To the editor:
As a former resident of Houlton, and a former coach under Athletic Director Wayne Quint, I was extremely saddened to learn that Mr. Quint is possibly being forced out of his position as athletic director at Houlton High School. After more than 50 years of dedication to the athletic programs at Houlton High School, this seems like an unacceptable way to end his admirable career.
Mr. Quint’s legacy is his devotion to the student athletes, coaches, and community of Houlton. While this legacy cannot be diminished regardless of the circumstances of his departure, it is without doubt that he deserves the respect of a proper retirement. During my time in Houlton, I was always impressed by the sense of community and respect for those who had spent their lives living and working in it. To see this man, who has given so much, be disrespected in this manner is inexplicable.
I was fortunate to work for Mr. Quint as a coach for seven years. He nurtured my development as a coach as well as the development of the student athletes in our athletic programs. He was a constant presence at sporting events as well as at innumerable other school and community activities. Not only did I benefit from his guidance as an athletic director, he also showed compassion and caring toward my family when we were going through both the worst and best of times, experiencing the loss of our first child and the subsequent births of our two living children. My wife and I will never forget the support given to us during the most difficult tragedy of our lives by not only Mr. Quint and his family, but the entire community of Houlton. This only furthers my dismay when thinking about how a united, supportive community such as this could allow an individual like Mr. Quint to be ousted from his job without the respect of the proper retirement that he so deserves.
I sincerely hope that the school board of SAD 29 will not allow this to happen. Wayne Quint deserves better, and I believe that the community of Houlton would not sit back and allow him to leave his job with anything less than gratitude, respect, and honor.
Sean Callahan
Winthrop
