A Sad Discovery

I'm sorry I am late in finding your blog in tribute to Mr. Coate, and moreso to learn of his passing. It is gratifying to see how many others across the years continued to hold him in as deservedly high regard as did I and so many of my contemporaries.

The attached image, taken from the dedication page of the 1974 Ironman yearbook, is classic Ralph Coate: Top shirt button buttoned for photos, hands clasped, and a serious facial expression. I like this one because I prefer to think I see a hint-- recognizable only by those who had the honor of getting to know the man-- of him being about a millisecond away from breaking into that famous smirk just before he cracked wise.
--
Doug DeCota, MHS 1974, Senior Science Award
UNO 1980, New Orleans, LA




(This is the last page. Looking for the first page? Click here.)

Goodbye, Friend

It is with deep sadness that I relay the message that Ralph Coate died this weekend.

I'm so deeply grateful that we had a chance to let him know how much he was loved while he was still with us.

Friend

Mr. Coate was not only my teacher; he was my coach, friend, sports fan, and counselor. He would cut out my name from the paper from every track meet. He would talk to me about my career options and what college I wanted to attend. He even wrote me a letter of recommendation, which I am almost positive, is one of the main reasons I was accepted into Illinois Wesleyan University. He was my friend whenever I needed to talk about anything, it did not even have to be science related. Most importantly, though, he was one of the most inspirational people in my life. He taught me more than I could ever thank him for. Not only did he help make me a better student, he made me a better person. He caused me to believe in myself. He made sure I did not settle for ordinary. He knew my potential better than I did, and he made sure I strived for perfection. He was a hard teacher, but I would not have wanted it any other way. I am proud to say that I was a student in Mr. Coate’s class. I am sad to see him leave because there are so many younger children who do not get the opportunity of knowing Ralph Coate. I will never forget this wonderful human being, or the impact he has had on my life. Thank you for everything Mr. Coate!

Here are a few memories I have of Mr. Coate and being in his class. I honestly looked forward to going to his class everyday because you never knew what to expect from that crazy man.

-The first time I was doing a lab in Mr. Coate’s class I accidentally threw away the plastic spoon. When he walked by all the lab tables as we were cleaning up, he asked our group where the spoon was. I was so intimidated by him and did not want to tell him that I threw it away. I immediately ran to the garbage to dig it out, but couldn’t find it. He definitely saw me going through the trash and assumed I had done something wrong. He was slightly upset that I threw it away, so the next day I brought him a plastic spoon from home. On that spoon I wrote “DO NOT THROW AWAY” and put a smiley face on it. Mr. Coate still has it hanging up in his room to this day.

-I felt like every time I was in lab I got this “look” from Mr. Coate like “what the heck are you doing, Chelsea”. He always made fun of me and told me that I mutilated everything we dissected. I still remember the day we had to saw through the cat’s skull and Amy Moma destroyed the brain. Mr. Coate made her promise him she would never become a brain surgeon.

-I remember how I came into his class the morning after the test where we had to name every muscle used in the paragraph of movements throughout the school. My test was on top and it had a big, fat D on it. I could not believe my eyes. I had never received a D in my life. I went up to Mr. Coate who had this huge grin on his face. I could not believe he thought this was humorous. He told me that I had done a “blonde” thing; I had not followed directions properly. He loved to comment on my hair color, like it really made a difference J

-I also loved how every day after I had missed school Mr. Coate would always ask me in front of the whole class what I had bought at the store. He never believed that I was sick and assumed that I went out and bought an Easter outfit.

-I loved how you would answer a question in class and Mr. Coate would say “yes, exactly” and then write down a totally different answer than what you had said.

-I loved how he always tried to speak Spanish. For ex: Turn in el quizzo. He was always teasing Mrs. Horne.

-I loved how he bribed us with cookies and offered us the half smoked/chewed Cuban cigar…or something to that idea.

These memories will forever be embedded in my mind and heart. We will miss you Mr. Coate!

-Chelsea Wallis

Dedicated

RE: Ralph Coate

Judge Thomas Little [TLittle@court.co.macon.il.us]

It’s been over thirty-five years since I began freshman Biology with Mr. Coate. Subsequent classes included Advanced Biology and Physics. Despite the passage of decades, I still have fond memories of those classes. A steady dose of homework, frequent quizzes, and difficult chapter tests made these classes frightening, challenging, and rewarding, all at the same time. Yet through it all, Mr. Coate still managed to bring humor and fun to the classroom. I remember fishing through a large bucket of formaldehyde trying to locate a cow heart or a pig eye.

Extracurricular activities with the Conservation Club included a canoe trip to the Current River in Missouri and an exploration of the diverse environments of a bog and sand dunes at Indiana Dunes State Park.

The education I received in the sciences remains with me to this day, as does the love of our natural environment. For this, I am grateful. Yet these are not the most important things that I took away from my experiences with Mr. Coate. Through my observations of his interactions with students, staff, and teachers, I learned about the virtues of respect for yourself and others, dedication to the task at hand, and a strong work ethic. These are the lessons for which I am most grateful.

The Best of the Best

Ralph,

In all of my years in and around public education, I cannot recall any educator as dedicated and competent as you. My memory recalls that without exception, the lights in your science room were always the first on in the morning, and most generally, the last off in the evening. The rigor taught and expected in your classroom was always that of excellence and the expectation for academic achievement was not only for your students, but a demand you made of yourself as well. During my ten years at Macon you were always "that educator" I most wanted to emulate. Not only did you raise the bar for students, you raised it for your colleagues as well. You have touched the lives of countless numbers of students, parents and co-educators, and because of contact with you, all our lives have been enriched.

