1 00:00:05,832 --> 00:00:08,530 Hey, everybody. I'm Doug. That's Connor and this. 2 00:00:08,784 --> 00:00:11,511 Is a very special episode of the Bethel 3 00:00:11,568 --> 00:00:15,466 school district presents podcast. We are celebrating 75 4 00:00:15,466 --> 00:00:18,347 years of the bethel school district with Bethel 5 00:00:18,427 --> 00:00:18,927 Legend 6 00:00:19,304 --> 00:00:22,495 Ed Neil. You might recognize mister Neil name 7 00:00:22,495 --> 00:00:24,350 from the Bethel high school gym, 8 00:00:24,887 --> 00:00:27,121 and we are so proud to have him 9 00:00:27,121 --> 00:00:29,129 join us on the show along with his 10 00:00:29,129 --> 00:00:31,680 son, Bob Neil. Gentlemen, Thank you so much 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:33,912 for being here. Glad to have you. So 12 00:00:33,912 --> 00:00:36,039 mister, you've lived in our area since night 13 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:38,306 teen 51 and worked at Bethel High school 14 00:00:38,306 --> 00:00:40,136 when it opened its doors, talk to us 15 00:00:40,136 --> 00:00:41,806 a little bit about the changes you've seen 16 00:00:41,806 --> 00:00:43,794 in the school and around the district since 17 00:00:43,794 --> 00:00:43,953 then. 18 00:00:44,843 --> 00:00:47,303 I just had the opportunity the other day 19 00:00:47,303 --> 00:00:48,120 with Bob 20 00:00:48,731 --> 00:00:49,628 to travel 21 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:51,587 out to Graham. 22 00:00:52,239 --> 00:00:54,734 Which I haven't seen for many, many years 23 00:00:55,032 --> 00:00:57,767 and up the graham hill and I couldn't 24 00:00:57,826 --> 00:01:00,380 believe the growth in the Bethel district, 25 00:01:01,113 --> 00:01:02,710 when I was here, started, 26 00:01:03,668 --> 00:01:04,727 we had 6 27 00:01:05,345 --> 00:01:05,983 elementary schools. 28 00:01:06,542 --> 00:01:09,656 We had teams form from the 6 schools 29 00:01:09,656 --> 00:01:09,895 for... 30 00:01:10,468 --> 00:01:11,764 In a mural and 31 00:01:12,140 --> 00:01:13,994 recreational basketball baseball. 32 00:01:14,449 --> 00:01:16,860 And now I understand there's 18 33 00:01:17,793 --> 00:01:18,612 elementary schools 34 00:01:19,243 --> 00:01:20,381 and maybe 35 00:01:20,759 --> 00:01:21,557 6 8 36 00:01:22,035 --> 00:01:25,147 junior high schools. And I was fortunate to 37 00:01:25,147 --> 00:01:25,886 see the 38 00:01:26,438 --> 00:01:28,290 fourth high school groundbreaking, 39 00:01:29,381 --> 00:01:31,291 since I've lived in the Bethel district, 40 00:01:32,086 --> 00:01:34,712 and that's amazing to see 4 high schools, 41 00:01:35,363 --> 00:01:38,865 in a lifetime. It absolutely is your lifetime 42 00:01:38,865 --> 00:01:41,753 spans a lot of history across this district 43 00:01:41,810 --> 00:01:44,140 across this country You came to Bethel by 44 00:01:44,140 --> 00:01:47,020 way of Pittsburgh, the United States Army and 45 00:01:47,180 --> 00:01:48,560 Washington State University. 46 00:01:49,020 --> 00:01:50,459 It's a lot of ground to cover in 47 00:01:50,459 --> 00:01:52,068 your early years that I'm sure folks are 48 00:01:52,068 --> 00:01:53,740 gonna wanna know about. So let's start in 49 00:01:53,740 --> 00:01:55,572 the steel city where I am also from 50 00:01:55,731 --> 00:01:57,323 Pittsburgh. I lived there till I was 12. 51 00:01:57,801 --> 00:02:00,047 You live there a little bit less time 52 00:02:00,047 --> 00:02:01,722 than that. I heard you left when you 53 00:02:01,722 --> 00:02:03,875 were about 6 months old. We left there 54 00:02:03,875 --> 00:02:05,390 when I was 6 months old. 55 00:02:06,188 --> 00:02:08,602 My dad and mother and Aunt Mary 56 00:02:09,234 --> 00:02:12,662 and my older brother ted headed west. I 57 00:02:12,662 --> 00:02:15,533 don't remember much about the trip, but I 58 00:02:15,533 --> 00:02:18,918 do have some stories that I was often 59 00:02:18,976 --> 00:02:19,694 told later, 60 00:02:20,492 --> 00:02:22,566 the main 1 was Aunt Mary, 61 00:02:23,044 --> 00:02:25,437 who was coming out with us to help 62 00:02:25,437 --> 00:02:27,670 with my older brother, Ted and me. 63 00:02:28,717 --> 00:02:31,515 She always got scared coming over 64 00:02:32,124 --> 00:02:34,976 high road passes and and different roads. 65 00:02:35,548 --> 00:02:37,540 That we took and dad mom used to 66 00:02:37,540 --> 00:02:40,567 tell me how Mary always wanted the inside 67 00:02:40,567 --> 00:02:43,036 of the car to sit on when we 68 00:02:43,036 --> 00:02:44,412 came over some of those 69 00:02:45,043 --> 00:02:46,798 rugged and passes in those days. 70 00:02:47,436 --> 00:02:49,350 I don't know if there was guard rails 71 00:02:49,350 --> 00:02:52,221 or not, but it kinda scared all of 72 00:02:52,221 --> 00:02:55,106 us when she started screaming about look down 73 00:02:55,106 --> 00:02:55,344 there. 