Richard Arthur Ripley

The first time I met Rick was when I was teaching at WestCarrollton High School. He and Curt Bassett came to my classroom and asked if I would coach a spring soccer team, with the hope that the athletic department would create a Varsity Soccer program the following fall. I had only seen one soccer game ever! I said I didn't know anything about soccer but I would help. That was the beginning of soccer at WCHS. It took two years tho get the High School program started and by then Rick and Curt had graduated, but they both came back and volunteered as coaches with me to start the first Varsity Soccer season! So in many ways Rick started the high school soccer team. I am so grateful that he came to me, because of that chance interaction I was able to touch so many lives and experience soccer with those young men. My own three boys played soccer and we still watch World Cup soccer together when we can. Rick was a dynamic creative young man then and remained so until his passing. He will be missed. Love, Coach Melton