On Monday afternoon June 5, 2023, our community lost a man that made a tremendous impact upon countless lives in our community when Ronnie Coker, long time educator and highly accomplished baseball coach, passed away from colon cancer at the age of 58. Upon hearing of his passing, I immediately began to flash back in time, as my thoughts quickly turned back to the impact that Ronnie Coker made upon my life.
With his outstanding success in winning state high school baseball championships as a player at Minden and as a coach, I was well familiar with Ronnie Coker long before I ever met him. My grandfather in Minden never missed a Minden High School game of any kind in any sport (football, basketball, baseball, etc.). So, I actually attended several of the baseball games during the Minden High School state championship baseball dynasty when Ronnie was on the team. And, I vividly remember Ronnie’s success as a baseball coach in winning state high school baseball championships at both Parkway and Captain Shreve (my alma mater).
Not long after Ronnie began his position as athletic director at Airline High School, I was on the home sideline shooting photos during an Airline football game. I noticed this guy pacing up and down the sideline as the ball moved up and down the field. He was really into the game. So, I asked myself, who is this guy? And, I made it a point to introduce myself. Upon the introduction, I met the infamous Ronnie Coker. From that first introduction, I came away motivated, enthused and
fired up, like I was ready to “Win The Day.” And, we quickly became friends.
As Airline was usually my beat when I was helping out our sports department with shooting football photos, I quickly got to know Ronnie and most always sought him out as soon as I got to the game. He was always excited to see me and encouraged me tremendously in what I was doing and in his support and enthusiasm for the Bossier Press-Tribune. Over the years, I attended many football games and other events at Airline High School (from scholarship signings to basketball games, baseball games, assemblies and graduations). As such, I always made it a point to seek out Ronnie Coker at these events because I knew that I would come away ready to conquer the world as a result.
A few months after Ronnie’s cancer diagnosis, I was fortunate and blessed in being able to accompany our sports editor, Russell Hedges, to Ronnie’s house for lunch. Ronnie told me exactly what he wanted me to bring him for lunch and that is exactly what I ordered. We had a great visit and conversation. We talked briefly about his treatment and in typical Ronnie Coker fashion, he abruptly said “I don’t want to talk about that anymore, I want to talk about you.” That was Ronnie Coker, that is who he was. That is what he did. It was never about him, it was about the people in his life. And, as was said at his funeral service last Saturday, he had a gifted way of making you feel special, making you feel important and making you feel like you can always “WinThe Day!”
The people that we cross paths with on our daily walk is no mere accident. There is a reason that we meet the people that we meet. Meeting a man like Ronnie Coker is a true testament as to how God clearly and distinctly orchestrates and directs the paths of our lives. Ronnie Coker had a very sincere, dedicated and important mission in leading others to Christ. For sure, Ronnie Coker knew where he was going. And as my Dad always used to say, I know where I am going and I will be waiting for you to get there too. Believe, have faith and totally trust and turn your life over to Jesus Christ is the truly right path for us all. In this, we will Win The Day. To me, beyond all that Ronnie Coker accomplished with his many athletic successes, this was his main message. And, on June 5, 2023, Ronnie Coker Won The Day! When we get to heaven, there is no doubt that Ronnie Coker will be there to tell us that we Won The Day!
Randy Brown is Executive Vice President of Specht Newspapers, Inc., and publisher of the Minden Press-Herald.