Mr. Quint has done much to make HHS shine

To the editor:
    As a 2006 graduate and previous dedicated athlete at Houlton High School, I would like to express my feelings of distaste and discouragement toward the current situation that is taking place at Houlton High regarding Mr. Wayne Quint.
    I have known Mr. Quint since I was very young because of the enduring friendship that he and his wife shared with my grandparents, David and Gloria Harbison. Although I may not remember the great things my grandparents had to say about Mr. Quint, I certainly have heard, and still hear many stories from my father who grew up with Mr. Quint as a family friend and also as a teacher. Throughout my junior high and high school career I was able to form my own personal bond with Mr. Quint, and would like to take this opportunity to share it with you.
    My seventh grade year is when I really started getting to know Mr. Quint on a personal level. I would see him at school as well as at all of my soccer, basketball, and softball games. Unfortunately, it wasn’t until my freshman year during soccer season that I really started to understand and appreciate Mr. Quint’s position and all that he did for the athletic program. I was told by the varsity soccer coach at the time that I would be “swinging” meaning I would be playing on both the junior varsity and varsity soccer teams for the season. I was unsure at first as to how I would play on two separate teams with two separate schedules during one season, but Mr. Quint’s organized and careful game and practice scheduling made this opportunity possible for me.
    I continued to admire Mr. Quint’s work throughout my high school career, and some of my fondest high school memories were made because of his dedication toward and passion for his students and his job. Without his hard work, my teammates and I would not have had the opportunities to win an Eastern Maine soccer championship, EM softball championship, and play numerous basketball games on the Bangor Auditorium floor; a dream that every varsity basketball player has for their team.
    In addition to scheduling events, teaching driver’s education, working hand-in-hand with the music department and their events, Mr. Quint got Houlton High School involved in the “Sports Done Right” program through the University of Maine. Myself, as well as five other student athletes in the school were asked to represent Houlton High in this program by attending conferences throughout the state of Maine. At these conferences we learned about the “Sports Done Right Program” and with the guidance of Mr. Quint we were able to take leadership roles in making our athletic program a stronger one.
    I am now a current student at the University of Maine in Orono and one of my professors last semester, who is a UMaine legend, said he remembered me from the “Sports Done Right” conference that he led when I was in high school. He remembered that I was from Houlton, and had nothing but positive things to say about Mr. Quint and what he does for the Houlton athletic program.
    Mr. Quint has positively influenced the experiences of many in his time at HHS. I’ve heard the stories of others as well as made some of my own memories. I truly hate to think about not seeing Mr. Quint in his lawn chair on the sidelines of sporting events, supporting his students and cheering them on while watching his hard work of time management and scheduling pull together successfully. Mr. Quint’s personality, flexibility, kindness, and dedication to the Houlton Junior/Senior High School is something that can never be replaced. I whole-heartedly support Mr. Quint and feel that after 50 years of successful dedication and service he deserves more respect than what he is receiving from some people at this time.
Sarah S. Harbison
Houlton