Published: May 09, 2008 01:06 pm            

An era ends

Cosgrove retires with 38 years of Outlaw memories

MARLOW — Tommy Cosgrove has a lot of memories at Marlow High School.

And many of these memories relate to the people Cosgrove has encountered, whether students, teachers or those in the community.

Like 14 years ago, when Chris Jones, a graduating senior, presented a piece of pottery he made to Cosgrove. That gift was accompanied with a note, which talked about the steps they were taking in their lives — graduation for Jones and moving into the principal’s office for Cosgrove, who at that time was a history teacher.

The note has stayed with the pot on a shelf in Cosgrove’s office. The shelf, along with other areas in the office, features more memory-provoking loot, such as a baseball signed by the 1981 freshman baseball team or the football signed by team members in 1994.

A bulletin board in Cosgrove’s office features articles about students, dating back years. And many of these newspaper clippings are signed by the students referenced in the articles.

“I tell them, when they become famous, they can’t deny they knew me,” he said.

As of Wednesday, Cosgrove hadn’t started taking things down in his office, the place he will vacate at the end of the school year. While he may be leaving his office for retirement, a bittersweet choice made, bringing his 38 years of teaching and administrating to an end, he said he plans to stay involved with the school and the students.

“It’s going to take me a month to clean out my office,” Cosgrove said, laughing at his joke.

With the mementos of his years at MHS still lining his office, he is constantly given a chance to look back to see where he’s been. When he was a history teacher, he taught his students to have a respect for the past because without the past, they couldn’t have gotten where they are.

His motivation for doing his job wasn’t for the gifts he received from students nor the numerous awards, including Teacher of the Year in 1984, although those might have helped. He has continued to do his job because of the students, giving them the chance to succeed and instilling in them the importance of learning.

“I’m really going to miss them,” he said. “I wish I had the words to express what it all has meant to me.

“I guess it all goes back to the students. They’re the reason we’re here.”

With his focus on his students, he will follow his love for history and government by running for the House of Representatives District 51 seat, which Rep. Ray McCarter is leaving because of term limits. Cosgrove said he wants to use his qualifications to be a service to Americans.

He said he will turn his attention to this opportunity once the school year ends.

“You have this idea,” Cosgrove said. “You look forward to it. But when you get close, you know you’ll miss the students and you’ll miss the people you had the opportunity to work with.

“If I didn’t have something to look forward to, that would make leaving my principalship much more difficult.”

Whether he gets elected to the House seat, he will find something to keep him busy, he said. Even looking to the future, he said he sees himself continuing to be involved in the school.

To celebrate the end of nearly four decades of dedicated work, students had a surprise retirement party for Cosgrove on April 24. He said he was amazed by the students for this effort, which he said gets his retirement out of the way and brings the focus back to the students, especially as the seniors prepare to graduate.

“I haven’t finished on the level I wanted to because finishing up has been really emotional for me,” Cosgrove said. “Seniors deserve the focus on them and their accomplishments.

“They did my time. Now, we’re going to focus on the seniors. That’s what I want.”

When he became principal, Cosgrove had big shoes to fill, he said. Mickey Hoy had just left the principal’s position, and Cosgrove felt the need to continue with what worked in the school. He said he also wanted to make improvements.

Once Cosgrove leaves, Assistant Principal Wayne Moore will become the new principal. To Cosgrove, this is reassuring.

“Mr. Moore is going to do good,” he said. “He’s a fine man. It’s been a pleasure working with him.”

He said Moore will work well with the students, the teachers and various other people. And it’s people Cosgrove will remember most from his job.

“I like people,” he said. “That’s one reason I’ve been blessed, getting to spend time around people.

“You start thinking back, and the people are always what come back.”

Being a successful principal is about focusing on success, not failure, Cosgrove said. He said he wants to students to look at the positives and, while acknowledging their flaws, strive to improve.

“At the end of your career, you look at the success and forget about the negatives,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of good help and a lot of good mentors.”

He said the success of the students extends into all facets of their lives, from academics to athletics to clubs. Being part of the Marlow High School team, or “family” as Cosgrove referred to it, has been the biggest honor in his life, he said.

The success of the students is something that will continue with them for the rest of their lives, he said. He wants them to find jobs they love, to raise families and to just be good citizens.

“That’s really the fun of it, watching the kids be successful,” he said. “I want them to find something to be passionate about and love what they do.”

Finding that passion is what Marlow Outlaws are all about, he said. Whether standing against certain defeat as the Marlow Brothers did or winning the big game, this fire spreads from the students in the school to members of the community.

“To be an Outlaw, it means never giving up, having high expectations, being honest and dependable, always working toward accomplishing those goals,” Cosgrove said. “That never giving up is in our heritage.”

As he prepares to leave, he leaves a 38-year mark in that heritage. This score can be seen in the students who have a respect for history and how it has gotten them to this point. It’s in the multiple generations of families who have continued to attend school in Marlow.

This mark is dominant in everyone who has been moved by Cosgrove or who has affected him in return.

“I try to promote that family atmosphere for the students and the school,” he said. “We all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves.”

To sum up his time at MHS, Cosgrove referenced one of his favorite movies.

“It’s just been a really ‘Wonderful Life,’” he said.

        

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