Editor,

After reading the article on Mr. Hager's birthday celebration I started remembering a few things that happened to me as a grade school student at Dehue.

I can't say that I was always well behaved in school and I do remember getting my share of paddlings from Mr. Hager (more than any of the other students). I remember a time when I knew that I was going to receive yet another of those paddlings. I still remember putting notebook paper in my pockets to help soften the blows, but instead of the paddling he gave me a baseball glove.

I suppose he knew what he was doing because I never got another paddling. Maybe he gave up on the paddlings or maybe I started behaving better.

I also remember when I first enrolled at Marshall University how proud he was of me that I had chosen to go to college. Mr. Hager helped me obtain financial aid to go to school.

Mr. Hager, thank you for what you have meant to me and others from Rum Creek. I will always remember you.

Doug McElwain

Baton Rouge, La.