A Life That Mattered

Editor's Note: This is a portion of a eulogy delivered by MHSAA Executive Director John E. (Jack) Roberts at the memorial service for Michigan high school coaching great Lofton Greene, who died July 15, 2003

When I attend a memorial service, I find myself with some grief, and sympathy for those who will feel the loss most personally and deeply, but also with some guilt for the self-absorbed thoughts that I will have throughout a service such as this.

For when I attend memorial services, I find myself measuring my life against the person being remembered. I find myself wondering if my life matters, and if so, to whom it might matter. I find myself wondering if my life will be remembered, and if so, why.

So it is my purpose in these next few minutes first and foremost to honor the life and memory of Lofton Greene from a statewide perspective; but also to allow and even encourage these kinds of personal questions in each one of us: Does my life matter, and to whom? Will my life be remembered, and why?

Lofton Greene was born in 1919 and was raised on a Kentucky farm. Just like many of the youngsters he would later coach at River Rouge over five decades, Lofton moved with his mother and brothers from a farm in the south to factory jobs in the north.

Lofton graduated from Jackson High School in 1936; and of course, he played basketball there for the Vikings. Lofton graduated from Western Kentucky in 1940, and of course he played basketball there as well.
And then it began. Except for military service in 1944-45, Lofton Greene coached high school basketball every year for 44 years, beginning in Kentucky in 1940-41 when FDR was president, and concluding at River Rouge High School in 1983-84 when Ronald Reagan was president.

During his 43-year varsity high school coaching career, there were more U.S. presidents (nine) than there were losing seasons for Lofton Greene's teams (seven).

His 42-year varsity high school boys basketball coaching career in Michigan is unmatched: 728 wins, almost 100 more wins than No. 2 on the list.

His 41-year coaching career at one high school is incredible, almost unfathomable to today's coaches.
Lofton Greene coached high school basketball during World War II. He coached high school basketball during the Korean conflict. During the nostalgic 50s when we spoke of a cold war. During the tumultuous 1960s when cities burned during hot summers. During the Vietnam war and the counterculture of the 1970s. Kennedy's assassination. Nixon's resignation.

Lofton Greene coached through it all; and his teams won through it all. Class B runners-up in 1949, 51, 58, 66 and 76. MHSAA champions in 1954 and 55, 1959, five consecutive years from 1961 to 65, and four consecutive years from 1969 through 72.

There is something special about a coach who can win. There is something extra special about a coach who can win state titles during three different decades.

He must have looked past social status and skin color. He must have looked past long hair and sideburns. He must have seen deep inside the individual players for their potential, for their special role, for the contribution they could make to the team's success.

All the really great coaches will tell you that victories are great, but successful coaching has even greater rewards: the love and respect of legions of players, young athletes who return some years later as young men and say, "Thanks, coach, you made a difference." We have been reading such sentiments in our newspapers since Wednesday. We have been hearing such sentiments on television, on radio and in tributes today.

One of the great basketball coaches of all time, Dean Smith, put it this way in the introduction to his book, A Coach's Life: "It's not just the great ones I remember. I remember each of them, and not just as ball players. I remember the easy laughers and the ones who were most serious. I remember those players who became doctors and lawyers and ministers, the corporate soldiers and the non-conformists who did me the favor of conforming for the good of the team. I remember those who wanted to coach and those who wanted no part of it.

"I remember the ones who didn't play much but nevertheless helped our teams in countless ways, as well as those who went on to win individual honors. I remember each of these. You see, this was about championships, and we were lucky enough to win our share. But what I enjoyed most was the pursuit of the championships and the journeys each team traveled together - coaches and players - in quest of the dream. It was about the thousands of small, unselfish acts, the sacrifices on the part of the players that result in team-building. When it comes together, it is beautiful to see."

I think that is what Lofton Greene would say to us today.

Sometimes we get lucky and do things before it is too late. Such was the case in March of 2002 when the MHSAA honored the 12 MHSAA championship teams of River Rouge in our Legends of the Games celebration. We witnessed an unprecedented outpouring by many men for their former coach.

We found it striking that his former players and students from all over the country made it a priority to come to the Legends ceremony to honor their coach and be with their former teammates. Some players came from as far back as the 1940s. Some players came from as far away as North Carolina, New York, California, Oregon and Florida. All were drawn to the event to pay tribute to a man who clearly had a great impact on their lives. They spoke of the discipline and teamwork he instilled, and the equal opportunity he gave to everyone. Several talked about kids of all backgrounds coming together . . . black and white, poor and middle class, with equal chance and treatment. "Through his programs," said one, "we learned to learn." That is not just a coach, but a teacher coach.

Life is a gift. Life is a gift that needs to be used. My personal faith in God and my professional faith in school sports convince me that life goes on for Lofton Greene, and his life goes on here on earth through those among us for whom Lofton Greene was a powerful positive influence.

Did his life matter? Yes, and not merely for the titles, for trophies fade. Are lives changed because of his life? Yes. Many of his players and their families bear witness to that fact. Will his life be remembered? Yes. Any why? Most of all because of the lives he influenced positively while he was with us physically.

Lofton Greene was a very fortunate man, for he loved what he did - high school coaching; he loved some people, and he was loved by some people.

I will see Lofton Greene's picture every day for the rest of my career at the MHSAA, for as one of four Michigan residents in the National High School Hall of Fame, his picture hangs in the MHSAA office in East Lansing.
I will be reminded every day of this man and what he meant to many of you, what he meant to River Rouge High School, what he meant to his community, what he meant as model and mentor for coaches in this state, and what he has meant to high school athletics in Michigan.

To his family, closest friends and former players, you have my sincere condolences. But more than that, you have my envy for being his family, friends and former players. You too have been fortunate.

— John E. "Jack" Roberts
MHSAA Executive Director