Sep 18, 2008

Larry Silvey, veteran coach, teacher and administrator at Ava High School, has received much deserved recognition the past two weeks, first at Willow Springs then at Ava’s first home football game last Friday night. Silvey, who retired as athletic director before the start of the current school year, was recognized during informal halftime ceremonies at the Willow Springs-Ava football game on Sept. 5, then on the home field last Friday night during the Ava-Houston game. Following is some of the text that was read in recognizing “Coach” Silvey. Larry Silvey attended Silver Shade Elementary School in the Smallett community and graduated from Ava High School in 1960 where he was involved in various school activities, organizations and athletics. After graduation he attended School of the Ozarks Junior College and then transferred to Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) in Springfield, where he received a bachelor of science in education with teaching certification in physical education, health and biology in 1965. He concluded his formal education in 1974, receiving a masters in secondary education administration from Southwest Missouri State University. Coach Silvey’s teaching, coaching and administrative experiences have spanned 43 years in the Ozark and Ava public school systems. He spent five years at Ozark, where he started the Ozark High School football program, and the remaining 38 years in the Ava school system. Coach Silvey’s 38 years of teaching experience at Ava include: 34 years as athletic director, 26 years as physical education/weight training teacher, 23 years as head track coach, 21 years as head football coach, and 13 years as assistant high school principal. Coach Silvey’s true passion has always been football. He devoted 21 years as head football coach and his accomplishments during this time include: 137 wins - 73 losses; 6 SCA championships; 5 District championships; 8 State ranked teams; 5 times SCA Coach of the Year; and recipient of the SWMO Football Officials Sportsmanship award. In 1995 Coach Silvey was named SWMO Athletic Director of the Year, and in 1998 he was inducted into the Missouri Football Association Coaches Hall of Fame. He has served on numerous SCA and MSHSAA committees. Coach Silvey has always taken his role as Athletic Director in great stride and has increased the coaching staff from five coaches in 1974 to 16 coaches in 2008. Max Decker, former Ava High School principal, stated that Coach Silvey was a master teacher and administrator. Emry Dilday, a long time football official, stated that he thought Coach Silvey’s football team could be nominated every year for the SWMO football officials sportsmanship award. Maynard Wallace, former Ava superintendent, stated: “Larry has epitomized what high school athletics are all about. He truly exemplifies and promotes to all staff and students, the values and benefits of why we have athletics in the public schools.” Coach Silvey’s athletic teams have been described as being fundamentally sound, highly motivated and performing in a manner that properly represented Ava High School and the Ava community. His work in the Ava athletic department has been well respected throughout not only the SCA but the entire community and area. Coach Silvey and his wife, Mae Ruth, plan to spend more time with their four children: Steve, Scott, Sarah, and Chip, and their families which include seven grandchildren. Rex Sawyer, who succeeded Silvey as athletic director this year, said that in the 38 years Coach Silvey has been in Ava he has missed a total of four high school football games.