Having served on the School Board in Decatur for 12 years, I have seen from "the other side" what an asset to any school district, a teacher of your quality is to that district. You are truly one of a kind, the best of the best. I wish there were more as dedicated to both subject matter and student, as you. If the dictionary had pictures next to definitions of words, yours would be located next to the word pedagogue.

With all my admiration, I wish you well in your retirement. Public education is a better place because you. Your presence and contribution will sorely be missed.

D.R. Roberts

Addenda

Nothing like sending out the "I think it's finished" email to bring the stragglers in!

Looks like we'll have a few more memories shared here.

Acknowledgements

Obviously, the people whose contributions have been key to this effort are the authors whose remembrances are included here. Thanks to each of you for taking the time to put your thoughts to paper.

But several other folks have made major contributions. My thanks to:

• Ruby Tindall, Kevin Tindall, and Debbie Horne, for making their yearbooks available to my scanner
• Bev Henn, for her initiative and organizational expertise
• MHS Yearbook staff, past and present, for capturing the man in his element
  
• The Bock Family editorial board for their helpful suggestions

And of course, thank you, Ralph Coate, for living such a wonderful story in the first place!

Mildly Frightening/Reaching Across Generations

I was part of the first class from Blue Mound who entered Meridian High School as a freshman, and I had heard faint rumors about the hard-nosed biology teacher: extensive bug collections, daily quizzes, intense tests, lab practicals, and then…. the dissection of the cat. I was oblivious, it was science, better than that - biology! How hard could it be?
The high school hosted a welcoming party for all the students and their parents who would be attending the new Meridian High school that fall. It was a pretty unremarkable night up until we took a short tour of the school. I remember several students clustered around a lighted doorway, and inside there were display cases and animals is jars, skeletons on the wall, a cage with a live tarantula, and volumes of old books. It looked like a museum. I have no idea if this door was supposed to be open, but my parents and I meandered in. My mother was fascinated, I was mildly frightened. A rubber bat hung from the ceiling with a dried moth in its mouth. Like a cat, my mother reached up to make it fly about on it’s string and the moth shoots out of the bat’s mouth and on to the floor. At that point I notice the man behind us, the infamous Mr. Coate, with a stern expression, and suddenly I notice we’re the only people in the room. This was not a friendly looking teacher. I was suddenly afraid that I might not be liked in his class. My father- being the socialite that he is- started up a conversation, “This is right up Marthe’s alley, she wants to be a marine biologist!” At which point Mr. Coat says I should be taking his biology course, along with zoology, microbiology, anatomy… I thought the list would go on forever. Aren’t these college courses? I was hoping I would be forget-able within this large freshman class of 116 students. My mom broke the rubber bat! I was mortified!
First semester of my freshman year I managed to be fairly average, I got a C. I refused to believe that it was necessary for me to study everyday. My parents had no sympathy. If I was going to have a “pop quiz” four out of five days a week, then I should know how to prepare for it. So I put my nose to the grindstone and read, every night, and eventually I turned that grade around. I took 2 more classes with Mr. Coate before graduating, and now hoping to stand out as opposed to blending into the hallways. I discovered I enjoyed anatomy, and dissection and understanding how the body works. I would spend time after school in the lab room looking at those animals is jars and trying to put them in the correct phylo-genetic class. I encouraged my younger sisters to take the class, and prepared them not to make my mistakes. (I’m still a little sore that they seemed to do better than me, never getting that C on their mid-term report card.)

What I take with me from Mr. Coate’s class is the leg up it gave me on my future studies that eventually have led me to medical school and beyond. I still think fondly of my high school teacher who challenged me and fostered my love of science. I would like to thank him for his years of hard work dedicated to the students of Macon and Meridian High Schools, and reassure him that if he has touched others lives in just a part of the way he has touched mine, the effects of his teaching will reach a few more generations.

Marthe Phelps, MD
Meridian High School, Class of 1998
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Class of 2002
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Class of 2006
First Year Pediatric Resident, University of Iowa, Class of 2009

Influential

My Influence
Teachers today rarely possess the ability to prepare a student for college, as well as inspiring them to be the most productive citizen they can be. Mr. Coate, my lab science teacher, has these qualities. Being on task and equipped for all challenges life throws at me is one of many life and academic lessons he has taught me. His ability to motivate me not only in my studies, but in life ambitions as well makes him unique.
Studying notes every night is a quality Mr. Coate expects out of his students. He does not allow laziness or procrastination in his class. My science teacher constantly challenges the class with pop quizzes, tests, and labs, which keeps us guessing at all times. His ability to intertwine lectures with real life situations keeps the class upbeat and interesting. I have a strong feeling that four years with Mr. Coate will undoubtedly guarantee success in college.
I see my biology teacher not only as an educator, but as a motivator as well. His encouraging quotes throughout my tenure have convinced me that if I work hard and stick with my goals, I will be successful. After a recent trip to the University of Illinois, Mr. Coate stated, “That could be you someday wearing those lab coats and carrying a PhD behind your name.” Exceeding our potential is not only our life goal, but its what he ultimately wants as well.
The next four years of my life will hopefully be filled with fun, success, and knowledge. Academically, I feel I am well prepared to face the challenges that await me. Mr. Coate provides a tough curriculum which mimics one of a college class. Lectures, research papers, open-ended tests, and labs all resemble college work. By this description Mr. Coate sounds like a grumpy, strict, and rigid dictator. To the disbelief of many, he actually cares about our schedules, plans tests to our convenience, and is flexible on homework. Those that survive will reap the benefits in college.
Without Mr. Coate my grades, goals, and outlook on life would not be the same. His passion to teach and educate is obvious through his work. The influence he has had on me is ineffable. His ability to blend life lessons with his work, motivate his students, and provide tough classes in preparation with college is his forte.