74 00:02:56,220 --> 00:02:57,573 Way you down there. Yeah. 75 00:02:58,369 --> 00:03:00,677 And and Ed, I understand you're a hundred 76 00:03:00,677 --> 00:03:03,000 years old. Correct? Yes. So you've seen a 77 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:04,751 lot in your life. You're you're formative year 78 00:03:04,751 --> 00:03:06,820 stretch from the great depression to World war 79 00:03:06,820 --> 00:03:09,685 2, that's an unparalleled experience. How did that... 80 00:03:09,939 --> 00:03:12,110 Shape as a young man and what lessons 81 00:03:12,167 --> 00:03:13,759 did you learn that stayed with you all 82 00:03:13,759 --> 00:03:16,624 these years? I think the big biggest things 83 00:03:16,783 --> 00:03:20,644 I learned after graduating. I quit high school 84 00:03:20,703 --> 00:03:23,900 in my senior year after the football season, 85 00:03:24,300 --> 00:03:26,617 and I joined the army because I was 86 00:03:26,617 --> 00:03:28,775 afraid they would draft me into the navy. 87 00:03:29,746 --> 00:03:31,729 And I didn't like water at that time, 88 00:03:31,888 --> 00:03:33,951 and I'm still not a favor of water... 89 00:03:34,903 --> 00:03:36,886 But I did join the army, and 90 00:03:38,014 --> 00:03:40,167 I think the 2 and a half years 91 00:03:40,167 --> 00:03:41,225 that I was in 92 00:03:41,683 --> 00:03:43,916 did a lot for my life, But, I 93 00:03:43,916 --> 00:03:46,149 was kind of a character in high school 94 00:03:46,309 --> 00:03:47,106 I understand. 95 00:03:47,999 --> 00:03:50,234 I didn't like school too well, but I 96 00:03:50,234 --> 00:03:50,872 like sports, 97 00:03:51,750 --> 00:03:53,746 and the army took that out of me 98 00:03:53,746 --> 00:03:54,246 and 99 00:03:55,103 --> 00:03:57,511 gave me a lot of of foresight light 100 00:03:57,511 --> 00:04:00,140 to continue my life. And I found an 101 00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:02,132 article about you online. It said you actually 102 00:04:02,132 --> 00:04:04,697 played football for the army. Is that true? 103 00:04:05,016 --> 00:04:06,952 I did. I I was going 104 00:04:07,648 --> 00:04:09,563 to Fort sill, Oklahoma, 105 00:04:10,679 --> 00:04:13,732 and we brought a artillery team 106 00:04:14,204 --> 00:04:17,418 from Camp swift, 2 Forks sealed to play 107 00:04:17,557 --> 00:04:19,552 football. And I think there was 108 00:04:20,430 --> 00:04:23,006 6 or 8 different teams that came there 109 00:04:23,794 --> 00:04:25,247 a real remarkable, 110 00:04:26,018 --> 00:04:26,812 place to go and. 111 00:04:27,527 --> 00:04:29,671 I don't know what I learned mil momentarily, 112 00:04:29,909 --> 00:04:32,054 but I I did have a a good 113 00:04:32,054 --> 00:04:32,292 time. 114 00:04:33,102 --> 00:04:36,048 Playing football for the artillery at Ford hill, 115 00:04:36,525 --> 00:04:37,082 I bet. 116 00:04:37,799 --> 00:04:39,391 I was actually also in the army. I 117 00:04:39,391 --> 00:04:41,898 was a broadcast journalist, and served with A 118 00:04:42,116 --> 00:04:43,952 in Belgium. I don't know what I learned 119 00:04:43,952 --> 00:04:45,708 mil military either, but it brought me here. 120 00:04:46,267 --> 00:04:46,506 Yeah. 121 00:04:47,704 --> 00:04:50,905 So you also played football... At w u 122 00:04:50,905 --> 00:04:53,288 if I'm not mistaken, Any memories from that 123 00:04:53,288 --> 00:04:57,101 time? Yes. I remember when a guy knocked 124 00:04:57,101 --> 00:05:00,215 a coach knocked on my door. Oh, 1 125 00:05:00,215 --> 00:05:02,226 day when I was living in Seattle 126 00:05:02,999 --> 00:05:04,431 and asked me if I wanted to go 127 00:05:04,431 --> 00:05:06,362 to school at Washington State 128 00:05:07,150 --> 00:05:09,637 kind of surprised me because I had no 129 00:05:09,773 --> 00:05:12,158 intentions to go to school. I was ready 130 00:05:12,158 --> 00:05:12,873 to go to work. 131 00:05:14,225 --> 00:05:15,179 And I said, yes. 132 00:05:16,148 --> 00:05:17,975 And mom and dad a few weeks later, 133 00:05:18,213 --> 00:05:19,563 packed me in the car and took me 134 00:05:19,563 --> 00:05:20,460 over to Coleman 135 00:05:20,914 --> 00:05:21,787 and dumped me off. 136 00:05:22,741 --> 00:05:25,624 And there from there on, it was Washing 137 00:05:25,854 --> 00:05:29,036 they cook football from from that day on. 138 00:05:29,513 --> 00:05:31,979 I never was a real husky fan. 139 00:05:32,948 --> 00:05:34,375 But III 140 00:05:34,375 --> 00:05:36,698 do appreciate the program that they 141 00:05:37,070 --> 00:05:38,180 have had so far. 142 00:05:39,131 --> 00:05:39,845 I'm a Cougar, 143 00:05:40,733 --> 00:05:42,163 my 2 sons or Cougar, 144 00:05:42,878 --> 00:05:44,864 my grandson is a Cougar. 145 00:05:45,977 --> 00:05:48,440 So we we have a respect for Washington, 146 00:05:48,599 --> 00:05:50,282 but not Not as a Cougar. 