Just another perspective of the man.
Thank you John
It isn't easy to write a tribute to a man as fine as John Friedt. It would take an author a poet and sports writer to do him any kind of justice at all. The sports writer will point to successes he had as a wrestling coach. That is easy to do. Signs of achievement line the halls and hang from the rafters of Bellmont High School. State champs, placers, team titles, from sectionals all the way through state. He coached all of them to acheive way beyond their ability. There were also more more kids than you can count that had little to no athletic ability that ended up being pretty dang good too. It can be made all the more impressive by putting a timeline on it and stringing the years together. These alone would be fine accomplishments and worthy of much praise and celebration.
The author and poet would have a much tougher job because they would have to describe those achievements he attained as a son, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, an uncle, a mentor and a friend and the wrestling accolades pale in comparison. These achievments aren't celebrated in a news paper, painted on a wall, or listed in a record book, although sometimes I think they should. Those who knew John by these titles were very blessed. They had the privledge to walk through life with a man of great integrity, character, compassion, and personality. He was a motivator, a peacemaker, a welcomer, a teacher, and most definetly a worker.He was quick with a joke, quick to forgive, and the easy to talk to.
Although John had a great impact on many boys in the decatur area ,and the polished young men they turned out to be, he had a far greater impact on a group of people whose last name also happens to be FRIEDT.(And they are DAMN PROUD OF IT)
So THANK YOU
John Wayne Friedt
May you rest in peace
Jeremy Friedt