Travis Rosenkranz

Incentivizing

From: let2289@aol.com
Subject: mr. coate memory
Date: April 2, 2007 9:42:45 PM CDT

When I think of Mr. Coate, I always think of how much he believed if me. Mr. Coate never expected anything but the best and, knowing that, I had extra incentive to do well. He always gave me another reason to pursue my dream and to never give up. The day that my class received medals, we all were a little skeptical of what was in our box, but, as it turns out, it was the most touching gift that I have ever received. The medal said “Believe In Yourself.” Everyday that I see this medal it reminds me that Mr. Coate believes in me and it reminds me that I can
do anything. Thank you for always giving me another reason to believe in myself.

Laura Tenney

Believes in Us

Mr. Coate has truly been an inspiration toward me and everyone that has taken his classes. If it weren't for Mr. Coate, I don't think that I ever would have been so convinced and certain that I should enter the medical field. Even though Mr. Coate's classes are challenging, they are the best classes I have taken and the ones I look forward to. Thanks to Mr. Coate, I have learned that there aren't any challenges too great that you can't overcome if you set your mind to it. What I feel is most important about Mr. Coate though, is that he has a deep compassion and desire to see that each of his students succeeds. Thank you Mr.Coate, for believing in us.

Sarah Henn

Best Teacher Ever

From: bdoyle@mail.millikin.edu
Subject: Mr.Coate
Date: January 25, 2007 10:14:42 AM CST

Mr.Coate has made college not such a shock for me. When the teacher
says "We're going to have a Lab practical" I don't cringe. Mr.Coate has
prepared me for anything that College can throw at me, and I am very
thankful for having Mr.Coate as one of my teachers. When I say that Mr.
Coate was the best teacher I ever had, I can say that whole-heartedly
because he truly is the best.

One of the most memorable things for me today is now when I do
conversions for school and even when I am baking cookies, I think of Mr.
Coate drilling that information of " pints a pound world round" and so
on in our heads year after year.

One day I didn't write the Mr on Mr.Coate on a pass and he wouldn't
let me come to his class to study for a practical during my studyhall.
The next day he had a pass that was written to a me that allowed me to
come to his class anytime, any day and this pass was signed by Mr.Coate
as Robert Redford. He always had a funny sense of humor!

You could always count on Mr.Coate to call on you in class when you
didn't know the answer!!

Brentny Doyle

Maker of "The Hardest Teachers in the School"

From: thielen@mtzion.k12.il.us
Subject: hi
Date: March 31, 2007 8:54:29 AM CDT
To: vbock@vcbconsulting.com
Resent-Cc: recipient list not shown: ;

As a biology teacher today, I am often inspired by material Mr. Coate taught me and take pride when the students say I am one of the hardest teachers in school. When I was at Millikin University taking a biology course, the professor told me that it was very rare to have a student so well prepared for the class. I attribute that to Mr. Coate's teaching. Thanks for everything you taught me and pushing me to a higher standard.

Neysa Thiele
Mt. Zion High School

Loyal/Inspirational/Special

(editor's note: Photo is of the author of this post, pictured in the 1994 year book as "Teacher's Pet")

~For Mr. Coate~

As a junior high student, I had already heard the stories. Any middle school kid with an older sibling knew all about the horror to come! Freshmen Biology with Mr Coate! I mean, as if being a freshmen weren't scary enough, he definitely added to the "fear factor"! I remember the first day of class being on pins and needles like never before. "He's so strict, stand-offish, and cold", I thought at first. I never could have imagined on that first day
of class just how wrong I would turn out to be. By the time I was a graduating senior, Mr. Coate had become not just a mentor, but also someone who not only took interest in me, but really listened, and always cared.

I will say that after thirteen years since graduation, and nearly seventeen since that first day of high school, that I didn't think I could recall much more than about a handful of really "stand-out" memories to share for this book. As I worked on trying to put into words the few memories that had easily come to mind, all these buried memories rose to the surface and I realized just how many little "stand-out" memories there were with Mr.
Coate. I also realized that I wouldn't be able to share as many as I'd like or this book would be incredibly long. Instead, I've attempted to summarize in a few paragraphs all that I would want him to know.

He was just a complete constant for me. Always noticing when something was wrong and letting me know he was there to talk, whether or not it was of academic concern. I would find myself going in to talk before school, or just after lunch. To this day, I can't recall what much of the conversation was about. I don't even remember if I reached out to him or if that intuitiveness he had led him to bring up a topic with me. What I do remember
is that same feeling I used to get when I replay those somewhat fuzzy memories back in my head. It is one of safety, comfort, and loyalty; his commitment to my well-being by never turning away his ear. That's what I'll remember most about our conversations.

Because of his willingness to listen, I trusted. I trusted that he could see things in me that I just couldn't believe were true. You see, I was a good student, but not without serious effort. I remember my mom explained it to me this way once, "Your brothers are naturally smart. Schoolwork comes easy to them. You get good grades because you are an overachiever." Therefore, I couldn't believe it when I was inducted into the "National Honor Society". Even though I had the grades, I still didn't think I was "smart enough". I would constantly compare myself, and my grades, to my smarter brother or my best friend's, the valedictorian of our class. It was Mr. Coate who made me realize that I had to stop comparing myself to others and just do my personal best. Somehow he did make me realize that, and because he had faith that I was smart enough, I had faith too.

