THe reADerS WriTe memories of Jim spalding Jim Spalding was a beautiful human being, a dedicated alumnus, a fabulous coach and simply everything the spirit of Bellarmine represents. Certainly, anyone and everyone who has been associated with Bellarmine has a favorite story or recollection of James Spalding. Mine spans nearly 50 years, from September 1962 to the spring of 2011. My first week of school in September 1962 found me enrolled in a phys-ed class taught by Mr. Spalding. We were instructed to take four laps around the track while Mr. Spalding timed us with his stopwatch. Somehow or other, i managed to complete the mile ordeal and was immediately “congratulated” by Coach Spalding. He told me my time was 5:55 and asked if i had run track in high school. i answered in the negative, whereupon he invited me to try out for the college’s cross-country team. What a thrill and honor! The following day i put on my new tennis shoes, re-ran those 440 yards and darn near died from exhaustion. My heavy breathing was killing me, my throat was burning, my feet were actually dripping blood and my socks ruined. Shoeless, i limped back to Newman Hall realizing track and field was not for me. The following day during our phys-ed class i told Coach Spalding that i had called my parents back in St. Louis and was instructed not to run cross-country due to a family history of heart conditions. Thank God, he ac- cepted my story and excused me. ‘Guatemala changed my Last year (2011), i saw Jim Spalding cheering on our entire heart’ Knights at a basketball tournament at Maryville university here in St. Louis. it had been decades since we had visited Joan riggert’s article in the alumni magazine (‘Started and it offered me the opportunity to confess about my not with Seeing,’ Summer 2012) made me remember Guat- being allowed to try out for Bellarmine’s cross-country emala, why i went and so much more. Joan, when you team. i asked Jim to accept my apology for not being 100 talked about the group being a family, and about visiting percent truthful with him 49 years earlier. Jim replied, the dump, i got tears in my eyes. it is hard to understand “Marlott, apparently i wasn’t totally honest with you, either. the change that happens until you go for yourself. it is 5:55 was actually pretty poor for running the mile. i as- just so much to see and process while you are there, and sume we were desperate that year for cross-country appli- even more so when you get home. cants. i’m sorry i wasn’t honest with you, either.” Sometimes i think i went to Guatemala when i was What goes around comes around. so young (i was 18) that i do not realize how Guatemala With fond memories, changed me. Then i realize there is not a day that goes by i do not think about it. i named my son after a child i met mARloTT J. RhoADes ’66 there. every day, i think about how i don’t do enough to sT. louIs, mo. help others. Guatemala changed my entire heart, and i For more on Jim Spalding, see page 34. still can’t find the words to explain how, even 10 years later. But i cannot wait to take my new son to see the most beautiful place in the world so he can learn how lucky and WRITe To us: blessed we are. i know you will understand. i am so glad bellarmine magazine, bellarmine university you got to experience it! 2001 newburg Road louisville, Ky 40205 jwelp@bellarmine.edu 502.272.7492 lAuRA WAllITsCh ’05lleVIsIoul 6 bellarmine magazine
Bellarmine Magazine_Fall2012
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