Originally published May 10, 2007
Dave Price an unbelievable inspiration
Column by Kevin Record
DEMOCRAT CORRESPONDENT

This is an open letter to Dave Price, the Wakulla County educator and tennis coach, who was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease last fall.

Dear Dave,


It was great to see you pull up in your car Sunday afternoon at Leon High School. I was in the middle of teaching some tennis lessons and the heat was getting to me. I made the mistake of not eating lunch, so the day was beginning to wear on me a little bit.

I was feeling sorry for myself.

But you changed all that when you pulled up in your car. You are the ultimate warrior, Dave. You are a champion.

And you are an unbelievable inspiration.

I watched you get out of the car and I saw you slowly work your way toward the track.

When you glanced over my way and gave me the thumbs up, I got chill bumps.

I can see how much this Lou Gehrig's thing is taking its toll on your body.

But I can see that it has absolutely no chance against your heart and soul.

I remember playing doubles against you at Everett Teague's house several years ago. I know what a scrapper you are. I remember you kept hitting back my lollipop serves, right at my feet every time. I can still see you across the net, poaching on my weak service returns.

Over the years, I've seen you in your singles battles with longtime friend and foe, Judge Terry Lewis. I know you guys have been going at it for years. I see you preparing for battle in the Leon parking lot together. What a great bond.

I've seen that friendly rivalry continue in recent months despite everything going on.

But nothing touched me more than your actions Sunday afternoon. It was 90 degrees out there and those tennis courts felt like the bottom of a frying pan.

It might as well have been snowing though as you slowly headed for that track. You are amazing, man.

I saw you go through your routine, stretching your calf muscles. Then I saw how hard you worked on those two laps around the track. Rocky Balboa is a wimp compared to you.

Next time my tennis players at Leon moan about running on the track, I'm going to tell them about you.

Next time my players tell me that their opponent is driving them nuts, I'm going to tell them about you.

Next time somebody tells me they're having a bad day, I'm going to tell them about you.

I'm going to tell them that, sooner or later, life is going to hit them hard. Their character will be defined by how they react.

Dave, I know how hard this thing has hit you.

And I saw on Sunday just how hard you are hitting back.

As you left the track, you stopped by for a second to chat. You gave me that thumbs up again and you said, “ I'm not going to quit.”

Thank you, Dave.

You're the man.

Keep fighting.

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