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Tom Culver grew up in Alexandra, South Dakota but has been a staple in Avon for many years. He just wrapped up his 24th year with the Avon School District where he has led as an administrator in the school halls and also as a coach on the high school football field. “From 1999 to 2008 I was the Secondary Principal and Head Football Coach here in Avon. From 2008 to present I am the Superintendent, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach. Starting this fall I will be just the Superintendent,” explained Culver. Growing up, Culver played high school football for the Hanson Beavers. While he did not play in college, Culver learned a lot about the game he loves from his high school coach Lowell Somsen. Somsen was a Jackrabbit at South Dakota State University and he taught Culver the importance of keeping things simple and doing those things well in order to succeed in the game. Culver noted, “I have coached football for 37 years and learned quite a bit from other coaches that I coached under over the years. Jim Haskamp at Hanson, Kevin Berg from Grant-Deuel and John Nyhaug from Viborg are three coaches that I was an assistant coach, or junior high coach for and learned a tremendous amount about football from.” Over the course of almost four decades Culver has many memories from the coaching sidelines. A moment that sticks out to Culver was the Pirates’s 2004 season when the football team lost back to back games in the regular season. The coaches and players regrouped and came together to take down two undefeated opponents and advance out of their region. From there they went on to be the 2004 state champions for Class 9-A when Avon defeated Doland/ Conde by a score of 36-20. “Probably one of the best things I have experienced football related is seeing all of the Avon football players that have worked extremely hard and then were rewarded with that hard work by a state championship,” acknowledged Culver. “It is pretty cool seeing the satisfaction on those players' faces when they know they are the best in the state in their class.” Another core memory for Culver was from 2008 when he returned home from serving a yearlong, overseas deployment. Being reunited with his family, community and Pirate football team was special. Upon his return, Culver landed in Sioux Falls for a welcoming ceremony in the afternoon and was at kick-off that evening for a final season game where the Pirates took on Tripp-Delmont/Armour (TDA). The 2008 Pirates would defeat TDA and go on to have a successful playoff run. It was a run that took them to the DakotaDome, in Vermillion at the University of South Dakota, for the state championship. They would emerge victorious, over Gettysburg, in a state final win of 37-8. “I believe football is a great game. There is quite a bit that we can learn from the game. A person can learn teamwork, hard work, success and failure, working together for a common goal and putting the priorities of the team above your personal goals. Toughness and resiliency are also key things you can learn from football, which certainly can help a person be successful in life,” commented Culver. And success in life is a wonderful thing. Culver worked to show his players how lessons on the field or at practices could be applicable to their daily lives and to their futures. He detailed, “The main thing I tried to teach the kids was not just how to play the game, but equated it to real life. I expected the players to be on time, since your future employer will expect you to be on time. Their education and participation in sports are ways to prepare kids to be successful in their future, so I think it is important for educators and coaches to relate the skills needed to be successful in the sports we coach.” In addition to many wins on the football field, Culver is also appreciative of his wife of 40 years, his daughter Christena, his son-in-law Gregg Voigt and his five grandchildren: Macy, Jordyn, Brielle, Tyson and Riggs. “I guess the main thing that I want to say is thank you to all of the former players at Avon and the other schools I have coached at,” stated Culver. “The reason why I coached all of these years is because I truly loved being around the players day after day. I have been blessed to coach some great football players here at Avon that have grown up to be great men. That is very satisfying to see all of the players that are now married and raising their own family and are successful in their current endeavors.”