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Community recognizes its Hall of Famer
Published March 3, 2010
Applause roared through the Wildcat Grill cafeteria Monday night as members of the community and students, teachers and administrators of Scottsboro City Schools honored Coach John Esslinger.
Esslinger, who has spent 33 years in education and coaching and has helped Scottsboro High School teams claim 41 state championships, will be inducted into the Alabama High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame later this month. The Scottsboro Board of Education honored Esslinger with a reception held after the board meeting Monday.
Newspapers clippings, photos and other memorabilia lined the walls and windows inside the cafeteria. Championship trophies were placed at each table.
"We're so proud of your accomplishment — not only for you and your family, but for us as a school system," Superintendent Dr. Judy Berry said.
Under Esslinger's reign as cross country and track coach, the boys’ teams have won nine cross-country championships and five indoor and four outdoor track titles while the girls' teams, who are on a nine-year win streak, have claimed 16 cross country championships and three indoor and four outdoor track titles. Berry called the record "absolutely phenomenal."
SHS principal Dale Hancock said Esslinger is a testament to what the Hall of Fame is all about.
"He's a great teacher, a great coach and most importantly, a great person," Hancock said.
Esslinger will be inducted into the ASHAA Hall of Fame on Monday, March 22 during a ceremony in Montgomery. That day Coach Esslinger will be honored in Scottsboro after Mayor Melton Potter read a proclamation Monday, declaring March 22, 2010 as John Esslinger Day in the city of Scottsboro.
Esslinger is one of nine inductees into the 2010 Hall of Fame class. The nine were selected from a field of 64 candidates.
Standing in front of the crowd Monday, Esslinger said he saw people from the first group he coached and students from the 2009-2010 team.
"I can't tell you how that feels without getting pretty emotional," he said. Esslinger thanked his friends and family and those who came out to support him. He added he hopes there will be some familiar faces at the ceremony in three weeks.
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