This brings me to my favorite memory... the "Lab Practical". I must say that really I am not a science person. Science has always been difficult for me to "get". I struggled through cell division, hated doing pedigrees, and don't even get me started about the many dissections or bugs to collect. I guess some things were fascinating, but all in all, it just wasn't my thing. I feared the lab practical because of how huge it seemed! So much
information to learn, it just wasn't possible. I wasn't smart enough. Through his faith in me, Mr. Coate somehow found a way to get me to challenge this insecurity. With some early mornings, many late nights, and a lot of flash cards, I somehow managed to get the top grade in a class that was full of exceptionally bright students. My favorite memory begins the morning after the "big test". I was walking down to my locker, just several feet away from his door. There he was, as usual, just to the right of his doorway, observing the chaos of the halls in the morning. But that day he looked different to me, and his smile seemed to be aimed in my direction. As I neared my locker, I saw what appeared to be something shiny. It was, in fact, the shiniest cardboard I had ever seen. Cut in the shape of a star and hand-painted gold, it donned the words "Slide Test Champ" in that infamous
handwriting. It was the most spectacular piece of cardboard I had ever seen! I cannot explain how I felt at that moment because it was simply indescribable. I have never been so proud of myself! How do you put into words that feeling you get when you know that you can achieve anything if you believe in yourself enough. I give credit to the teacher who first believed that I had it in me, who encouraged me to never give up on myself, and rewarded my accomplishments with extraordinary praise.

One thing I always knew I wanted to be was a mom. I've spent the last ten years watching my girls grow, and have been blessed to have had the opportunity to stay home with each of them at least part of the time. I've held several different office jobs, and started running a successful cake-business with my Mom in 2001. When my husband went back to school to finish his degree, I realized that this is the year that my second child starts kindergarten, and it will be a mere three years before my final "baby" will be starting school. I asked myself what I would do once I wasn't "needed" as much at home. I started looking into career options for myself again. I thought that with some time and life/work experience since high school I would have an easier time deciding the career path for my future. I've not found it to be easier at all. If anything, it is harder because I am facing so many factors I didn't even have to consider when I was first attending college. I didn't have a husband or children to think about back then, and they are greatly affected (and greatly affect) every decision I make.

The fact is, I am still trying to decide what I should "do with my life", and for several years now I've worried that I am a disappointment to Mr. Coate because he's yet to receive my college graduation invitation. If there is one thing that I would want him to know it would be that I haven't given up on myself. That even though I still have doubts about whether or not I'm smart enough, or if I have the endurance enough to go back to school, his voice is always in my head. The same one that believed in me and wouldn't let me accept any less than my best. Even through my struggles today, I draw on that. I may not "know what I want to be when I grow up" other than the best at what I already am. A devoted wife and mother who strives to be the best at those two things, and never gives up on keeping her eyes open for "what's next". I just keep praying that God will eventually show me how I can use my creative talents and my compassion for others to guide me toward where I should be in life. If that leads me to a degree and a paycheck, I'll be grateful. If it leads me to a life of voluntary work where the only form of payment is an occasional "warm fuzzy" or a smile, I will be blessed. The most important thing is not what I do, but how I live my life and what my children learn from me.

I just want Mr. Coate to know that all of his efforts did not get lost on me. Although I may never pursue a career in science, I am confident that I will further my education in some field. I just don't know when that will be. My hope is that he doesn't feel cheated by not getting to see me graduate and make that walk. I do know that whether he knows it or not, he has already been witness to the most important walk of my life. The one I took from the back of the church to stand next to my best friend in front of God. I'm not sure if I ever told him how devastated I would have been if he hadn't been able to witness that, or how much it meant to me that he was there.

I was among the last graduating class of MACON HIGH SCHOOL. Home of the Ironmen! Revisiting high school has been different since the year after I graduated because of the consolidation with Blue Mound. The name changed, the school colors changed, even some of the teachers changed. There was one thing though that always remained constant. Mr. Coate. The name on the building could have changed a hundred times and the school colors could've been rainbow tie-dye, but I always knew that I could walk in the doors, take a left down the hall and find that same teacher with the same stance, in front of that same door or behind that same long desk in that same information packed room. But that room will never be the same after this year. For certain, the school will never be forever changed without his presence, and those of us who were fortunate enough to have learned from him know how truly blessed we are. I hope in our combined efforts to share these memories with him, he knows how truly special he is.


Marcia Ingle

(Marci Janes)

Class of 1994

Mentor

From: MahoneJ@meridian.k12.il.us
Subject: Mr. Coate stories
Date: March 15, 2007 7:30:47 AM CDT


My fondest memory of Mr. Coate (Ralph) is the year the football tesm went to state at ISU. The faculty did a song and dance (Turfin' ISU) to the tune of the Beach Boys' Surfin' USA. It was great and I'm sure there's probably a black market video floating around somewhere.

Ralph has been a mentor and a supporter and a great friend to me for over 30 years. I will miss him every day and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.

Janis Mahone

Ontologist

From: steve@vcbconsulting.com
Subject: Coate stories
Date: January 15, 2007 1:14:56 PM CST


I'm sure everyone has their own favorite insect collection story, but I think this one has to be told. It was a warm fall day, not in any way close to the due date for the project, I swear. Four of us were out bug-hunting at the mound and having a merry old time. We made a pretty good haul that day - butterflies, beetles, grasshoppers, etc, but as we were busy scouring the ground for more insects (cause let's face it, butterflies are just too much work) we found something that knocked our socks off. The four of us were looking at an ant with fur. Knowing that we must have discovered some new species, I called dibs immediately. After some groaning by the other three hunters, they conceded, and I casually picked it up with my bare hands and put it in a bag for safe-keeping. About a week later while giving us insect notes in class, he mentioned a creature known as a velvet ant. He then went on to explain that this hairy ant was actually a wingless wasp, whose sting is much more painful than that of most wasps you would find around here. Needless to say, my friends were quick to point the finger and laugh as we walked out of class that day. Lucky for me, I have still never been stung by a velvet ant, and I intend to keep things that way for the foreseeable future. I had a simple lesson illustrated for me that day, one that I intend to keep in mind every step of my way through life - When you don't know exactly what's going on, a little caution goes a long way, but never underestimate the usefulness of dumb blind luck.

