Coach Ken Hunte

"Coach Hunte" is a lengendary figure to his Mepham wrestlers. He taught leadership, personal courage, and pride in being a Mepham wrestler. Now, 50 years after Ken Hunte graduated from Mepham, his wrestlers, classmates, and friends return to permanantly honor his work in the field of education. Wrestling is a sport which places the greatest mental and physical demands on its youthful participants. The Mepham wrestling tradition of pride and competitiveness was in full bloom during Coach Hunte's era (1958-1976). Ask any former Mepham wrestler his thoughts of walking into a gym behind Coach Hunte, wearing the Mepham Robe for the first time. All of his wrestlers can relate to the richness of that moment. Few high school athletic programs in the nation have the history of Mepham Wrestling. Coach Hunte gained the head coaching job from the "Father of N.Y. State Wrestling" Frank "Sprig" Gardner. Sprig was like a father to Ken Hunte. After World War II, both Sprig and Ken returned to Mepham from serving in the U.S. Navy. Ken as a student, and Sprig as his teacher and mentor. He steered Ken in the direction of Syracuse University and a teaching profession. Ken returned to Bellmore where he grew up in his mother's house on Grand Ave. He taught at Winthrop elementary school and returned to the Mepham Wrestling room where he would devote his lifes work to the sport he loved.

Student government representative, 1945 Front row, center student Bob Bury & Ken Hunte Jones Beach Lifeguards Coach Hunte in the '70s

The following paragraph is an excerpt from a newspaper article written by Mepham student Les Corwin, published on February 3, 1965:

"Coach Ken Hunte is a dynamic man.... a man who is in more ways than one, a giant among men. One merely has to walk into the wrestling room any afternoon to see the admiration and respect that the youth of this district have for Ken Hunte.... it's true he has taught them how to wrestle well, but more importantly, he has taught them how to live and conduct their lives in a noble manner."

Indeed, Mepham H.S. is the "Cradle of NY State Wrestling".

LETTERS

December 7, 1997
To: Jerry McHale

I just want to thank you for making Coach Hunte day possible. You and I know the meaning of saying, "I wrestled for Coach Hunte." To this day I owe Coach everything. He was the biggest influence in my life, barring family. He is solely responsible for my going to college and achieving what ever success I have reached. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be coaching wrestling at Nassau Community College.

I won't be able to make the dedication because my team will be participating in a Tournament upstate but I'm sure it will be on my mind the whole day Jan 30. I know Coach wouldn't want it any other way. This year I have 3 Mepham wrestlers on my team, which would make coach smile.

I would be happy to contribute to the fund. I am going to write a letter and hope to have someone read it that day. I'm going to miss seeing all the guys. Thanks

Paul Schmidt

Not terribly tall by normal standards as he stood before us all
The lines upon his face evidence of experience or great strain
With arms and shoulders that spoke of enormous strength
Yet something in the eyes suggested a somewhat gentler nature
I was but twelve at the time, still not familiar with the world

He stood before the gym class and spoke in harsh but measured tones
Directing threatening tones to those clearly of a less disciplined nature
Seemingly not quite sure how to deal with those of us still beset with fear
Striding before us like a Marine drill sergeant but he was Navy, so they said
And still, I saw a good man, hard at times but only when necessary

And there were those in that class that feared him greatly but not myself
Even then I saw a man trying to bridge a gap but not sure how to do it
His powerful image that which kept the wildest in the group at bay
But still trying to reach the rest of us somehow if only he could find a way
His message always "Extend yourself and see where your reach will end"

His words to me never varied "Vinny, wrestling is the little man's sport"
For a while I tried but my mind and heart elsewhere, not easily to be swayed
And it pained me to know that I had disappointed him but he never let on
He still smacked my back and congratulated me on victories in other sports
But I knew he still wondered what I could have accomplished if so inclined

The years have rolled by quickly and I have thought of him more than once
Wondering if he still was as demanding and unforgiving to most students
His heart always that of the champion he had been so many years before
And then I heard the other day that he's been dead for almost fourteen years
And suddenly it all flashed back like it was yesterday and I was only twelve

They still speak of him at Mepham High like the legend that he truly was
His memory not to be forgotten, the champion wrestler, the winning coach
But for me far more than that, a strong man of gentle and understanding nature
Who never hesitated to try and guide a young man still fearful of the world
And he was probably more successful in his effort than he will ever know

Composed: January 23, 2000, Copyrighted: 2000, By: Vincent P. Daley, Jr.

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