HOULTON, Maine — Bruce Nason, a longtime fixture inside gymnasiums and sports fields at Houlton Middle-High School, has retired after 40 years in the district.
Nason has tendered his resignation and will not be returning in the fall, RSU 29 Superintendent Ellen Halliday confirmed June 10. The announcement was made during a June 8 school board meeting.
“Bruce has been a longtime figure at all of our athletic events,” Halliday said. “He has done a tremendous job as an athletic director, going above and beyond on behalf of RSU 29 athletics. He will be sorely missed.”
Nason taught physical education at the school for a number of years and was hired as the part-time athletic director in 2009. He retired from teaching at the end of the 2018-19 school year, but stayed on one more year as the athletic director.
As the school’s athletic administrator, Nason witnessed many state championships and plenty of changes to high school sports, including the expansion of regional high school hockey and football and the introduction of track and field and cross country to the school.
The Shires changed classifications many times during Nason’s career. He also coached several sports at Houlton, including tennis, girls soccer, softball and boys basketball.
Nason was also involved with the Maine Principals Association hockey and cheerleading committees over the years.
The school has advertised they are seeking a replacement.
