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When Jack was the basketball coach in Elk City during his second year (1966-67), he received the Coach of the Year award in Western Oklahoma.
Jack loved basketball, but he wasn't always good at it. In fourth grade, he made his first attempt at a free throw and failed. For his birthday, he asked for a basketball. He realized he didn't have a basket when he shot outside. Out in the garage was an old rusty 5-gallon bucket-back then, they were made of metal, short and wide. Jack quickly cut out the bottom with a chisel and hammer, creating a basket, and the rest is history.
Basketball was in his bones and his dreams. He played in college at Pittsburg State University. At 5'11 3/4" tall, Jack was told he had the skills but not the height to play pro basketball. Instead, he pursued coaching and became a high school basketball coach.
In his short story, Five Gallon Bucket, Jack shares his experiences and thoughts on the sport, particularly from the lens of a basketball coach. His endearing musings will resonate with basketball lovers and provide a glimpse into this retired coach's story of how the five-gallon bucket gave him purpose.