147 00:05:51,632 --> 00:05:53,380 Not too much. Not too much respect. 148 00:05:54,254 --> 00:05:56,002 And sports you you were also very involved 149 00:05:56,002 --> 00:05:58,082 with sports at Bethel high school, but... Before 150 00:05:58,082 --> 00:05:59,434 we get into that, Let's talk a little 151 00:05:59,434 --> 00:06:00,945 bit about your time as a teacher there. 152 00:06:01,184 --> 00:06:03,569 If my sources are correct, you taught shop. 153 00:06:04,047 --> 00:06:05,637 What was that like And what kind of 154 00:06:05,637 --> 00:06:07,488 projects its students work on back in the 155 00:06:07,488 --> 00:06:07,808 fifties. 156 00:06:08,687 --> 00:06:10,925 I have to say that your sources were 157 00:06:10,925 --> 00:06:11,964 wrong. Oh, no. 158 00:06:12,843 --> 00:06:13,343 I 159 00:06:13,802 --> 00:06:15,580 thought chop for 1 year 160 00:06:15,960 --> 00:06:18,935 to, when I got the job at Bethel, 161 00:06:20,375 --> 00:06:23,814 I was assigned to world history shop, metal 162 00:06:23,814 --> 00:06:25,014 shop, wood shop, 163 00:06:26,387 --> 00:06:29,276 I graduated from washington state in physical 164 00:06:29,731 --> 00:06:32,598 education health. So the first year, I was 165 00:06:32,598 --> 00:06:35,478 at thousand high school. Which had a 166 00:06:36,592 --> 00:06:37,092 earthquake 167 00:06:37,466 --> 00:06:39,693 destruction in 19 49, 168 00:06:40,647 --> 00:06:43,033 destroyed their swimming pool and part of their 169 00:06:43,033 --> 00:06:43,533 gym. 170 00:06:43,908 --> 00:06:44,408 So 171 00:06:45,119 --> 00:06:46,338 I got these other 172 00:06:46,957 --> 00:06:50,473 different teaching positions than I would have, normally, 173 00:06:51,112 --> 00:06:53,350 then when Bethel opened, I did get my... 174 00:06:54,084 --> 00:06:56,504 Position that I wanted was in the gym, 175 00:06:57,285 --> 00:06:58,185 tossed physical 176 00:06:58,564 --> 00:06:59,845 education for 15, 177 00:07:00,724 --> 00:07:02,817 15 and a half years, That tracks with 178 00:07:02,817 --> 00:07:04,971 the coaching thing. I'm well to fire the 179 00:07:04,971 --> 00:07:06,406 intern that did our research on that. 180 00:07:08,001 --> 00:07:09,995 So I have a follow up question. That 181 00:07:09,995 --> 00:07:11,772 date 19 49 182 00:07:12,164 --> 00:07:14,078 you taught a Cap high school, that is 183 00:07:14,078 --> 00:07:16,652 the year that Bethel School district was founded 184 00:07:16,710 --> 00:07:17,529 75 185 00:07:17,907 --> 00:07:20,480 years ago. Do you remember anything about that 186 00:07:20,778 --> 00:07:23,126 consolidation of the 30 some school districts that 187 00:07:23,183 --> 00:07:25,912 were brought together to form this 1 big 188 00:07:25,969 --> 00:07:29,073 gigantic mega that we now, Connor I now 189 00:07:29,073 --> 00:07:31,715 proudly serve No. I I don't remember much 190 00:07:31,715 --> 00:07:34,105 about. I do know that there was a 191 00:07:34,105 --> 00:07:34,605 lady 192 00:07:35,140 --> 00:07:35,959 Pierce County 193 00:07:37,051 --> 00:07:38,405 educator, Ruth Bethel. 194 00:07:39,059 --> 00:07:41,374 And, what I know is they named the 195 00:07:41,374 --> 00:07:42,491 name after her, 196 00:07:43,449 --> 00:07:45,924 but I do understand there were just many, 197 00:07:46,084 --> 00:07:46,584 many 198 00:07:47,202 --> 00:07:49,764 consolidation in the Bethel. School district. The last 199 00:07:49,764 --> 00:07:52,624 1 and being high school being Roy and 200 00:07:52,624 --> 00:07:55,405 catholicism, which were... I don't know far apart, 201 00:07:55,564 --> 00:07:57,249 but are quite a ways the part. Yeah. 202 00:07:57,409 --> 00:07:59,567 And and you were a football baseball coach 203 00:07:59,727 --> 00:08:01,565 Bethel. And as a new district with a 204 00:08:01,565 --> 00:08:03,323 new high school, was your job to get 205 00:08:03,323 --> 00:08:05,401 the athletes from Capacity high school in Really 206 00:08:05,401 --> 00:08:07,412 high school, like you just mentioned. To come 207 00:08:07,412 --> 00:08:09,246 together as 1 team being so far away. 208 00:08:09,405 --> 00:08:10,920 I've read that you actually drove the bus 209 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:12,754 that took the athletes from Capacity to Roy 210 00:08:12,754 --> 00:08:15,225 for practice. What was that time like for 211 00:08:15,225 --> 00:08:15,385 you? 212 00:08:16,039 --> 00:08:18,595 Actually, the 2 schools now I remember where 213 00:08:18,595 --> 00:08:22,131 16 miles apart. And when they consolidated 214 00:08:22,844 --> 00:08:26,377 They played 19 50 season was played as 215 00:08:26,675 --> 00:08:27,973 Roy and as, 216 00:08:29,070 --> 00:08:30,906 and in 19 51, 217 00:08:32,196 --> 00:08:34,108 we brought the 2 teams together. 