At a luncheon at the Otesaga last Thursday, Dick White received the Clark Sports Center's seventh annual Patrick C. Fetterman Award with many of the teachers, parents and friends who made his longtime coaching and teaching career a success in attendance.

White retired from coaching after the 1995-96 season and from teaching math at Cooperstown in 1997, and his legacy beyond the wins and losses is one of sportsmanship.

White rarely yelled at players, told them not to worry about physical mistakes on the court, and was fiercely loyal to his players. Along the way he won numerous league and sectional titles, 410 games and the respect of the community.

"Dick loved basketball and he loved kids," said longtime junior varsity basketball coach Don Howard at Thursday's luncheon. "Basketball was his vehicle to get to the kids."

Howard said he spent 31 years with White and wouldn't have changed a second of it.

"In his heart, Dick wanted every kid on the team to be able to play every minute," Howard said. "He cared so much and he did so much behind the scenes for kids that no one ever knew about. I coached with Dick for 31 years, and I thoroughly enjoyed the "Dick and Don" show. I wouldn't have traded it for anything."

Tom Heitz, who used to announce Cooperstown basketball games, said he remembered a time when White started a player who rarely even saw playing time. When he inquired why the boy was starting, he was told it was because the player's grandparents had traveled a long distance to see the game.

"That's what Dick White was all about," Heitz said.

Said Ted Kantorowski, Cooperstown's longtime athletic director during White's tenure as basketball coach: "Dick's dedication and continuity were remarkable. One of my jobs was recruiting coaches, but I always knew the basketball program was in good hands with Dick."

Malcolm Brooks, who hired Fetterman to work at the ACC Gym back in the mid-1970's, said all the recipients of the Fetterman Award exhibit the sportsmanship that was so essential to Fetterman.

"Winning was important to Pat, but how you lost was just as important," Brooks said.

Jane Johngren said she became an ardent Cooperstown basketball, and Dick White fan, after going to a sectional game in March of 1978.

"My life changed forever after that game," Johngren said. "For the next 18 winters I was hooked on Cooperstown basketball. Dick and I had many conversations about basketball and his philosophies over the years, and the educational aspects of basketball were the most important to him."

White said it was an honor to be thought of in the same way as Pat Fetterman.

"There were many times I thought of Pat while I was coaching," White said. "I had an exceptional experience in Cooperstown, and this is a great way to officially end both my coaching and teaching career."

...Past recipients of the Fetterman Award inlcude Lavern "Beanie" Ainslie, Jack Vineyard, Ted Kantorowski, Malcolm Brooks, Jerry Townsend and Don Howard.