It was as miserable a beginning for a high school football season as I had ever seen.
Though coaches are always devising ways to give their teams the best chance to win games, the coach of this team, at Jasper, a high school that had not had gridiron glory days since posting two undefeated seasons in the late '60s, couldn't be blamed for hoping that the final score would not be embarrassing.
"What's going to happen tonight, Mark?" I asked the team's 21-year-old statskeeper as he made some final notations on his clipboard before the kickoff.
"We're going to win," he said.
And they did.
It was no magical power that Mark Gilbreath had. He believed Jasper was going to win each of the seven games it had lost earlier in the season.
No matter which players were on the Jasper High School athletic squads or which coaches were calling the shots, Mark always had faith that the Eagles would come out on top.
During that 1988 season, Jasper not only won the eighth game of the season, which was the first game of district playoffs, but also won the next game to claim the district championship and move the Eagles into the state playoffs, where they played well but lost 14-0 to Rich Hill.
Those football teams of the '80s' under Coach David Davis, Jasper's first ever district volleyball championship under Coach Betty Weaver (with the Carthage Press including a photo of the team celebrating with Mark jumping in the air with joy), through more than 30 years of ups and downs with the school and the teams he loved, the one constant was Mark Gilbreath's presence.
And during all of that time, Mark never met a stranger. It did not matter who the person was, if Mark had ever met him before, he knew his name and always greeted the person with enthusiasm.
I stopped by Price Cutter in Carthage a couple of weeks ago and Mark, who had worked there for more than two decades, was manning the checkout line. We only had time to exchange a few words, but as always he put in a mention for Jasper sports.
Other times I had stopped there, when there were fewer customers or he wasn't on a cash register, I always took advantage of the opportunity to catch up with Mark and hear how old friends in Jasper were doing.
I will miss those conversations.
Mark died this morning at age 47.
When the Jasper football team plays Friday night, don't be surprised to hear a roar of thunder at some point during the game.
You won't have to get your umbrella out. It's just a new arrival celebrating a Jasper touchdown.
***
Mark Gilbreath's obituary
Mark will be dearly missed by every Jasper athlete. He was a great guy.
ReplyDeleteJasper should name a field or something in this young man memory. He was always for and about the kids. He will be missed so much.
ReplyDeleteSusan Ogle
Super neat article. :)
ReplyDeleteSmall town, Midwest America, Friday night lights or any night of the week for any Jasper, Mo team - Mark helped make every game a great one, and every player a champion. He loved all sports and was a voice and fixture of support and confidence for every young athlete in Jasper - men and women. His encouraging spirit, kind heart of gold and high-fives - will be missed. Mark, you thought you were our biggest fan - but we, the generations of young athletes from Jasper, are your biggest fan. Jasper should "retire" a jersey with his favorite number.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this. Mark was a great guy. Being from Liberal, I saw Mark many times during my four years of playing sports and many times post-graduation as a spectator. We always enjoyed talking sports and talking "trash" between Jasper and Liberal. I would occasionally see Mark over the years at Price Cutter in Carthage. We didn't have time to talk much, but he was the same friendly guy as high school. He will be missed. Visits to Price Cutter will not be the same.
ReplyDeleteA great article about a great person. Mark was loved by all and we will be missed greatly.
ReplyDeleteThere is one misstated item in the article: The late-60's weren't the only "glory days" for Jasper football prior to 1988. Jasper won the Missouri State 1-A Football title in 1979, and also had great seasons in the years just prior to and after that title. But in comparison to the loss of someone so associated with Jasper athletics, this oversight is a very minor issue.
Sorry about that. I remember doing stories when they gathered the '60s group for induction into the Hall of Fame back in 1989, but I had totally forgotten the 1979 championship. That was about three years before I started covering Jasper for the Lamar Democrat.
ReplyDeleteMark was one of the first people I met when I started teaching and coaching at Jasper, MO. He was vey supportive of the girls programs as well. He would apologize if he was traveling with the boys teams and couldn't make it to one of the girls games. He loved all sports and knew the stats and standings for the league. I only saw Mark a few times after leaving Jasper. He always had a good word to say and knew Jasper would win. Rest in peace Mark. Prayers to all family and friends. Coach Barb Allen
ReplyDeletePrayers to family and friends. Rest in peace Mark. He loved all Jasper teams and supported all the teams and coaches both girls and boys teams. Coach Allen
ReplyDeleteMark meant a lot to communities outside of Jasper as well. I had the privelege of having Mark keep my game book for the past four years in Carthage for the girls basketball team. I have many memories and stories of Mark that I will ways keep close to my heart. It was an honor to know this fine man and an even bigger honor to call him my friend. Mark you may not be physically present with us anymore on the bench but I know you will be looking down from above always making sure the official book is perfect! My family and I will miss this man very much and our hearts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones left behind. God bless,
ReplyDeleteJim Moore
I started working at Ramsey's in 2000 and Mark trained me, he was a super nice guy and always had a smile on his face. My prayers go out to his family.
ReplyDeleteThat's so sad!! He was always so sweet to me and my kids. Last week Sophia (2) asked him how old he was. He chuckled and said he was still 29. Then he asked Sophia how old she was and she got an ornery grin and said, "22!" :)
ReplyDeleteMark's selfless, tender, and caring spirit had become the most important part of my families morning. He made sure that no matter what was going in our lives when we walked out of pricecutters it was always in a truly wonderful high spirit and that was always attributed to Mark. He was such a pure and caring soul that he put a smile on our face and he never even had to try. Our children will miss him greatly they always enjoyed talking to him very much. I think that all people should take a page out of Marks playbook, His character is the perfect example of how my wife and I will educate our children on how to treat all people around them. I am 100% confident that god will appoint Mark to be s guardian Angel, I cannot think of anyone more qualified than Mark to have a role of watching and caring after all of us. Mark we will miss you very much. From: Blake,Brooke,Heaven,Bella, & Austyn.
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