218 00:08:35,064 --> 00:08:36,816 When I got the job, my wife and 219 00:08:36,976 --> 00:08:37,932 I came early, 220 00:08:38,664 --> 00:08:40,981 a spring break to look at the 2 221 00:08:40,981 --> 00:08:42,899 schools that were going to be involved in, 222 00:08:43,778 --> 00:08:46,495 and things didn't look good at that time, 223 00:08:46,909 --> 00:08:48,503 but I knew they were building a new 224 00:08:48,583 --> 00:08:51,533 Bethel High school. So I was really excited 225 00:08:51,533 --> 00:08:52,091 about that. 226 00:08:52,809 --> 00:08:55,121 But our facilities at Roy, 227 00:08:56,091 --> 00:08:58,659 is where we chose to turn out for 228 00:08:58,875 --> 00:08:59,114 football. 229 00:08:59,909 --> 00:09:03,905 We rented a field in Breeze Park, which 230 00:09:03,905 --> 00:09:05,660 is now Span away golf course, 231 00:09:06,458 --> 00:09:08,633 and that's where we turned out for baseball, 232 00:09:09,090 --> 00:09:11,403 but, I had to take the kids from 233 00:09:11,403 --> 00:09:11,903 ka 234 00:09:12,614 --> 00:09:14,761 load them on a bus, take him over 235 00:09:14,761 --> 00:09:17,784 to Roy and turn out. And then after 236 00:09:17,784 --> 00:09:19,931 turnout, I would take some of the Roy 237 00:09:19,931 --> 00:09:20,647 kids home, 238 00:09:21,459 --> 00:09:24,593 and then backtrack over to and take the 239 00:09:25,051 --> 00:09:25,609 kids home. 240 00:09:26,408 --> 00:09:29,042 And fortunately, the school district let me take 241 00:09:29,042 --> 00:09:31,448 the bus home. When I lived in Parkland, 242 00:09:31,687 --> 00:09:33,678 but it was it was it was a 243 00:09:33,678 --> 00:09:35,191 long day, but it was a fun day. 244 00:09:35,908 --> 00:09:37,660 Is a tree you played games at Chan 245 00:09:37,819 --> 00:09:40,544 Stadium in Tacoma? Yes. We played our football 246 00:09:40,544 --> 00:09:42,698 games at Cheney stadium in which was up 247 00:09:42,698 --> 00:09:45,011 in our eleventh Avenue there somewhere. Yes. We 248 00:09:45,011 --> 00:09:47,962 played there a couple years until we got 249 00:09:47,962 --> 00:09:48,121 our... 250 00:09:48,854 --> 00:09:49,354 Bethel 251 00:09:50,051 --> 00:09:52,205 facilities going? Dad, why don't you tell him 252 00:09:52,205 --> 00:09:53,960 the story about you and art creating and 253 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,875 how the football feels gotten its location? 254 00:09:56,607 --> 00:09:58,516 You'd have to know her crate first. 255 00:09:59,550 --> 00:10:01,618 Heart crate was a member of the Bethel 256 00:10:01,618 --> 00:10:03,105 district. He was a 257 00:10:03,862 --> 00:10:07,053 Power and light manager for Elm Hears light 258 00:10:07,053 --> 00:10:07,691 and power, 259 00:10:08,329 --> 00:10:10,344 the district went from Parkland 260 00:10:10,961 --> 00:10:12,397 way out to heart's lake. 261 00:10:13,288 --> 00:10:14,819 And art became very 262 00:10:15,588 --> 00:10:18,444 concerned about our high school and our athletic 263 00:10:18,444 --> 00:10:18,944 program 264 00:10:19,475 --> 00:10:21,955 because he had 2 boys coming up, knowing 265 00:10:21,955 --> 00:10:24,035 art credit, he used to come and ask 266 00:10:24,035 --> 00:10:25,075 me what I needed, 267 00:10:25,634 --> 00:10:27,634 well we needed a lot of things and 268 00:10:27,634 --> 00:10:28,915 field was the main thing. 269 00:10:29,489 --> 00:10:31,396 And I can remember 1 day he came 270 00:10:31,396 --> 00:10:32,373 when I was out 271 00:10:32,986 --> 00:10:34,678 with my, high school 272 00:10:35,132 --> 00:10:36,086 Pe class, 273 00:10:37,213 --> 00:10:39,201 and Art came over and he said, where 274 00:10:39,201 --> 00:10:40,633 do you went to football field. 275 00:10:41,666 --> 00:10:43,654 And I said, Art, I've I've got a 276 00:10:43,654 --> 00:10:45,802 a class here. I can't leave you. I 277 00:10:45,802 --> 00:10:46,358 can't leave him. 278 00:10:47,169 --> 00:10:49,744 While knowing art, it was there or now 279 00:10:49,883 --> 00:10:50,760 or not at all. 280 00:10:52,117 --> 00:10:55,171 So I I told the my student leader 281 00:10:55,644 --> 00:10:57,820 to take over what I went over and 282 00:10:58,039 --> 00:10:59,396 help mister Crate out, 283 00:11:00,514 --> 00:11:02,989 and I had looked at the areas where 284 00:11:02,989 --> 00:11:04,447 a field might be 285 00:11:05,159 --> 00:11:07,234 but I had no idea it would be. 286 00:11:08,272 --> 00:11:10,427 But we walked over there I kinda upset, 287 00:11:10,985 --> 00:11:12,821 and I walked over there, and and 288 00:11:13,554 --> 00:11:15,146 I put my foot down. And I said 289 00:11:15,146 --> 00:11:17,854 art. I want the corner right here, and 290 00:11:17,933 --> 00:11:19,845 I said want... I'd like to have it 291 00:11:19,845 --> 00:11:21,596 parallel with 30 eighth avenue. 292 00:11:22,249 --> 00:11:22,649 And 293 00:11:23,528 --> 00:11:25,227 that was it. He he 294 00:11:25,766 --> 00:11:26,965 he pounded a stake. 