Steve Bock

Respected Colleague

From: HorneD@meridian.k12.il.us
Subject: Mr. Coate
Date: March 16, 2007 1:42:47 PM CDT

I do want to make some statements about my long-term friendship with Mr. Ralph Coate.

It has been my privilege to have taught across the hall from Mr. Coate for twenty-nine years. We are close friends and have mutual respect for each other as colleagues. Over the last three decades, I have learned so much from Mr. Coate. He is an excellent teacher who inspires his students to excel. His retirement after forty-four years of dedication to Macon and Meridian High Schools will leave a void in this faculty and in my heart.

Mrs. Debbie Horne

Tough

From: kdb5_@excite.com
Subject: Mr. Coate
Date: March 16, 2007 3:09:38 PM CDT


I heard that Mr. Coate is retiring and just thought I would say a few words that could be added to his scrap book. Mr. Coate was and still is my all time favorite teacher. Just thinking of him puts a smile on my face...the way he would tease me, how much he taught me, and how hard he pushed me. He never gave up hope in me. Even when I got into a slump, he always encouraged me because he knew I could do it. He prepared me so well for college, unlike any other teacher. Although, at times, I think some of his tests and teaching were harder than most of what I had at college...haha. I do believe that his classes were tough but he made me stronger by taking them. I can remember one test in particular where I actually started crying mid-test because I did not think I was doing well and could not remember the answers. Well, I did better than I thought due to the fact that I kept going because I did not want to disappoint him. Then, I went off to college not knowing what I wanted to
do with my life. I came back to visit Mr. Coate on a break and we discussed options for my career path. He helped me to get an idea of what exactly I wanted to do. Even when I was not sitting in his classroom as a student, he was still teaching me. I just want him to know how good of a teacher he was and that he made such an impact on my life!

Sincerely,
Kelli Brooks

Role Model

Hi Ralph, As our friend, our first memory of you was when Garry was a new teacher and you and Mary had us over for a fondue supper; you made us feel welcome. We appreciate your friendship and hope it will continue.

As a teacher of our own children, Adam and Susannah, you made it easy for them in science classes in college; they had already had all the material in your classes.

As a role model for students in the Macon and Meridian school district, you made us proud time after time as "our district kids" became doctors, veterinarians, pharmacists, physical therapists, chemists, dietitians, nurses, and science teachers. Even those who did not go into "science" careers learned how to think and how to write papers. They understand "how the world works".

Thank you for your years of service,

Fondly, Christine and Garry Cutler

Pusher

I want to make sure Mr. Coate knows that while there may have been a handful of students that made him question why he ever wanted to teach, the majority of his pupils valued every bit of information he took the time to tell us. These students are some of the best that have ever graduated from Meridian High School, and it is a shame that future students that will never get to experience the quality and toughness of a great teacher like Mr. Coate, who forced us to work to our full potential.

Mr. Coate took me aside in lab one day Spring of my senior year when I had been planning to go to the University of Illinois and was offered an athletic scholarship to go to Parkland. I didn't know if I was making the right choice, choosing Parkland over a school like the U of I. The day I chose the scholarship Mr. Coate gave me a pep talk about the things he thought I was capable of. I'm a modest person and at the time I thought he was just being nice, and was a little embarrassed to tell the truth. As time has gone by I've thought back on his words and realized that what he said gave me the impetus to create my own opportunities instead of waiting for life to give me my hand. He pushed me to be a better student than I thought I could be, and whether he knows it or not he has made a great difference in my life.

Thanks again,

Alix Phelps

Brilliant

From: kbloemer@maryville.edu
Subject:
Date: January 15, 2007 9:51:14 PM CST


I feel honored to have been taught bio and zooology by Mr. Coate. I was frightened at first, as I am sure most freshman were, when I registered to take his bio class because I knew he was a brilliant teacher whom pushed his students to do their very best. After taking his classes I relized that Mr. Coate is an extremely clever man that truly cares about his students. Personally, as a college student I feel that the most important life tool Mr. Coate has taught me is the ability to study/properly prepare my self for college exams. Mr. Coate will always be remembered as an outstanding teacher who has truly touched the hearts of all his students.
Sincerely,
Krista Bloemer

Cookie Fan

From: katie@vcbconsulting.com
Subject: Coate Stuff
Date: March 17, 2007 2:30:57 PM CDT
To: vbock@vcbconsulting.com
Resent-Cc: recipient list not shown: ;

There's a simple test to pick Mr. Coate's students from a group. Complain about the SEVEN page report that's due in English, the one you had to write TWENTY notecards for. The ones that chuckle to themselves and roll their eyes a little are kids who've taken Zoology.

It's one of those classes that you look back on and say, "Thank goodness I had Mr. Coate." When we're writing our papers or studying hard for a test in college, we can always remember - we took The Bug Test, we completed The Leaf Collection, we wrote The Term Paper, and we *passed* The Lab Practical. We don't just think we can do something, we *know* it. Because he pushed us to do these things, we will always know we can.

That, and we know that a tray of oatmeal-raisin cookies never hurt anyone's grade.

