In my sophomore year in high school I switch to a different role model, one which I have been following on and off ever since. Chronological this story comes after the one about my being a bully.
Everyone knew and admired Gary Spaulding*. He could go into a handstand and walk the last three blocks to school on his hands. He could do gymnastic stuff I wasn't to see again until I watched the Olympic games years later when television came along. Gary was a natural for cheerleader, but not everyone thought so. The girls on the cheerleading squad went to the school principal and asked that Gary be dismissed, even though our PE Teacher, Vito Maserati#, had judged the tryouts and accepted Gary. Mr Maserati, a GI Bill graduate had gotten a fair deal himself in life and wanted Gary to have the job for which he was so undeniable equipped. So, the cheerleaders appealed to the principal, Mr Miller++, who looked like Glen Miller. No fool he, Mr. Miller ducked the bullet by asking the student council to arbitrate. My classmates had elected me as a senior representative to the council. I'd been a shoo-in because I was one of two candidates for two openings. The other representative and I were not athletes or cheerleaders. The faculty advisor was Mr. Maserati. As president of the council, I asked for a motion to allow Gary to be on cheerleading squad. It was so moved and the motion carried five to four.
At half time at the next game, at the finale of the cheerleaders' presentation, Gary did hand flips up the center of the gym ending with an unassisted flip which he nailed. We won the game by a two point as the buzzer sounded. The cheering that greeted this feat were not much louder than those given Gary's half time performance. The cheerleading squad were co-champions that year
*Not his real name
#Also not his real name
++You guessed it---not his real name
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