295 00:11:28,083 --> 00:11:30,481 And that's where the bethel football field is 296 00:11:30,481 --> 00:11:32,973 nowadays. At the same place. That that is 297 00:11:32,973 --> 00:11:35,370 amazing though that a a kinda snap decision 298 00:11:35,370 --> 00:11:37,847 like that so many decades later, and here 299 00:11:37,847 --> 00:11:40,177 we are. We're still playing there. And to 300 00:11:40,177 --> 00:11:42,727 look at the timeline of how long it 301 00:11:42,727 --> 00:11:45,140 went from okay where we gonna put it 302 00:11:45,198 --> 00:11:48,002 to it being there was amazing. How how 303 00:11:48,002 --> 00:11:50,075 quickly did the machinery show up after that 304 00:11:50,075 --> 00:11:52,227 meeting that you had with Art? Probably the 305 00:11:52,227 --> 00:11:53,024 next weekend. 306 00:11:53,901 --> 00:11:56,068 Because art and art was a... Was a 307 00:11:56,068 --> 00:11:57,664 go get, and he had lots of help 308 00:11:57,664 --> 00:12:00,218 in the Be district. He got the sender 309 00:12:00,218 --> 00:12:01,894 and the whole thing and put the ribbon 310 00:12:01,894 --> 00:12:04,464 around for the track, and who and put 311 00:12:04,464 --> 00:12:05,262 up goal post. 312 00:12:05,902 --> 00:12:07,579 He did... He did a lot. I can't 313 00:12:07,579 --> 00:12:10,455 say enough for our crate. I appreciate everything 314 00:12:10,455 --> 00:12:12,308 he did. Things move a little slower these 315 00:12:12,308 --> 00:12:14,305 days. Things little these. 316 00:12:14,944 --> 00:12:17,181 We just attended the groundbreaking for the new 317 00:12:17,261 --> 00:12:19,509 Bethel high school. And they talked how that 318 00:12:19,509 --> 00:12:22,376 started 17 years ago. It did. A little 319 00:12:22,376 --> 00:12:24,209 bit different than what they were able to 320 00:12:24,209 --> 00:12:26,210 do the football field, and the grand stand 321 00:12:26,210 --> 00:12:28,272 both. They should just had ed come over 322 00:12:28,272 --> 00:12:29,857 and put a steak down get good to 323 00:12:29,857 --> 00:12:31,601 go. Arc ed out there with a stake 324 00:12:31,601 --> 00:12:33,761 and put the school in. Yeah. Someone tells 325 00:12:33,761 --> 00:12:35,933 me the permitting process it wasn't as rigorous 326 00:12:36,547 --> 00:12:39,175 that was. Yeah. So at High, Ed, you 327 00:12:39,175 --> 00:12:41,738 spent 15 years as a football coach. 5 328 00:12:41,738 --> 00:12:44,046 years as baseball coach and 7 years as 329 00:12:44,046 --> 00:12:46,990 a basketball assistant when it came to athletics, 330 00:12:47,706 --> 00:12:49,696 what did Bethel do right? And what were 331 00:12:49,696 --> 00:12:50,571 some of the things that you had to 332 00:12:50,571 --> 00:12:50,810 work on? 333 00:12:51,705 --> 00:12:54,024 I think we worked on things as they 334 00:12:54,024 --> 00:12:56,684 came. There were problems that came up 335 00:12:57,065 --> 00:12:57,565 daily 336 00:12:57,945 --> 00:12:58,904 turnout wise. 337 00:12:59,558 --> 00:12:59,957 Fields, 338 00:13:01,392 --> 00:13:01,632 transportation, 339 00:13:02,270 --> 00:13:03,886 getting a kids home and 340 00:13:04,344 --> 00:13:06,678 and back, we had to work on everything 341 00:13:07,055 --> 00:13:08,911 or as it came along. There's was no 342 00:13:09,144 --> 00:13:11,047 no planning ahead. We had no money. 343 00:13:11,761 --> 00:13:14,220 I did go to Dale Housing in Tacoma 344 00:13:14,220 --> 00:13:18,679 and Scott said, athletic supply. No and ran 345 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:21,403 up a credit bill there. They gave us 346 00:13:21,698 --> 00:13:23,310 uniforms. At first, we had 347 00:13:24,001 --> 00:13:26,543 uniforms in both powell and Roy. 348 00:13:27,835 --> 00:13:30,554 Not enough for a full team at a 349 00:13:30,554 --> 00:13:31,054 consolidated 350 00:13:31,355 --> 00:13:31,674 school. 351 00:13:32,315 --> 00:13:33,915 So we did have to go debt a 352 00:13:33,915 --> 00:13:35,535 little bit, and we borrowed 353 00:13:36,170 --> 00:13:38,670 beg from different people that we knew that 354 00:13:38,809 --> 00:13:41,850 that had something. In the district. Bethel District 355 00:13:41,850 --> 00:13:42,670 was super 356 00:13:43,382 --> 00:13:45,048 They were like the old time and days 357 00:13:45,048 --> 00:13:47,825 when somebody needed help. There was people there 358 00:13:47,825 --> 00:13:48,459 to help them. 359 00:13:49,411 --> 00:13:51,419 So it was a great district and 360 00:13:51,729 --> 00:13:54,043 Just went from grassroots up to where they 361 00:13:54,043 --> 00:13:56,118 are now. I I've heard the once once 362 00:13:56,118 --> 00:13:57,794 your coach you're always a coach. Let's put 363 00:13:57,794 --> 00:13:59,630 that coach hat back on for a minute. 