville track team from 1979-82, qualifying for the state meet in the long jump three times.
“With one coach and 30 athletes, we had to do our own workout that Bud provided for us,” Bosshart said. “Even though it was an individual sport, he motivated us to work hard and be accountable to the team. He was such a good communicator with the kids. He knew what it was like to be a student-athlete, and he knew kids had other issues to deal with in their lives. But he could get them to focus on practice and meets when they needed to.”
Teaching elementary physical education can be challenging sometimes, but Kim Webb, now a sixth-grade teacher in the Boyceville school district, had the opportunity to team teach with Gilbertson in the gym before moving to the classroom.
“I loved teaching with Bud because he was always open to innovative ideas from us new teachers, and he always promoted health and fitness with the kids,” Webb said. “He loved the track unit and was a pro at organizing and preparing the kids for the annual fifth- and sixth-grade track meet every spring. He was also instrumental in getting the climbing wall in the gym, and he always made P.E. class enjoyable for the kids. He loved the variety of the job and just being around kids,” she added.
When asked if he would encourage anyone to go into education and coaching, Gilbertson said, “Yes. But I would recommend they choose an area where there are more opportunities. The positives outweigh the negatives in both teaching and coaching.”
Jolene Bird, a Boyceville resident, kindergarten teacher and varsity coach in the district, considers herself fortunate to have had contact with Gilbertson in several different capacities.
“Bud was my P.E. teacher all through high school, and I have had the pleasure of teaching with him as well as having a close relationship through coaching,” Bird said. “Bud was a well-liked teacher. Kindergarteners would sometimes be afraid of the ‘special teachers’ but Bud always made it a lot of fun and was very comforting. I have really enjoyed working with him as the athletic coordinator. He is very organized and always supportive of coaches. He understands athletes and their needs. He is very involved with activities outside the school and helps make our community a better place to live.”
His retirement keeps him involved with many community activities. He serves as the secretary/treasurer for the Northwest Trapshooters and Northwest Rod and Gun Club, he is secretary for the Boyceville Lions Club, serves on the Boyceville Library Board, and the Comprehensive Planning Committee, Housing Grant Committee and is a former member of the village board.
He plans to continue as a track and field official and as the athletic coordinator in the future, as well as his community work, giving a new definition to the word “retirement.” |
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