By Sterling McGinn
Longtime Engadine resident Rodney Carlson was a highly respected business, typing, and shorthand teacher and football coach at Engadine Consolidated Schools. He worked there from 1962 to 1988.
Though he has been retired for many years, former students and players haven’t forgotten the impact he made on their lives.
During halftime of the Newberry High School vs. Engadine football game last Friday night, Engadine paid tribute to Carlson by presenting him a lifetime achievement award and a book full of stories and memories written by former students, family and friends.
Carlson, who was accompanied by his family, was surrounded by more than 20 former students, who held signs showing the year they graduated from Engadine.
A native of Norway, Michigan, Carlson married Eileen Germain from Engadine, and they had two children.
Engadine Consolidated Schools Board of Education member Marge Nelson directed the program. She told of Carlson’s achievements and contributions and read a Sault Evening News article from 1974.
The article noted, “During his tenure as a football coach, Engadine captured two U.P. Conference Championship titles and had only one losing season in the 10 years when they went 4-5 in 1967.”
Carlson, also a fan of history, was instrumental in the Engadine Centennial History book written in 1994.
Jane Stefanich, one of Carlson’s former students, complied a book of stories and memories written by former students, family, and friend. “To say you had a profound impact on my life would be a colossal understatement. As a coach and a teacher, you have impacted me and countless others,” one former student wrote.