364 00:13:59,964 --> 00:14:01,319 If you could step into the locker room 365 00:14:01,319 --> 00:14:03,391 and give a pep talk, what would you 366 00:14:03,391 --> 00:14:04,826 say to today's student athletes? 367 00:14:05,623 --> 00:14:07,217 I don't know what I would say today. 368 00:14:07,456 --> 00:14:10,438 I... I hear too much restriction and what 369 00:14:10,733 --> 00:14:12,642 what a coach can do and can't do, 370 00:14:13,438 --> 00:14:14,392 But I wouldn't... 371 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,345 Impress on the kids that we're playing this 372 00:14:17,345 --> 00:14:18,298 game as a team. 373 00:14:19,489 --> 00:14:21,790 And as a team, we we don't want 374 00:14:21,790 --> 00:14:23,378 anyone to embarrass our team, 375 00:14:24,028 --> 00:14:24,903 or yourself. 376 00:14:26,097 --> 00:14:28,563 We want don't wanna embarrass the Bethel School 377 00:14:28,563 --> 00:14:29,540 district. So 378 00:14:29,915 --> 00:14:31,824 adhere to the laws and the rules of 379 00:14:31,824 --> 00:14:32,563 the game 380 00:14:33,195 --> 00:14:34,575 carry out your assignments 381 00:14:35,514 --> 00:14:38,075 and do the best you can and above 382 00:14:38,075 --> 00:14:40,075 all, have some fun doing it. I love 383 00:14:40,075 --> 00:14:41,970 that. Conor gave me that same pep proctor 384 00:14:42,089 --> 00:14:43,918 came in here. Don't embarrass me and don't 385 00:14:43,918 --> 00:14:44,634 embarrass the district. 386 00:14:45,271 --> 00:14:46,702 I say that for every interview. 387 00:14:47,577 --> 00:14:48,691 It's very wise advice. 388 00:14:49,662 --> 00:14:51,415 Ed today, you serve as a key member 389 00:14:51,415 --> 00:14:54,363 of the Bethel School District athletic Hall of 390 00:14:54,522 --> 00:14:56,616 Fame. Tell us a little bit about that 391 00:14:56,833 --> 00:14:58,506 organization, and why it's so important for our 392 00:14:58,506 --> 00:14:58,825 community. 393 00:14:59,795 --> 00:15:01,785 It gives us a chance in the Bethel 394 00:15:01,944 --> 00:15:05,071 School district to bring kids back together 395 00:15:05,765 --> 00:15:06,504 has a 396 00:15:07,054 --> 00:15:08,495 group receiving awards. 397 00:15:09,214 --> 00:15:11,534 I think Bob could answer this better than 398 00:15:11,695 --> 00:15:14,495 I do. Bob is the president of the 399 00:15:14,654 --> 00:15:15,154 Bethel 400 00:15:15,695 --> 00:15:18,368 hall fame, and he does drop 401 00:15:18,907 --> 00:15:21,064 better than I... I know that it's been 402 00:15:21,064 --> 00:15:23,540 just a great thing because a lot of 403 00:15:23,540 --> 00:15:23,780 my... 404 00:15:24,433 --> 00:15:27,801 Former athletes have come by and congratulate 405 00:15:28,417 --> 00:15:30,488 us on a job that. 406 00:15:30,966 --> 00:15:33,210 This group has done. I think 1 of 407 00:15:33,210 --> 00:15:36,337 our main goals is to preserve history 408 00:15:37,350 --> 00:15:37,850 to 409 00:15:38,385 --> 00:15:41,184 learn from what... Past athletes have done to 410 00:15:41,184 --> 00:15:44,387 learn who those people were, just the abilities 411 00:15:44,523 --> 00:15:46,034 of people that have come out of Bethel 412 00:15:46,034 --> 00:15:48,115 high school. I... All of these have kind 413 00:15:48,115 --> 00:15:49,860 of a timeframe frame that we know the 414 00:15:49,860 --> 00:15:52,637 school, and my timeframe frame was probably from 415 00:15:52,637 --> 00:15:54,954 birth until I graduated from high school. You 416 00:15:54,954 --> 00:15:56,712 know, on the day after I graduated from 417 00:15:56,712 --> 00:15:59,189 high school I was a Cougar. But I 418 00:15:59,189 --> 00:16:01,266 look back now on the and get to 419 00:16:01,266 --> 00:16:03,993 see people that I sat in the stands 420 00:16:03,993 --> 00:16:05,210 and saw as heroes 421 00:16:05,905 --> 00:16:08,135 be recognized for what they had done. Back 422 00:16:08,135 --> 00:16:09,888 in those days, the high school games were 423 00:16:09,888 --> 00:16:12,474 so important because you couldn't see 424 00:16:13,086 --> 00:16:15,550 every protein play every night on Tv like 425 00:16:15,550 --> 00:16:17,617 it can today. So that was a lot 426 00:16:17,617 --> 00:16:18,968 more of the community focus. 427 00:16:19,778 --> 00:16:21,630 And the thing that I have learned 428 00:16:22,721 --> 00:16:25,210 about 19 70 on is 429 00:16:25,585 --> 00:16:27,892 we have produced a huge number of great 430 00:16:27,972 --> 00:16:30,062 Athletes. People that have been on the pro 431 00:16:30,062 --> 00:16:30,541 golf tour, 432 00:16:31,340 --> 00:16:33,577 people that have have played some pro football, 433 00:16:33,737 --> 00:16:35,575 people that have done all sorts of things 434 00:16:35,575 --> 00:16:37,506 late and gone out and be successful. Absolutely. 