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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR REUBEN L. EARGLE OF LEXINGTON COUNTY UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT AFTER THIRTY-SIX YEARS OF SERVICE AS A TEACHER AND COACH IN SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOLS, INCLUDING TWENTY-FOUR YEARS AS HEAD COACH OF THE GILBERT HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL TEAM; AND TO WISH HIM CONTINUED SUCCESS AND FULFILLMENT IN ALL HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are pleased to learn that Reuben Eargle, head softball coach of Gilbert High School, will begin a well-deserved retirement after thirty-six years of dedicated service as a teacher and coach, including most recently twenty-four years as head coach of the Gilbert High School softball program; and
Whereas. a former football and baseball player for Newberry High School, he graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1976; and
Whereas, after teaching stints at St. George High School and Riverside Middle School in Saluda, Coach Eargle began his coaching career as an assistant football coach at Lexington High School and moved to Gilbert as an assistant football coach in 1990; and
Whereas, shortly after arriving at Gilbert High School, Coach Eargle was tapped to begin and lead the school's fledgling softball program in 1991. When he met with prospective players one week before practice was to begin, he learned that none of them had ever played fast-pitch softball, the new field was not ready for use, and the team owned only one bat, dubbed "Lady Thumper"; and
Whereas, from these humble beginnings, he produced incredible success. Gilbert finished its inaugural season with an 8-6 record and made the state playoffs for the first time the following year with a 24-6 team. Entering the 2014 class AAA state playoffs, Coach Eargle's record was 371-149-1. He took the Lady Indians to the state playoffs twenty-two times in twenty-four seasons, capturing eight district championships and taking runner-up honors in the 1994 class AA state finals; and
Whereas, Coach Eargle capitalized on his own athletic ability and training to forge a winning softball team and teach his athletes over the past twenty-four years lessons that will prove invaluable through life both on and off the diamond; and
Whereas, in a recent pregame ceremony, Coach Eargle was honored by the school and a number of his original players with a singular artifact from the early program, the long-lost "Lady Thumper" bat, autographed and encased; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are grateful for the years of dedication that Reuben Eargle has devoted to the Gilbert softball program and wish him many years of enjoyment in his well-earned retirement. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor Reuben L. Eargle of Lexington County upon the occasion of his retirement after thirty-six years of service as a teacher and coach in South Carolina public schools, including twenty-four years as head coach of the Gilbert High School softball team; and wish him continued success and fulfillment in all his future endeavors.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Coach Reuben L. Eargle.
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