The Name 'Coach' Is Perfect For Warsaw's Robert Lichtenwalter
Posted
Jerad Shaw-
Growing up in a community like Warsaw, we are privileged to run across many people that touch our lives in one aspect or another. While the way we live changes, the memories of yesteryear are still fresh in our mind. In this world, the term coach is often used to describe someone leading a group of young men or women in an athletic event. It’s very fitting that in this community, we have our coach that fit that bill for many years, Robert “Coach” Lichtenwalter. Coach grew up in Warsaw on South High St. and was the starting quarterback of his high school football team his freshmen year. He was also a linebacker on that team. He played up until his junior year of high school, as a game against Auburn proved to be his last. “I got my bell rung against Auburn, and the only thing I remembered was waking up the next morning in the hospital,” said Coach. “My friends and teammates came to the hospital, so I put my clothes on and left with them. Nobody knew where I was for a while.” Ending his football career with a head injury didn’t end his attempt at supporting his high school team. “I did the next best thing, I became a cheerleader,” said Coach. Following high school and a tour in the service, Coach found himself at Manchester College. While his ultimate goal after college was to use his degree and focus his time and energy on the Boys Club, luckily for many kids in this community, his calling was in the classroom. Dane Snoke saw the potential of Coach inside of the classroom, and after a discussion with his wife Suzie, Coach found himself teaching history in 1947. Though he was involved inside the umbrella of Warsaw Community Schools for 39 years, it almost came to a halt 3 hours into his new career. “My first day, at noon, I left my classroom going down the hall purposely, to go to the office and tell them there was nothing doing,” said Coach” Then I thought, I can’t do that. I gave them my word I’d teach so I had to follow through with it.” Coach spent 10 years teaching history before moving to Physical Education. As a P.E. teacher, he had a simple rule in regards to if kids were going outside or staying in for the day. They’d never go out in a lightning storm, or if three out of five cars passed and their wipers were going. Well, those might not be the only rules. Even today, Coach has two paddles in his room that have some history behind them. During his years of teaching, discipline was handled in a different way than it is now. Kids that acted up or caused trouble were susceptible to the paddle. The general infraction that required the paddle back then was cursing. I’m sure plenty of people reading this heard Coach say, “You’ve got one coming.” I would be amiss if I didn’t talk about Coach’s beautiful wife Suzie, who passed away in 2005. She had a knack for dominating a room, and Coach’s garage. “I had a 4 car garage, well; at least it was supposed to be. For 27 years, I couldn’t get a single car in there.” Suzie had a love for picture frames, which led to a love for antiques. After coming home from a sale, Coach would always ask Suzie where her new items would go, and would receive the same response, “In the garage.” “Suzie was always well dressed,” said Coach. “She worked at Kline’s, and bought every pair of shoes they had come through there even if she didn’t wear them.” That’s one thing you would never have to question about Coach, his clothing. Generally, a Cleveland Browns jacket with shorts was the preferred attire for the lifelong Browns and Detroit Tigers fan. That hasn’t changed, and his programming of choice on Sunday was the Tigers game. He spent a little time jumping on closer Joe Nathan after a blown save Saturday caught the ire of Coach. Well Egads, look at the time. Looks like I’m going to have to continue this next week. Part 2 will focus on Coach’s role inside the Boys Club organization, and the reasoning behind Egads.