435 00:16:37,665 --> 00:16:39,023 We didn't had a former mariner come out 436 00:16:39,023 --> 00:16:41,178 of Buffalo school. We did. Mike Flowers, and 437 00:16:41,178 --> 00:16:41,498 he was, 438 00:16:42,296 --> 00:16:44,132 I think it was the first ceremony we 439 00:16:44,132 --> 00:16:46,060 had. He was our guest speaker Or or 440 00:16:46,060 --> 00:16:47,649 was he in ind... Maybe he was ind 441 00:16:47,649 --> 00:16:49,078 the first 1 and spoke at the second 442 00:16:49,078 --> 00:16:50,508 1? I think is what he probably. That 443 00:16:50,508 --> 00:16:52,017 was it. Yeah. Dad, why don't you tell 444 00:16:52,017 --> 00:16:54,082 us a little bit about your 19 55 445 00:16:54,082 --> 00:16:54,797 and 56? 446 00:16:55,527 --> 00:16:57,992 Football teams. The 19 55 447 00:16:57,992 --> 00:16:58,231 team, 448 00:16:59,105 --> 00:17:01,252 I wish I could list some of the 449 00:17:01,252 --> 00:17:01,650 players, 450 00:17:02,604 --> 00:17:04,433 but I would miss something, so I better 451 00:17:04,433 --> 00:17:06,995 not. But it was went undefeated, 452 00:17:07,473 --> 00:17:07,973 and 453 00:17:08,348 --> 00:17:10,577 we won the state championship. This was a 454 00:17:10,577 --> 00:17:11,077 mythical 455 00:17:11,533 --> 00:17:12,966 championship at that time. 456 00:17:13,696 --> 00:17:16,339 Were voted in by sports writers and people 457 00:17:16,792 --> 00:17:17,506 throughout the state. 458 00:17:18,141 --> 00:17:19,490 And then in 56, 459 00:17:20,205 --> 00:17:21,951 most of the same kids came back. 460 00:17:22,682 --> 00:17:25,629 And we went undefeated that year. And if 461 00:17:25,788 --> 00:17:26,983 I recall right, we... 462 00:17:27,859 --> 00:17:30,509 We were underscored on for 16 ball. 463 00:17:31,615 --> 00:17:33,520 Which is truly incredible. I I would love 464 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:34,790 to get back in the record books and 465 00:17:34,790 --> 00:17:36,934 see if that's ever happened again that I 466 00:17:37,092 --> 00:17:39,077 I can't imagine it has. Quite a defense. 467 00:17:39,315 --> 00:17:39,473 Yeah. 468 00:17:40,203 --> 00:17:41,734 Ed, you were born in 19 469 00:17:42,186 --> 00:17:42,741 24. 470 00:17:43,059 --> 00:17:44,566 I'm gonna go through a little list I 471 00:17:44,566 --> 00:17:46,628 made here of some of the things that 472 00:17:46,628 --> 00:17:49,039 were in vent after you were born, and 473 00:17:49,039 --> 00:17:51,220 that includes bubble gum, pen, 474 00:17:51,759 --> 00:17:53,779 scotch tape, jet engines 475 00:17:54,493 --> 00:17:56,324 so many different things that Connor and I 476 00:17:56,324 --> 00:17:59,507 take for granted were invented after you entered 477 00:17:59,507 --> 00:17:59,905 the world. 478 00:18:00,542 --> 00:18:02,952 For you, is there a single greatest 479 00:18:03,328 --> 00:18:06,700 invention that America produced. I think probably the 480 00:18:06,700 --> 00:18:07,200 television. 481 00:18:08,140 --> 00:18:10,299 I know I... At at my age now, 482 00:18:10,539 --> 00:18:13,449 I enjoy television is... It's a good pastime 483 00:18:13,584 --> 00:18:15,990 when I do enjoy it, I know that 484 00:18:16,444 --> 00:18:18,191 when I was going to high school, 485 00:18:18,906 --> 00:18:21,210 there was no Sea tac airport. 486 00:18:21,925 --> 00:18:24,577 It There was no interstate 5. 487 00:18:25,296 --> 00:18:27,294 There was no Span golf course, 488 00:18:27,853 --> 00:18:28,753 Pacific Avenue 489 00:18:29,531 --> 00:18:32,202 was very bare of businesses 490 00:18:32,575 --> 00:18:35,987 like it is today. Mainly construction has taken 491 00:18:35,987 --> 00:18:38,288 over, I think and which is good. A 492 00:18:38,288 --> 00:18:40,287 lot of new infrastructure around that... That's a 493 00:18:40,287 --> 00:18:42,276 good answer. I think television is a strong 494 00:18:42,276 --> 00:18:44,504 answer, Connor and I have chosen podcasting because 495 00:18:44,504 --> 00:18:46,572 we have faces for radio. We're told. So 496 00:18:46,572 --> 00:18:46,652 we're... 497 00:18:47,463 --> 00:18:49,856 Happy to sit behind the microphones here. Yeah. 498 00:18:50,574 --> 00:18:52,647 Bob, with your father turning a hundred, I'm 499 00:18:52,647 --> 00:18:54,163 sure over the years, he's probably told you 500 00:18:54,163 --> 00:18:56,396 a couple solid pieces of advice. 501 00:18:56,969 --> 00:18:59,044 There any that you could share with the 502 00:18:59,044 --> 00:19:01,119 listeners that really stuck with you made a 503 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:02,875 big impact in your life. You've been a 504 00:19:02,875 --> 00:19:03,992 pretty successful man yourself. 