Katie Bock

Never Lets Anyone Give Up

From: carrmhs@hotmail.com
Subject: Mr. Coate stories
Date: January 18, 2007 5:32:31 PM CST


I remember dreading going to school my freshman year because I was so scared of Mr. Coate. It was like all we heard was horror stories about how hard he was on his students, especially the freshmen. It didn't take long, though, for me to realize that all he wanted was for his students to do well by working hard, not by having things handed to them. It was clear that he hated laziness and would not put up with it, which pushed those of us who cared to work as hard as we could. He never let anyone give up, and never just gave away the answers, he pushed us to come to our own conclusions using what he taught us. Just last semester I took a biology class, and I did so well in it that one day My teacher asked where I went to high school. I told I had gone to Meridian, and she immediately said, " Ah, so you had Mr. Coate no wonder you do so well." Even though I took just one of his classes, the lessons I learned have stayed with me for years now and that is apparent in the classes I am taking in college, without Mr. Coate I never would have fallin in love with science and I never would have chosen a career in it.


Mr. Coate you should be proud of all that you have done at Meridian, and all the lives you have touched. We never could have made it as far as we have without you.

Michelle Carr

Co-Conspirator

From: rwells@hilltop.bradley.edu
Subject: Re: FW: Second and Final Call for Ralph Coate Stories!
Date: March 15, 2007 12:37:39 AM CDT


One of my favorite times in high school is a result of the sly and devious nature of Mr. Coate. As a freshman, I was lucky enough to have my older sister as a senior. The most important benefit to this situation would have to have been the fact that I had someone living in my house that could read Mr. Coate's handwriting. Now, while I was very grateful for this and love my sister very much, sisters will be sisters and occassionally it is gratifying to annoy them. Mr. Coate must have been fully aware of this. I found this out one day while I was shuffling through his classroom door for a lesson on the Kreb's cycle. Or perhaps it was the capillary motion of water through trees?

Before class began, I was pulled to the back of the classroom and shown a table. The table was piled with feline limbs. Yes, the anatomy class was well underway with cat disection. To my surprise, it was ever so silently suggested that I make use of one skinned limb - tibia, phalanges, fur, and all. So, toward the senior hallway I walked and, lucky me, one very specific locker happened to be unlocked. Now, where better to put that limb than on top of a packed lunch?

Thank you, Mr. Coate! The moment I gained from that cat and your mischevious nature remains to this day incredibly satisfying. Definitely worth every 'r' that looked like a 'v' and every terrifying conversion (1 inch = 2.54 centimeters!!!).

Rachel Wells, Life Science Enthusiast

Amazing

From: kerseymelissa@yahoo.com
Subject: mr.coate
Date: March 28, 2007 3:44:16 PM CDT

\When I think of Mr. Coate, I think of his ... interesting room just like everyone else, but what I will remember the most is how he always tried to get you to bet your cars on an answer. That is until Amy and I decided to ask him to bet his... and then tell him we'd trade him his car for a can of Grape Crush! You know, he hasn't bet on anyones car since... lol! Mr. Coate was and is an amazing teacher and I'm so glad i was able to be in his classes all four years of my high school career! He always believed in us and I'm going to miss him a bunch!

Melissa Kersey

Dedicated/Early Riser

The school years passed, and eventually I found myself in college. I had pretty much held myself to the same standard throughout college. In fact, I probably had regressed into an even lazier version of my former self. Of course my biology classes were part of this reason. I rarely had the need to even write the notes down. They simply felt like someone was filling me in on a story that I had read many times before. The one class that I was forced to work hardest in was Calculus III. I had the Mr. Coate of mathematics that year.

Part of my love for mathematics is that it is algorithmic. If you learn to develop and follow the processes, then you were normally successful. Dr. Shilgalis understood this, but he wanted more from us. Every test consisted of nothing but applications and word problems. He wanted us to develop creativity in our applications of those algorithms. I italicized the word forced in the last paragraph on purpose. Mr. Coate had this effect on all of us as well.

Biology was the preparation for his upper level classes. You were forced to learn a great deal of material. When you got to Anatomy, you were no longer just memorizing material. You were now going to apply this material. Many of my fellow classmates were struggling with Calc III. More importantly, they were struggling with a teacher who demanded more than what was presented in class. I know for a fact that it was my four-years with a relentless taskmaster that allowed me to succeed in that class.

On a side note, I had noticed many similarities between Mr. Coate and Dr. Shilgalis throughout the semester. For instance one day in class we were waiting for Dr. Shilgalis. He normally came into the room about five minutes before class was to start. On this particular day, he was late by his standards. A secretary then entered the room and informed us that Dr. Shilgalis would be ten minutes late and that we were to wait for him in the
room. When he finally walked in, his face was covered with two patches of bloody gauze. One of my classmates asked what had happened. He told us the doctor got a little crazy removing some skin cancer. Of course we were all taken aback, but after the initial shock subsided, I realized that I was actually not surprised at all. I had spent four years with Mr. Coate. Such dedication was actually commonplace.

As the time passed, my arrogance began to be replaced by maturity. I was no longer satisfied with simply getting by in my classes. My senior year of college required me to complete student teaching. I then began my career as a mathematics teacher. Each year has been difficult and each year I try to make myself a better teacher (maybe my expectations of a teacher are too high, but I cannot imagine why that would be). I can no longer use my talents alone to get by. I have come to learn that it is only our effort that maintains us. Oh, and that getting in around 6:00 in the morning as a teacher is not as crazy as I once thought it was. There is a certain amount of peace that is obliterated when the children get there. Maybe I should try lecturing with my eyes closed. It always seemed to work for Mr. Coate.

