Written two years ago 4/25/05 (The special section in a recent Sunday newspaper about San Jose State’s 150 Anniversary also made me think of Coach Ken.)

I’ve known for some time now that this “Words” would need to be written. Coach Ken passed away this Monday morning. I found out just a bit ago as we returned from dinner with our kids. Ken’s daughter left a message asking me to call. We talked a few minutes ago and she told me that Coach had requested that I be one of those to share at his memorial. What an honor. She also said that I had been a real encouragement to him these last weeks as he’s been in hospice there at the VA Hospital in Palo Alto. I want to thank God just now for allowing me to serve my coach and friend in this way. Each time I went to see him I would read some of my “Words” to him - especially those where I talked about him. We shared many memories about football at Fremont in the early ‘50s. We would hold hands and pray together before I left each time I visited. I didn’t get to share my last “Words” about “exhausting life” with him. I think he would have related to it well. He lived a full and varied life. He played high school ball in Pasadena and a teammate of his was Jackie Robinson. He played for Dud DeGroot at San Jose State and knew Pop Warner who was acting as an advisor to the Spartans at the time. He was on the team that went to Hawaii in December of 1941 to play a game and stayed as a military policeman after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He coached at Kamahamaha High School before returning to California. I knew I would play for Coach Ken when I was in the 7th grade because my older brother played for him at Fremont where he had become the head coach. He had a very successful tenure as the varsity coach at Fremont before going to Cupertino High School as the vice-principal when that school opened.

He was there when I was hired to teach at Cupertino in 1962. I followed Coach Ken to Lynbrook in 1965 where he was principal. I knew him most of his professional life - what a story! An important moment that I remember very well was just before I left him the last time. I had asked him what his feelings were when he thought of eternity. He closed his eyes for a few moments and then said, “I’m frightened.” My reaction was, “How like Coach.” He was always honest with me. I told him that I could understand how this amazing transition could be scary. Then, I saw in his eyes that look he often got before our ball games. Not knowing what the outcome might be, but satisfied he had prepared us well, he was ready to “go play!” And Coach Ken had prepared well. He had placed his faith in the Lord Jesus and, “though he was to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear no evil for God would be with him.” Coach Ken was an example and encouragement to me in many ways. I want you to be encouraged today just as I tried to encourage him that “because Jesus lives, we can face tomorrow”.

I’ll miss Coach Ken - but only for a little while.

Coach Hitch