505 00:19:04,790 --> 00:19:04,950 Well, 506 00:19:05,603 --> 00:19:07,518 I don't know if there were direct things 507 00:19:07,518 --> 00:19:10,389 that he said, here's the advice, but to 508 00:19:10,389 --> 00:19:13,181 follow his lead. Mh. He spent his life 509 00:19:13,181 --> 00:19:13,819 in coaching, 510 00:19:14,457 --> 00:19:14,957 and 511 00:19:15,589 --> 00:19:17,987 so many times I've seen articles about him, 512 00:19:18,067 --> 00:19:19,905 and it has the, quote, do it for 513 00:19:19,905 --> 00:19:20,384 the kids. 514 00:19:21,104 --> 00:19:23,661 And he was his whole career he was 515 00:19:23,661 --> 00:19:25,994 about the betterment of student athletes, 516 00:19:26,555 --> 00:19:28,634 both in the classroom and on the the 517 00:19:28,634 --> 00:19:31,115 football field or basketball corridor or baseball field. 518 00:19:31,674 --> 00:19:34,408 But it was always about what's best for 519 00:19:34,408 --> 00:19:36,391 the students and and what's good for their 520 00:19:36,391 --> 00:19:38,477 life? And what can they learn 521 00:19:38,850 --> 00:19:41,230 and take with them as they go on 522 00:19:41,230 --> 00:19:43,394 for And and I followed his footsteps as 523 00:19:43,553 --> 00:19:47,054 I say, physical education degree at at W 524 00:19:47,054 --> 00:19:47,213 asu, 525 00:19:48,407 --> 00:19:50,476 played basketball. It was never a football player. 526 00:19:51,049 --> 00:19:53,526 But I did play basketball, and and sports 527 00:19:53,526 --> 00:19:55,683 were really important in our household. 528 00:19:56,242 --> 00:19:58,400 As just kind of a centerpiece, we still 529 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:00,881 watch, the mariner almost every night, we watch 530 00:20:00,881 --> 00:20:02,789 all the Sea hoc games, we just love 531 00:20:02,789 --> 00:20:04,459 to watch in the cougar this last year 532 00:20:04,459 --> 00:20:05,095 in basketball. 533 00:20:05,573 --> 00:20:07,481 And I think just the guidance that he 534 00:20:07,481 --> 00:20:09,880 gave me towards how he lived his life. 535 00:20:10,595 --> 00:20:11,969 I look back and and 536 00:20:12,343 --> 00:20:14,726 so many times now you see parents that 537 00:20:14,726 --> 00:20:15,226 are 538 00:20:16,255 --> 00:20:19,134 the helicopter parents that are always there and 539 00:20:19,134 --> 00:20:21,054 right involved with the kids and everything they 540 00:20:21,054 --> 00:20:23,535 do. He never once said, let let's go 541 00:20:23,535 --> 00:20:25,305 out and do this. Let's go do that, 542 00:20:25,465 --> 00:20:27,616 play a sport. But if I said, hey 543 00:20:27,695 --> 00:20:29,687 Dad, I'd like to go play catch. He 544 00:20:29,687 --> 00:20:30,882 had the ball in a couple of clubs. 545 00:20:31,534 --> 00:20:33,444 Hey, well, you rebound for me. Yep. He's 546 00:20:33,444 --> 00:20:36,071 out there. And was always there but never 547 00:20:36,071 --> 00:20:39,175 pushed, but I I think like any young 548 00:20:39,175 --> 00:20:40,846 person you're going to... 549 00:20:41,897 --> 00:20:44,129 Look at what the important people in your 550 00:20:44,129 --> 00:20:44,948 life are doing 551 00:20:45,325 --> 00:20:46,441 and you emulate that. 552 00:20:47,158 --> 00:20:48,513 And I I think that I did that, 553 00:20:48,593 --> 00:20:50,121 and I'm glad that I did. I think 554 00:20:50,121 --> 00:20:52,667 that's fantastic. Great. Great. Answer, and great advice 555 00:20:52,667 --> 00:20:54,257 do it for the kids. I love that 556 00:20:54,257 --> 00:20:56,817 quote. Absolutely. And and 1 last question. Before 557 00:20:56,817 --> 00:20:58,644 it, Ed, and we all aspire to live 558 00:20:58,644 --> 00:21:00,788 a long, meaningful life like yours. You have 559 00:21:00,788 --> 00:21:02,773 any good advice for the people listening on 560 00:21:02,773 --> 00:21:04,996 how to stay active and engaged in their 561 00:21:04,996 --> 00:21:05,552 retirement years. 562 00:21:06,364 --> 00:21:08,143 I've been asked that many times 563 00:21:09,241 --> 00:21:11,878 and since I got a hundred anyway. I 564 00:21:11,878 --> 00:21:14,377 never had any problem with as far as 565 00:21:14,676 --> 00:21:15,176 eating 566 00:21:16,685 --> 00:21:17,185 sleeping, 567 00:21:18,357 --> 00:21:20,826 keeping active. And that's all I can say 568 00:21:20,826 --> 00:21:23,772 is that keep going, just keep active, 569 00:21:24,820 --> 00:21:25,773 eat to write things, 570 00:21:26,408 --> 00:21:27,622 stay away from drugs 571 00:21:28,392 --> 00:21:28,892 and 572 00:21:29,424 --> 00:21:31,170 do the best you can with what you 573 00:21:31,170 --> 00:21:31,408 got. 574 00:21:32,058 --> 00:21:34,701 Just that simple. Just love it. Yeah. Fantastic 575 00:21:34,757 --> 00:21:35,789 advice. Bethel 576 00:21:36,424 --> 00:21:38,727 Institution, Ed Neil and Bob Neil. Thank you 577 00:21:38,727 --> 00:21:40,473 so much for joining us today. We're really 578 00:21:40,473 --> 00:21:42,484 excited to have. You here to celebrate the 579 00:21:42,484 --> 00:21:42,984 70 580 00:21:43,525 --> 00:21:46,005 anniversary of our great district, gentlemen. Thank you 581 00:21:46,005 --> 00:21:48,325 very much. Thank you. Thank you. And enjoyed.