BY ANGELA DELANEY
Gerald Ross was once a student that walked the halls here at
Western Dubuque, and now he has taught here for a total of 38 years. He has taught
junior high to the high school where he is today. The years he has been with us
at Western Dubuque; he has taught many different subjects such as College
Chemistry, Chemistry General Science Algebra Physical Education General Math
and Environmental Science. He has not just been a teacher though. Some people
might know him as coach. He has coached football from the junior high level all
the way to varsity, and he has also couched eight years of wrestling at the freshman
level. Now he is known as the girls track coach. He is also the assistant activity
director which means he helps set up for basketball games, wrestling meets and
track meets boys or girls. Mr. Ross is one of the most generous of people, and
he is always willing to give a helping hand whenever it is needed. He has
stayed with us so long because from the start he has enjoyed it here at Western
Dubuque, and he says, “There has never been any reason to leave, and a lot of
good reasons to stay.” One of the many reasons he chosen to stay with us would
be all the people he has worked with or met at Western Dubuque. He said, “The
kids have always been really good to work with. They come and ask for help when
they need it.” Another reason to stay is
not just the people in the school, but also the people around the school. “It’s
just a good overall environment and it’s really just the people that make it,”
Gerald Ross states. Other schools say they are a close knit, extended family,
but Mr. Ross does not think that they are as close knit as our bobcat family.
We are really one true bobcat nation. During the many years Gerald Ross has
worked at Western Dubuque, he has gained experiences, memories, and wisdom. Mr.
Ross states, “Probably the best memory here is when we won the state football
championship.” He was the defensive coordinator at that time. He says, “I used
to watch the Olympics, and seeing the people standing on the podium getting
their gold medals. I used to say I wonder what that feels like that day I knew.
There was just so much euphoria in that win and accomplishing something like
that still gives me goose bumps.” That was the first time the Bobcats have made
it to state for football. Another experience that sticks out in Gerald Ross’s
mind is when he was at Pleasant Valley track meet. At the end of the conference
meet they announce that Western Dubuque has won, but the team knew that they
were not victorious. They still took their lap around cheering. Once they got
back to the bus, the couches went up to straighten out the confusion. They
found out that they did not win. Mr. Ross one of the girls track couch states,
“We got back to the bus, and I heard some of the kids hollering out the window
at the Pleasant Valley bus. I thought ah oh,
and as I got closer they were hollering good luck Pleasant Valley at
state, so to have that trophy taken away from them, but yet have the
sportsmanship to tell them good luck.” This was a moment where everyone can
take a step and look at what our school is really made of. The years he has
been here; there was been many changes. Mr. Ross states, “probably the biggest
change was when we went from the traditional one eight period day to block
days. It was a major change, and we didn’t know for sure how it would work out.
It turned out to be a good idea. In chemistry to teach a lab, I have a big
block of time to do the lab instead of the short time which was really
helpful.” Mr. Ross has been with us for a long time, and the one thing that is really
shown through Mr. Ross is once a bobcat always a bobcat!
