THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Florida man finds solace in the Piney Woods, athletic fields
By JIMMY GALVAN

JASPER ATHLETIC TRAINER JOE GUTHRIE, right, helps Brandon McQueen off the field after he was injured during a football game last year.

If it weren't for college accounting classes, Joe Guthrie would be sitting in some high-rise building working for an accounting firm.

With every passing day, both Guthrie and Jasper athletes are thankful for the accounting curriculum at Henderson State University in Arkansas.

"I tried to go business but accounting was kicking my butt. I heard of this guy who worked with the New York Jets as an athletic trainer and I thought that was neat," Guthrie said. "I had no idea what sports medicine was or an athletic trainer were but I got into it and got interested in it."

And for Jasper athletes and coaches, the move has paid off in full.

As head athletic trainer for the Jasper school district, Guthrie oversees the complete operation of the program and started it from scratch.

Guthrie said when he sought full-time employment after college; his wife led him to this area, as she wanted to stay close to her home state of Louisiana.

"I started to look around this area and as a favor to a friend I came and interviewed at this job opening in Jasper," Guthrie said. "I was interviewing in Lufkin and he wanted me to come to Jasper as well and interview."

After going through the process with Lufkin, he was pretty much sold on taking the position in Lufkin.

"It sounded good and felt like the place that I wanted to be," Guthrie said.

But after he had the opportunity to see the "jewel of the forest," Guthrie and his wife changed their minds and chose the Jasper position over Lufkin's offer.

"We came here and liked the way it was spread out a bit more," Guthrie said. "It was a smaller town."

Guthrie, who hails from West Palm Beach, Fla., found a bit of culture shock when he relocated to Arkansas and then to the Jasper area.

"I grew up on the beach with that type of attitude and scenery and then coming out here where it is a where it is a lot slower pace with no t r a f f i c , " Guthrie said. "It took a little getting used to but it has grown on me."

A n o t h e r big draw to accepting the Jasper position was a chance to start an athletic training p r o g r a m from the floor level.

"The big selling point here was I was going to get to develop and expand this program," Guthrie said. "They told me to take the ball and run with it. I have had the opportunity develop a sports medicine class here and get more kids involved in athletic training."

The class Guthrie teaches is sports aide and it has spurred several Jasper graduates to pursue jobs in the medical field as a result.

But after many years in Jasper, Guthrie headed back to Henderson State

University when the head trainer's posit i o n b e c a m e available.

One year later, he returned to Jasper.

" I missed the impact that I had on the k i d s , " G u t h r i e said.

"At the c o l l e g e level, those kids are set in their w a y s . There is not a whole lot of advice that you can give them that they want to take.

"The kids are a lot more disciplined than they are in college," Guthrie said. "I was there doing a job, just a business. Here, it is more than just business. We are a family here."

He said often he helps athletes through problems by talking to them while they are in his office seeking athletic training.

"I am able to give my advice on what they can do to better themselves and they accept it," Guthrie said. "Having that kind of an impact on kids makes me happy. This is a much more rewarding environment watching these kids grow and mature."

In working with this program, Guthrie has led the charge for increased medical education by coaches through the school district.

He has teamed with Mary Katherine Woods, health co-op teacher for the high school, to certify coaches in CPR in the district.

"I hope that we get to train more and more people and end up having the whole JISD staff certified," Guthrie said.

"That will be a whole lot better environment in case something happens in the classroom, lunchroom, ball field. I am only one person and can't be everywhere at the same time."

He works closely with the nurses at Jasper Junior High and Jasper High schools in dealing with athletes and their injuries.

One of his biggest rewards is working with the student trainers who are a part of his program. The number has grown over the years. This is where he sees the hard work of his labor come to fruition.

"They are great kids who want to do this," Guthrie said. "This is something they have shown an interest in- helping people. Working with them has been great.

"Sometimes in athletics, you have to push people to do what they want to do," Guthrie said. "With my kids, it's the opposite. They want to learn. I really enjoy them."

Guthrie, who has served as an athletic trainer for 11 years, started his career as an athletic trainer for the National Football League's Miami Dolphins.

"It was a good selling point at getting the job here," Guthrie said. "I would have probably gone gung ho towards the NFLbut in the process of getting my masters, I became engaged and started a family. That career is not a really family-oriented workplace."

But Guthrie still holds fond memories of his internship with the Dolphins.

"It was incredible," Guthrie said. "Dan Marino was still playing as the quarterback. I had the opportunity to work with Bernie Kosar, Don Shula and talked with those guys on a daily basis. It was unreal the experience."

Looking back, Guthrie never even dreamed of rubbing shoulders with some the NFL's elite.

"When I was little, I never thought I would hobnob along with the big wigs of the NFL," Guthrie said.

"Never in a million years did I think I would sit there carrying on a conversation with some of these guys that are in the NFLHall of Fame."

In his 11th year with the district, Guthrie said seeing success remains the high point of his job.

"When I say success, I don't mean wins and losses," Guthrie said. "I am talking about the success you see in these kids as they grow and mature. They succeed in becoming a better person or better player, seeing them achieve their goals.

"Of course, I want our teams to win, but seeing those kids succeed is success in my eyes."

So as he prepares for next season, wrapping ankles and treating sore hamstrings, Guthrie looks back at his accounting classes and smiles.

"I couldn't see myself inside a building all day long," Guthrie said. "I'm definitely glad that the path led me to a town that I enjoy raising my family in.

"This is home," Guthrie said.

"When I left for a year, we all said we were coming back home. This was my first job and I will probably be here for the long haul."