Return to : Home

This is a copy of a letter that I sent to NAGTO president Lori Flannery. She will be passing it on to parents for which she has an address. I hope that any parent reading this will forward it to any former NAGTO member who may not "be in the loop".

As Frank Mooney commented the other night, I like to think before I talk. I've spent much time considering what this means to me and have come to the conclusion that I will never be able to fully express my thanks.

North Attleboro Track and Field has meant everything to me. And to me – NAT&F is the athletes. They are the ones who put in the long hours, endure the stresses, drip the sweat and shed the tears – all in an effort to uphold the tradition passed down by those who came before. They wear the red and white with pride, and just thinking about how much they all mean to me now brings tears to my eyes. I am blessed to have been able to work along side a generation of athletes who were not only committed to performance, but also to being such great ambassadors of our town. North Attleboro Track and Field is held in high esteem throughout the state – and for good reason.

This is a long-winded way of saying that there was no greater present one could give me than to assemble such a great group of athletes as you did.   It was a living history of NAT&F. My only regret is that I didn't spend more time introducing athletes from the different eras to each other.   That was a virtual who's who of track and field. I was impressed that it not only held state champions and record holders, but also athletes who had never scored a point. That helps put into perspective what a great sport track and field really is.

But here is the true focus of this letter. I don't think most parents of these athletes understand what a significant part of the NAT&F success story should be credited to them. Sure, they provided the genetics and significant financial backing. But often understated is the importance of their positive attitude.

I am acutely aware of how fortunate I have been to have such a positive relationship with the parent organization. I have enjoyed tremendous support over the years. It has made the job of getting the most out of the athletes easier and more enjoyable. It would be an injustice to begin naming names, because I would be certain to leave some out.

Over the course of a career, the athletes end up hearing four years of stories about their predecessors. Suffice it to say, I have just as many great stories about the parents. I wish to thank all who attended a meeting, helped to raise funds, helped pick up trash, raked a pit, cheered from the sidelines – or most importantly in that moment when it might have been easier to say “The coach is crazy” – instead encouraged their athlete to dig a little deeper or give it one more try. We were partners in helping your children discover their depth of character.

At the risk of being repetitive – thank you. Thank you for contributing to the success of the program, and for the honor I would never have received without your efforts – the naming of the track.

See you on the sidelines.

Humbly,

Dwight E. Estey