Change is scary sometimes but change is good because it gives you almost like a new start . Your attitude is fresh , you ’ re dealing with new people ...”
Taking the slide at the Polar Bear Plunge . Beeman has been an annual participant in the local fundraiser .
Thus began a whirlwind of Beeman and family , packing his things and moving south . Heavier snow than usual pushed New Hampshire schools to finish in late June . Georgia schools opened two weeks later . “ There was no summer for me ,” he said . Beeman said he relishes the time he spent teaching both states . He said the move was an important one , giving him a new environment with new challenges .
Hats . Beeman ’ s worn a lot of them over his time in Tifton , some literal . Athletes have seen him coaching cross country , track and basketball at Tift County High . Some of the hats were double-stacked . Beeman was the backup scorebook keeper for basketball , a task more difficult than it may initially seem because of the level of concentration needed and impartiality required of the job .
“ It developed over time ,” he said . Beeman was always around the Blue Devils and Lady Devils cross country teams . After he moved south , Beeman ’ s marketing classes were popular , giving him a reputation with students . Soon , he was asked to help out with track .
Then , Lady Devils basketball head coach Julie Conner saw her assistants take on new roles . She valued Beeman ’ s expertise and , given that he knew the team from working scorebooks , he joined her on the sidelines . All of this was on top of his teaching duties . Frequently , Beeman saw himself preparing his classroom on Sundays .
The three sports not only covered every part of the year but also overlapped . “ With my kids grown now , it was a lot easier to do ,” he said . Jarod is attending college and has been working for Barstool Sports . Melanie is soon to be married .
On top of the coaching , Beeman is eternally enthusiastic . If an event needs a one-support show , it ’ s Beeman . He ’ s led baseball crowds in singing “ Sweet Caroline ,” dyed his hair pink for breast cancer awareness nights and organized a charity run for late Northside Baptist pastor Fred Evers .
The feelings have been reciprocated from students . Every sport ’ s teacher appreciation game is guaranteed to have Beeman walking with a student who has chosen him . BMAN BOYZ and BMAZ GIRLZ shirts are spotted at all kinds of Blue Devils events .
Beeman is the first to say , however , “ Nobody ’ s irreplaceable .”
Remarkably , he continued his running schedule throughout . If it was Boston Marathon training time , he ’ d be getting his mileage in at 4 a . m ., maybe a little earlier if a cross country meet was scheduled the same day .
The student connections will serve at ABAC . One of his first commitments to the new cross country program was one of his former runners at Tift County High . He said he had heard from a handful of athletes from around the state about joining the teams .
SEPTEMBER 2022 | TiftonScene 15