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Special South goodbye for Feigh, Poindexter
Joe Goddard
Updated: July 8, 2012 6:33PM
Hinsdale South athletic director Tim Feigh and department secretary Carol Poindexter were expecting to get hit with dinner tabs with friends at Village Greens Golf Course in Woodridge a few weeks ago.
No big deal.
Instead they got hit with a big-deal surprise when more than 60 people, including their own families, current and retired coaches, maintenance workers and support staff members showered them with retirement gifts of engraved iPad 3’s and other goodies.
Feigh was stunned. “OK, you got me,” he said when he saw referee buddies in the crowd.
Poindexter, an accomplished knitter, was brought to tears at seeing her husband, three daughters and four grandchildren.
“At first I didn’t know what was going on,” she said. “Everything happened so fast.”
Coach Carrie Nelson was in on the surprise from the start.
“We talked about it for a year and got it done in two weeks,” she said. “Those two have done so much for the school for such a long time. They’re amazing people.”
Any retirement plans?
“Right now I don’t care,” Feigh said, laughing. “Go to Hawaii for sure.”
Feigh, who played football at Fenwick High in Oak Park and the University of Hawaii, enjoys officiating. He worked dozens of prep events in his 18 years, including the Class 5A state football championship in 2006 and Class 8A in 2010. He served as president of the Illinois Athletic Directors Association from 2004-06, winning the IADA Service and Outstanding Accomplishments Award last month, and has published athletic and academic articles.
Feigh and Poindexter aren’t the only Hornets retiring.
Boys cross country coach and assistant track coach Dave Jackson, and special-ed coach Joe DeFalco are departing, too.
“I admire all the little things Dave Jackson does behind the scenes to keep our meets running,” Feigh said. “Joe DeFalco has a heart of gold with his students.”
Jackson plans to attend the upcoming U.S. Olympic Team Track and Field Trials in Oregon.
“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “It was just a matter of finding the time to do it. Now’s the time.”
New South AD Kim Maloney will have some serious searching to do next spring when swimming coach Frank Kuchta and wrestling coach Mike Matozzi retire.
“Frank has the swimming pool up and running at 7:30 in the morning for swimmers and girls water polo and keeps it going into the night,” Feigh said. “Mike has put us on the map with his wrestling program.”
Horse sense
Horse racing could have its first Triple Crown champion in 34 years if I’ll Have Another wins Saturday’s Belmont Stakes after having taken the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.
Years ago I took my wife and her mother to Kentucky to visit horse farms and Horse Park where the great Man o’ War is buried under a magnificent statue.
We had a once-in-a-lifetime experience at one of the farms when a trainer walked us into a barn where eight powerfully built thoroughbreds were casually grazing in their stalls.
“It’s time for their walks,” the trainer said. “Pick one and I’ll bring him outside for you.”
We chose the biggest one, a brown beauty who politely pranced through the barn door for us.
“I’ll hold his reins if you want to take a picture, but approach him slowly so he can see you,” the trainer said. “OK, he seems to like you. Go ahead.”
And that’s how we took a photo of Seattle Slew, the Triple Crown winner in 1977.
