29/04/2021
Hey guys, I know this is a lengthy post but please read! This was written by Greg Mace
in honor of Dale Martin!
It is with a heavy heart, and tears in my eyes that I write this........
Football coaches always speak about family and brotherhood, and rightfully so. Great teams and programs have deep individual relationships with teammates, coaches, and extended families. The bonds become deeper over time and extend long after players move-on through graduation. It is a community within a community.
One of the greatest joys of being a coach is witnessing your former players grow to be great young men, dependable husbands, and have families of their own.
This is why my heart is broken.
As some of you know, one of our brothers lost his life with an injury on the football field. #35 Dale Martin was as tough as they come. He truly loved football, and his teammates. He was a true blue collar player. He came to work everyday, was extremely physical, and had a motor that would never stop. However, above all else he was a special person. Dale was a goof ball, and always joking, the life of the party, but when you would sit and talk with him one on one, you could easily see that he had a huge heart and cared for those around him deeply. He would do anything for anybody. As Dale liked to say, “He was built different”. This is the Dale that I will always remember.
The Colville Football Program and our community lost a great young man. It is painful for our athletes, coaches, and extended families. However, our loss does not compare to Dale’s real family. As hard as this is for us, I can’t begin to imagine what it is like for them. Our thoughts and prayers will continually be with those who loved Dale the most.
In one final selfless act, Dale will donate his organs. He will be a hero and save the lives of others. We will not get to see him be a husband or a father, but his life will allow others that opportunity.
Dale is a servant leader right to the end, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from him. Dale went home doing something he loved, and our community, program, and coaches will never forget him. Once a Colville Indian, always a Colville Indian.
In our program our coaches and players have always said “I love you” to each other, and we have always meant it. We hug a lot. We get excited when others do great things. There is something our program does after each practice or game. It’s called an atta-way. We give these when people go above and beyond what is expected. I want to give Dale his final atta-way for his last selfless act in helping others to live. While it is the saddest one I’ve ever given, it gives me the most pride and admiration for Dale. We will never forget #35.
-Different
Hey Dale,
Go Dale,
Atta-way,
Atta-way.
Love,
Coach Mace
Greg's wife made some keyrings in honor of Dale! If you would like to purchase them contact Greg Mace
! All proceeds go to the Dale Dean Martin "Built Different" Scholarship fund! I appreciate all your love and support!