Morris celebrates 35 years of passion

By Mike Ford, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Wednesday, April 2, 2008 (7 months, 3 weeks ago)
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Jim Morris celebrates 35 years of teaching in Delphos City Schools Monday with a reception at Jefferson High School. Morris’ wife, Pam, left, and his parents joined faculty members and Principal John Edinger as Morris leaves the classroom early in order to participate in the varsity football team’s summer weightlifting. Morris will be on the sidelines this fall when the Wildcats take the field.DELPHOS — After 3 1/2 decades in education, Jefferson High School teacher Jim Morris retired Monday when bus engines fired up to take students home. The history teacher will no longer instruct students in his favorite subject but he will be back in 60 days.
The assistant varsity football coach retired early due to a state regulation mandating all retiring teachers have no contact with students for two months. He timed his departure to be back for summer weightlifting and conditioning in preparation for football season.
Morris considers himself among the few and lucky.
“Professionally, I’m really lucky because I love history and I love football, so I’ve been able to teach the two things I love most my whole professional life. Not many people can say that,” he said.
Morris, 57, grew up in Delphos and attended the city schools. His passion for history bloomed under the direction of one of several former Delphos educators Morris says influenced him.
“I think it was something natural; history and I just ‘clicked.’ I remember being fascinated with the explorer Henry Hudson in third grade. Then, my history teacher in eighth and 11th grades was Walt Arnette and he just sealed it for me. I knew then I wanted to be a history teacher,” he said.
Morris began coaching when he was hired to teach in 1973. He was hired by former Superintendent Arden Blythe, who had been his seventh-grade science teacher. He was also inspired by former varsity head coach Paul Krotzer, who directed the program when Morris played for the Wildcats.
Morris coached the freshman team in his first year, then took the junior high team to victory for the next 14 seasons.
“When you’re having success at something, you tend to stick with it. We had a 5-year period in junior high when we never lost a game. Those kids were the varsity players who went to the state championship in 1985,” he said.
Morris says those years were when he “really learned to coach.” When head football coach Kevin Fell left in 1988, Morris succeeded him until 2002. Over those 15 years, the ’Cats were 121-37 with four Northwest Conference championships and seven playoff appearances.
Morris resigned as head coach and later assisted the Elida Bulldogs for three years until he resigned so he could watch his son play at Jefferson. However, head coach Damon Ulm asked him to return to the Wildcat sideline as his offensive and defensive line coach. Morris will continue his coaching legacy this season.
His career began at Jefferson after graduating from Ohio State University.
“My first four years, I taught math until a middle school history teacher retired and I was offered the job. I was there for 26 years and I have been at the high school for nine,” he said.
Teaching at his alma mater was awkward for the 22-year-old Morris.
“You still feel like a student. The seniors that year had been in eighth grade when I graduated and I knew a lot of those kids. It was awkward because now you’re the authority figure but you don’t feel like it. It was easier because I was at the middle school and didn’t know those kids,” he said.
Morris says a period of adjustment was needed because his former teachers were now his colleagues. Though he didn’t “feel like (he) deserved to be there,” he gained confidence with experience over each passing year.
“You cannot walk into a classroom at 22 years of age and be a confident teacher; it takes years to acquire that. As I look back, I can see how motivation and enthusiasm count for a lot but so does experience,” he said.
Morris believes one of the toughest things veteran teachers encounter is remaining motivated and enthusiastic without ‘burning out’ as the years roll by. He says those who “stick around” are the ones who find this balance and enjoy being around youth on a day-to-day basis.
Ulm says his assistant coach has had a long, successful career because of his work ethic.
“Jim is the hardest-working guy who leads by example. He has great integrity and cares for students like they were his own kids and he’s one of the most dedicated people I’ve ever worked with,” he said.
Principal John Edinger hosted a reception for Morris after school Monday. He told the faculty in attendance that in the three years he has been principal, Morris has not taken even one sick day.
Morris credits his success to his wife, Pam, a Van Wert teacher, and his parents, Earl and Marge, who still attend every game he coaches. The three also attended the reception.
Morris has no immediate teaching plans but is reflective as he concludes 35 years in the classroom. He says discipline and curriculum have changed for various reasons. One factor is the Ohio Graduation Test. For example, Morris says, he is a Civil War buff and enjoys teaching the subject but if the state does not emphasize it on the exam, that can alter an educator’s approach to coursework.
“The state has been steadily taking over and taking education out of the hands of local communities,” he said.
Whether in the classroom or on the football field, inspiring students to believe in themselves is what Morris does best.
“I tell kids they can do a lot more than they think they can. I know from personal experience that most people have more potential than they realize,” he added.

2 Reader Responses to “Morris celebrates 35 years of passion”

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  1. #1 — Added 7 months, 3 weeks ago

    I tend to check in to the Herald now and then to follow sports in Delphos, as I was born and raised there, but now in PA. A great story, and hard to find a person with the stick to it policy that Jim has. I do remember him from football, as I have a cousin who had the Clossen brothers, during some of those great years. My son now coaches basketball in PA., and teaches also, and would love to see him relocate to Delphos, just to be closer for the Buckeye, Tribe, Brown.
    Good job Jim

    Posted on April 2, 2008 at 9:56 am by Larry Ralston

  2. #2 — Added 7 months, 3 weeks ago

    Congratulations on a job well done. Good luck in the future.

    Posted on April 2, 2008 at 6:49 pm by Cathy Clapp Abbott