I've graphed Mr. Coate's final lesson on this page.

Success, satisfaction, and effort are all related.

Ross Moyer

Caring

I remember talking with a fellow student in high school one day when he brought to my attention the sign on Mr. Coate's wall that contained the phrase "if you do not care." It was a long-running joke for some of us that Mr. Coate's lower-case r looked awfully similar to a lower-case v. So this student thought that the sign had instead read, "if you do not cave."I had also been a victim of this during the insect test that he gave everyone in Biology and Zoology. Is it ovipositor or oripositor? If that is a question on the test, I will just make my v indistinguishable from r as well. At the time this was all just a very funny misunderstanding, but in the years since has become something that has stuck with me.

I had probably read that sign on the wall every day at least one time in class. Even with such repetition, the only part that that still sticks with me is the last line: "if you do not care." The biggest lesson that I ever learned in Mr. Coate's class is that it was my effort, character, and desire that would ultimately lead to my success in life.

His tests were difficult. The amount of material that we were required to assimilate seemed infinite at times, but I learned that it was possible aslong as I cared enough to make the effort to succeed. It has taken me many years to learn this. As a young man, I thought my natural talents would guarantee my success. In fact, many times I challenged myself with seeing how little work I could put into my preparation versus how well I performed. At the time, I thought it was arrogance; I now understand it was a personal fear of failure. How does one reconcile to himself that he made his strongest effort possible, yet still came up short of his goals?

I would often make fun of my peers that would spend every evening studying over the material. The people who spent months studying for their lab practical were a favorite target of mine. Sure, they got an A while I only got a B. My secret was that I had only spent one week preparing for it. In fact, Mr. Coate had to kick me out of his room on the Friday before the test, because I was still cramming, but he had to spend countless hours that
weekend preparing for that test, like he had for countless students in previous years.

As with many students, I eventually settled into a comfortable level of effort vs. success as modeled by the graph above

(continued)

Twinkly/Inspiring the Impossible

From: j-bock@northwestern.edu
Subject: Re: Looking for Ralph Coate Stories!
Date: January 14, 2007 10:11:36 PM CST

When I think of Mr. Coate, I think of the first time I walked into his class. My first impressions were of a dim yellow room- the walls covered in faded posters, every surface not a desk covered with specimen jars and various biological paraphenalia. The smell... the smell was unique, to say the least. Old paper and plants and specimen jars mixing to produce a slightly alien scent... later on in the year, they'd be joined by the rank smell of bacteria in the incubator or the sharp tang of formaldehyde left over after a dissection, and always on test days just a hint of fear-sweat, but for now there were only the three.

And as we filed in, we stopped talking. There was something about the room that told you that you were going to be silent now. We found our seats. There were a few whispers, but nothing much.

And then there was the old man himself walking in. You never saw a twinkle in his eye. He might make a joke every once in a while, whenever the tension grew too much to bear, but he was not here to be our friend. He was here to be our teacher. If we would respect him for it, so much the better, but his overriding priority was to come hell or high water make certain that we left his class every day knowing more than when we came in.

A few of us were eventually privileged to see that he did fit the stereotype of the crusty old man with a heart of gold, yes, but oh, the layers of crust one had to endure to get there. Intellectually, we all knew he had a soul, but it was always a bit of a surprise whenever it showed up.

You know a Coate student by two signs. One is that when pushed, they will rise to the challenge- if nothing else, Mr. Coate taught us that we were capable of things we would normally think impossible. The second is that when pushed, and when those around them are whining about how what they are being asked to do is inhuman, they can always think back to the brain test. Or the Zoo lab practical. Or the countless Anatomy practicals.

And suddenly, whatever problem is facing them? At least it wasn't picking up a test that had only one question, "Tell me about the brain" and the horrible attendant knowledge that whoever told him the most would be the mark by which the rest of us were measured.

- Jim Bock

Phenomenal

From: suzieqtip83@hotmail.com
Subject: Mr.Coate
Date: March 12, 2007 8:12:05 PM CDT
To: vbock@vcbconsulting.com

Mr. Coate in a Nutshell

I had the privilege of being in Mr. Coate's classes for four years. When I started out my freshmen year in Biology, my only goal was to survive the daily quizzes and not be locked out of the classroom from not beating the tardy bell. My sophmore year in Zoology, my heart's desire was to have a giant "A" written on my tests in magic marker. And I can still point out a catalpa tree from putting together our tree books. My junior year in Microbiology, I was grossed out to find all the tiny microscopic organisms that lived in Mark Hocker's borrow pit. My senior year in Anatomy, I, along with my classmates, worked hard to be prepared for our lab practical. In addition, my ability to concentrate despite noisy distractions is a direct result of Mr. Coate purposefully and loudly cleaning the overhead while we took our tests.

Mr. Coate is a phenomenal teacher who has touched so many young minds. He inspired us to soak up knowledge, not only to be well-rounded in the Sciences but also to be better prepared for life. My college science courses were a breeze because Mr. Coate worked so diligently to impart the material to us in high school.

My only hope is that I will one day be half as good a teacher as he is. (I'd even settle for a fourth as good!) I wish him the best in retirement and wish that I could better put into words the profound effect he has had upon me.

-Susannah (Cutler) Moyer
Class of 2001
Teacher of deaf/hh students
at Urbana Middle School

Track Coach

From: Barry.Jacobs@NCMC.com
Subject: Ralph Coate
Date: February 22, 2007 1:09:39 PM CST
To: vbock@vcbconsulting.com

I am a 1980 graduate of Macon High School and a 3 year member of Mr. Coate's track team. Many people are not aware of his contribution to MHS through the Track and Field Program. During the 70's, Macon was a track and field powerhouse.

