Lee Crawford Chew

Life, much like a ticking clock, continues to move on.

Last week the last role model of my formative years passed on into the great beyond. First it was football coach, Toby Shea. Then during the COVID years my college wrestling coach, Dr. Bob Barnett. Then my brother and dad, Dean and Don Johnson. And now I learn of the passing of my former wrestling coach and mentor, Mr. Lee Chew; the man who influenced me to become a career educator and wrestling coach.

Mr. Chew was a constant in my life every year, November through March, from seventh grade through graduation.

Commencing in 1966 when I decided to try out for the wrestling team as a seventh-grader, he was my junior high coach.

As I moved to the high school in 1968 for my freshman season, he was promoted to be the JV team coach, and finally in my junior year he took over the helm as Warren Area High School varsity coach. He was my wrestling coach at every level until college. And prior to graduation, he even provided Roger Slocum and myself with a ride to Huntington (West Virginia) for a recruiting trip which resulted in a college wrestling scholarship at Marshall University.

Although Mr. Chew’s coaching style was not for the faint of heart, I thrived in his wrestling world. As a farm kid, I was used to working hard and he always pushed us to work hard. “Be tough and don’t quit-don’t ever quit.”

He was the first to unknowingly implement sport psychology tactics with his “if you think you can, you can” rhetoric. As I work with athletes and their mental skill development in today’s lingo, it’s all about positive self-talk, positive imagery, focus, and goal-setting.

Mr. Chew was also my English teacher and possibly the first person to notice I might be able to actually write. Although at the time I didn’t exactly adhere to his “oil and water don’t mix-but wrestling and good grades do” tagline.

He was a “caring” disciplinarian who expected students to follow the rules and respect one another; something that seems to be lacking in today’s “every kid gets a trophy” setting. However, above all, he was a true educator who wanted to see students and athletes succeed.

In closing, I pass on my condolences to the Chew family. He had a great impact on my life and as readers might notice, I have referred to my mentor only as, Mr. Chew. Throughout life I addressed him as Mr. Chew, and only on occasion as Coach, but never as Lee.

A lifetime of lasting respect, another feature that is sometimes lacking in today’s teacher-student relationships.

And so it goes, as time continues to move on.

Dennis A, Johnson, Ed.D, is a member of National Wrestling Coaches Association and consultant volunteer wrestling coach at Eisenhower.