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Coach Raffin Reflections

           

Do you have a story or photo of Coach Raffin you would like to share with us?  Please send us an email!

 
Bill Ballard - A Letter to Coach Raffin

Dear Coach Raffin:

I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t been well lately.  I hope you feel better soon.

I wrote this letter to say thank you for being my coach and for changing the course of my life.  Throughout my adult life, I’ve applied the lessons I learned on the track, perseverance, patience, teamwork, compassion, and enthusiasm, to difficult situations.  Without having the lessons I learned under your guidance, I would not have been prepared to deal with difficult situations as an adult. 
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John Buckley - Eulogy Given at Dryer Funeral Home
When I  ran for Raff from 1975-1977, he would tell us that it takes 128 muscles to frown and only 11 to smile.  That’s 117 wasted muscle contractions.  So smile.  And he would smile.  And as we ran, we would smile.
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Tom Flanigan - Remarks from Reunion
Good evening.  It is great to see that so many people came tonight to honor Coach Raffin and re-connect with old friends and teammates.
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John Buckley - Holly Harrier Class of 1978
By the time I got to Holly High School, Duane Raffin was already a legend. A state title in track under his belt and almost yearly Flint Metro League championship titles in cross country and track. He was also a sage, although we were too young to know it at the time. As the years went by, the memories have faded a little, but the lessons remained firm in our minds and matured within us as we became adults and parents.
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Larry Davidson - Holly Harrier Class of 1978
I remember going to see my older sister run track at Holly High School. There was always this guy running around the football field yelling at the Holly athletes as they participated in various events. To be honest, he kind of scared me. All too soon I found out who he was and why he was yelling.
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Jeff Lewis - Holly Harrier Class of 1978
Outside of my immediate family and a hand full of friends, Coach Raff was the most significant influence on the outlook and values attained thru my teenage years. No teachers, professors or other coaches even came close.
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