If I had to name one thing that Mr. Coate taught me more than anything else, it would be personal responsibility. During my years on the track team, I was a distance runner, and the normal practice for us was for Mr. Coate to take us about 4-5 miles south of Macon on the country road in the old, school station (wood) wagon. He would usually drive about 5 miles, then turn around and drive a mile or 2 back, he always kept us wondering how far we were going to run. He would stop the car, and we would gather around the driver's side window and he would look at us over his glasses, with the stopwatch in hand, and say "Hurry back boys"!! I can still picture it today. We would run back to the school and he would be out on the track somewhere working with the field events and we had to run to him and he would stop the watch. He never raised his voice, and in fact was very soft spoken but had a way of motivating that is hard to describe!!

Probably the most profound statement I remember him saying to me was, " When you step up to the starting line for the mile and 2 mile run and look across at your competitors you have to know in your mind that you have trained harder than they have" He wanted us to be responsible for our own success, and he would never take any credit for anything we did. He would allow us to slack off at practice, not say a word, and then when someone lost at the track meet, he would remind us of our practice habits. It worked every time!! Ralph Coate is a great man and I hope he knows how much his former students appreciate his contributions to MHS.
Barry Jacobs


Barry Jacobs
Loan Officer
National City Mortgage, a division of National City Bank
2965 N Water St.
Decatur, Illinois 62526

barry.jacobs@ncmc.com

Passionate

From: cabrown4@uiuc.edu
Subject: Mr. Coate Memory
Date: January 17, 2007 4:39:59 PM CST



I remember one of the first days of freshmen biology class when someone sneezed, and another person said, "Bless you." Mr. Coate got this strange look on his face, as he often did with freshmen, and said something to the extent of, "We don't need to say "bless you" in this classroom. Let's all do one big "bless you" for the rest of the year." I didn’t think he could be any more intimidating than he already was, but at that point I realized I was wrong. As I continued on with some of his other classes in the following years, however, I realized he was using intimidation to "weed out" the students who were not willing to put forth the effort to learn about science.

I think Mr. Coate's main goal was to give us students the knowledge needed to better understand the world that we live in and show us the possibilities that science presents. He wanted us to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom, and he challenged us to reach our full potential. Throughout my high school career and still to this day, I would argue that Mr. Coate knows everything that has anything to do with science. Whenever I come across something scientifically confusing, I always think to myself, "If only Mr. Coate was here." Mr. Coate was extremely passionate about teaching science, and I think that is what made him such a wonderful and memorable teacher. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to learn from such a knowledgeable and caring person. Thank you, Mr. Coate.

Chad Brown

Softball Fan

From: elindamood@mail.millikin.edu
Subject: Mr. Coate memory
Date: January 15, 2007 4:06:01 PM CST


Every home softball game Mr. Coate was there supporting us. We could always find him with two bags of popcorn standing at the fence by right field.

Erica Lindamood

Silly Teaser

From: jkersey@eureka.edu
Subject: Mr. Coate
Date: January 15, 2007 3:32:43 PM CST


When I think of Mr. Coate, I always think of . . .
~the rainbow of colors on his skin after a long day of notes
~the distinctive smell of his room
~the way he scared off all the freshman
~the change in attitude once we were upperclassmen
~the day that he took the baby sharks out of the one we were disecting and plopped them into his baby shark jar
~the scary lookin pelican that sits on top of the fridge
~the label for the Kleenex, "for the mucus challenged"
~the way he would tell us something very important with his eyes closed
~the silly little grin he would get when he made a joke
~the way he teased chelsea wallis all the time in Zoology
~the psychadelic butterfly he had on the wall in the lab room
~and just the overall good times had in his classes

Jessica Kersey

Cover Pix

The cover of the book features these pictures of life with Mr. Coate. These days, his students can take digital pictures of the bugs they need to be able to identify, and print and cut them out to make flashcards when they get home.

The medal is one he gave his long-time students last year. Each one is personalized with the student's name and the message "Believe in yourself"

Mr. Coate Memories

A teacher's journey takes him not only through his own life, but through the lives of hundreds of students. The best teachers not only assist us in making sense of the world around us, but also impart to us something about how to make our own journeys. We continue to hear their voices long after we leave the classroom

Ralph Coate leaves an impression which can only be described as indelible. Those of us not fortunate enough to have had a place in his classroom ourselves have watched him challenge our children, inspiring them to reach farther, and work harder than they ever have before, to achieve well beyond what they thought was within their capacity.

In these pages, we, Ralph's admirers, have gathered just a few remembrances. We hope they convey the fondness held for Ralph in the hearts of his colleagues and the students to whom he has dedicated his career.

Valerie Bock
Spring 2007

The Concept

Ok, so the basic concept is that we've collected some wonderful memories of Mr. Coate, and I'm putting them in a book which will be published by the good folks at Apple Computer. I've sprinkled some scanned-in shots from yearbooks thoughtfully provided by Ruby Tindel, Kevin Tindel and Debbie Horne.

I'm going to try to capture the flavor of the thing here, mostly because it's not possible to share the book itself with all the contributors, but I really wanted those who were interested to be able to see how their contribution fit into the whole.

Shhhhh!

This is a site honoring Ralph Coate, who is retiring after 44 years of service as a life sciences teacher at the Meridian (formerly Macon) High School in Macon, Illinois.

The contents here has been gathered to be presented to Mr. Coate in book form later this year. Please don't blow the surprise for him! Share this URL with anyone else, but please don't tell Mr. Coate!!!

(To see the pages in sequence, use the "Newer Post" link which appears at the bottom of this column on each page.)