Post by Freehold Resident on Oct 12, 2006 16:27:20 GMT -5
Former principal honored with naming of stadium
R. Wayne McChesney opened Colts Neck H.S. in September 1998
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer
COLTS NECK - The Colts Neck High School football team paid a fitting tribute to retired principal R. Wayne McChesney on Sept. 16.
In his honor, the Cougars dedicated the name of their stadium to McChesney during a halftime ceremony. Then they went out and finished off a 49-0 victory over Middletown North High School.
McChesney, 55, was the principal when Colts Neck High School opened in 1998 and he remained in that position until his retirement this summer.
A football enthusiast and former coach, McChesney said, "some of my fondest times were on the sidelines."
For that reason, Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser made the recommendation to the Board of Education that it honor McChesney, a 33-year employee of the district, with the naming of the Cougars' stadium.
From this point forward, the Cougars will play their games at McChesney Stadium.
"As the first principal of Colts Neck and a district employee for over 33 years, I felt it was appropriate that the stadium be named after him," Wasser said.
Still, McChesney said, "it's a surprise."
Fresh out of college, McChesney started his career with the district in 1973 at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough, as a teacher and coach. In 1988 he was named an assistant principal at Manalapan High School. Five years later he became the principal at Manalapan.
The FRHSD built its sixth high school, in Colts Neck, by 1998 and McChesney volunteered to become, and was appoin-ted, the school's first principal.
"I was the lucky guy that got the job," he said. "It happened real quick, it was the ultimate opportunity. Very few people get to do it, but I wanted to see if I could start it from scratch with my philosophy. I went over at the end of January 1998 and we had to open in September. We literally worked seven days a week."
With final preparations being made to open the school and a staff to be hired, McChesney said the task was daunting.
"It was a crunch in a short period of time, but it was fascinating," he said. "I don't know if I'd do it again in that short amount of time."
McChesney said he would not have succeeded in opening the school without the support of a group of three teachers and administrators who came to Colts Neck from Manalapan - athletic director Rich Kane, business supervisor Debbie Kozar and English teacher Mary Randolph - who shared his philosophy and vision.
For the incoming students, "I guess the fun part was that they would never experience this again," he said. "Everything was brand new. Enjoy it because it will fade."
Once small, the school has grown.
"You figure, we opened up with 35 teachers and 435 students, now there are 1,800 students. All in all, it's a wonderful experience for kids," McChesney said, noting that the FRHSD schools enroll students from all eight sending municipalities, which leads to diversity and tolerance. "[Colts Neck] represented what a complete high school is all about."
After recently getting remarried to his wife, Cindy, McChesney is not sure what he will do as a retiree.
"Quite honestly, I don't know," he said. "Once we get relocated (to Florida), we'll find something to keep us busy, but I don't want to be in charge of anything."
Regardless, McChesney leaves a legacy and his name on a stadium as well.
"One of the things I am most proud of is that I've never worked anywhere but the FRHSD," he said. "They served me well and I hope I served them well."
Wasser said that is an understatement.
"Colts Neck was opened shortly after I became the superintendent and 'Mac' was instrumental in making it a smooth transition for students and staff," he said. "He did an outstanding job opening the new school."
R. Wayne McChesney opened Colts Neck H.S. in September 1998
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer
COLTS NECK - The Colts Neck High School football team paid a fitting tribute to retired principal R. Wayne McChesney on Sept. 16.
In his honor, the Cougars dedicated the name of their stadium to McChesney during a halftime ceremony. Then they went out and finished off a 49-0 victory over Middletown North High School.
McChesney, 55, was the principal when Colts Neck High School opened in 1998 and he remained in that position until his retirement this summer.
A football enthusiast and former coach, McChesney said, "some of my fondest times were on the sidelines."
For that reason, Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent of Schools James Wasser made the recommendation to the Board of Education that it honor McChesney, a 33-year employee of the district, with the naming of the Cougars' stadium.
From this point forward, the Cougars will play their games at McChesney Stadium.
"As the first principal of Colts Neck and a district employee for over 33 years, I felt it was appropriate that the stadium be named after him," Wasser said.
Still, McChesney said, "it's a surprise."
Fresh out of college, McChesney started his career with the district in 1973 at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough, as a teacher and coach. In 1988 he was named an assistant principal at Manalapan High School. Five years later he became the principal at Manalapan.
The FRHSD built its sixth high school, in Colts Neck, by 1998 and McChesney volunteered to become, and was appoin-ted, the school's first principal.
"I was the lucky guy that got the job," he said. "It happened real quick, it was the ultimate opportunity. Very few people get to do it, but I wanted to see if I could start it from scratch with my philosophy. I went over at the end of January 1998 and we had to open in September. We literally worked seven days a week."
With final preparations being made to open the school and a staff to be hired, McChesney said the task was daunting.
"It was a crunch in a short period of time, but it was fascinating," he said. "I don't know if I'd do it again in that short amount of time."
McChesney said he would not have succeeded in opening the school without the support of a group of three teachers and administrators who came to Colts Neck from Manalapan - athletic director Rich Kane, business supervisor Debbie Kozar and English teacher Mary Randolph - who shared his philosophy and vision.
For the incoming students, "I guess the fun part was that they would never experience this again," he said. "Everything was brand new. Enjoy it because it will fade."
Once small, the school has grown.
"You figure, we opened up with 35 teachers and 435 students, now there are 1,800 students. All in all, it's a wonderful experience for kids," McChesney said, noting that the FRHSD schools enroll students from all eight sending municipalities, which leads to diversity and tolerance. "[Colts Neck] represented what a complete high school is all about."
After recently getting remarried to his wife, Cindy, McChesney is not sure what he will do as a retiree.
"Quite honestly, I don't know," he said. "Once we get relocated (to Florida), we'll find something to keep us busy, but I don't want to be in charge of anything."
Regardless, McChesney leaves a legacy and his name on a stadium as well.
"One of the things I am most proud of is that I've never worked anywhere but the FRHSD," he said. "They served me well and I hope I served them well."
Wasser said that is an understatement.
"Colts Neck was opened shortly after I became the superintendent and 'Mac' was instrumental in making it a smooth transition for students and staff," he said. "He did an outstanding job opening the new school."
