Cokely Memories

Coach Cokely began his career at Liberty High School in 1943 and in the beginning was the football and basketball coach. Later when most of us were at LHS he was a teacher and the basketball coach. He retired in 1975.

He will celebrate his 95th birthday on April 27. He is in Pleasant Valley Manor 6814 Sobbie Rd. Pleasant Valley, MO. 64068

We are sure many of you have special memories of the "Coach" and we have a page to post your memories.

April 18, 2005

Happy Birthday, Coach!! I remember all the basketball games, a lot because of being a cheer-leader, but a lot because of the boys and your kindnesses as a coach. Thank you and your family. I also remember your two cute little girls who dressed in cheer leading outfits too. Reba Burkhardt, my sister baby-sat the girls a lot, I did a few times.

Love and Blessings, Patsy Burkhardt Morris Class of '47

4/13/05

When I was in High School as a freshman we had Coach Hailey as the football coach. Since my mother worked for the school my dad became friends with both coaches. Hailey then moved to Columbia where he became an assistant coach at MU. He would give Coach Cokely tickets every once in awhile and we would all make the trip to Columbia. That was really great to get to go to a MU game. It was usually the homecoming which was really neat since we would also go for the parade. Always spent some time with the Hailey's prior to the game.

Was just reading some of the other comments and forgot that I had Coach Cokely for drivers ed. Also had a girl who had no experience at all who shared that driving experience with. Some how he would let me get us out of town on a back road with no other drivers within miles and then she would get to drive. I knew how to drive since my father taught me on a tractor and a stick shift when I was 13, was only taking the class for insurance reason. And because my parents thought I should know all the rules. Once we started driving in town traffic the girl scared me to death not sure how Coach Cokely managed to keep his cool, more than once I slid to the floor in fear. Keep in mind that this is before seat belts during the late 50's. He also told everyone that in order to pass his class you had to pass the milk bottle test. that was on the final day of driving, he would sit an open milk bottle in the back seat and we could not spill a drop. Didn't happen but we were all scared to death. He was a very brave man in my eyes after teaching 3 of my children to drive. Am sure that is why he lost a lot of his hair.

Joyce Edwards Pecora Class of '61

4/12/05

My brother George (class of 50) and I (class of 54) both were fortunate to play basketball for Coach Cokely. He impressed me by the physical condition he always maintained. I also ploughed his garden once or twice with our two wheeled tractor. Coach set an example of clean living and high character which I have never forgotten.

I can remember my first class with you as my teacher. I was a 7th grader then and you were teaching General Math (1952-1953). You were a very good teacher and kept control of your class which is a lot more than teachers do and can do today. I did play basketball a little bit under your coaching but not to any great extent because Track was my primary interest. And yes, you were one of the best basketball coaches Liberty High School ever had. You were not only just a coach of the game but a teacher of the game as well. You knew how to take average players and make excellent players out of them. The reason you were able to do that was very simple. You got every players respect because you gave those players your respect and they played their hearts out for you and were rewarded time and again by your gratitude. Today Coach, I teach school myself at the Community College level and I often think about previous teachers I had in school and how each one of them approached their classes. Whether it's right or wrong, I do attempt to emulate their philosophies and hope that the message I'm sending students in the classroom is the correct and right one. It's a wonderful world and it was made such by people like you who became coaches and teachers and passed on a legacy that will never end. Congratulations on 94 years of life and may all your days be the best.

1/31/04 I was fortunate enough to be coached by Kenneth Cokely for 4 years (1951-1954) and what impressed me the most was the way he did all the exercises with us. No wonder he stayed in such good shape. As a classroom teacher Coach represented an image I can see still today, strength and kindness. The years have flown by but the memories of Liberty High and Coach Cokely are permanently in my heart.

My brother (class of 1950) and I (class of 1954) were coached by Kenneth Cokely and his methods carried beyond the basketball court to help shape our lives. He is and was a model to be admired by the many students he influenced as we transitioned to young adults. He is indeed an outstanding person.