RONAN — Long-time educator, wrestling coach, and local volunteer David Edington was recently recognized at the Ronan Chamber of Commerce Banquet with the Lifetime Community Service Award.

At age 67, Edington looks back on a legacy of community, family and mentoring countless kids who came through his doors in his 41 years as a Ronan teacher and 21 years as head wrestling coach. When asked if the award meant a lot to him, David agreed that it did because of how much Ronan means to him.

“The nicest compliment I was ever paid was from Aaron Griffin, who called me Mr. Ronan,” Edington said. “He said that my passion for my school and loyalty to my community exemplified the town of Ronan.”

A resident of Ronan since 1967, the humble public servant grew up in Saratoga, Wyo. — a small town that was roughly the size of St. Ignatius. Grappling with his older cousins at an early age and charging admission to audience members, Edington toughened up fast and grew into a successful wrestler in high school and on the University of Wyoming wrestling squad.

“My dad was an alcoholic, and it [wrestling] was an avenue for me to do something different and be known for something other than my home situation,” Edington said. “The wrestling mat, football field and track were great equalizers for me, because there I could prove that I was just as good as the next guy.”

This proud tradition early on built towards Edington’s lifelong advocacy of the importance of youth athletics and activities in schools, not only academics.

After attending college mostly as an athlete and getting into education due to his unknown career path wishes, the well-known Wyoming tangler moved to western Montana to get a piece of land as property values were still lower than the surrounding states.

His second year in the area, Edington was hired on as a teacher with Ronan High School. Dr. Joe McDonald was the principal at the time (currently McDonald is the president of Salish Kootenai College) and had heard the young teacher was a wrestler and asked David to coach the school’s program. Hesitant at first, Edington gave it a try and after a few meets there was no turning back and Ronan Wrestling would never be the same.

“It was all Joe’s fault,” Edington said with a laugh. “He [McDonald] was a tremendous mentor to me, and undoubtedly had the single biggest influence on my professional life.”

The acclaimed wrestling program hosted several local athletes who won state championships and national junior championships. With success came job offers to coach on the college level, including his alma mater Wyoming. David even later received an offer to coach wrestling at the Olympic Training Center and travel internationally for his beloved sport. With a tough decision to make and a big heart for his town, Edington turned all those offers down.

Many would ask why? Well, to understand that puzzle you need to understand a crucial life moment that has tied David to the community that he loves so much.

In 1979, David’s first wife Nikki was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment in California before succumbing to her fight with the disease the following year. While away from home, the Edington’s received a bounty of support from their school and their community as friends sent gifts, best wishes, and emotional aid during the toughest of times.

“I had everyone in the world caring for me,” Edington said. “It was then that I made a commitment to make a contribution back to this place that gave us so much.”

David would later re-marry to a California woman named Rita, who had also lost her first husband. Worried at first that Montana would suit her, Edington was surprised as Rita fell in love with his home and has embraced the community ever since.

After hanging up his role as head wrestling coach 20 years ago, David refocused his sights on being a good father and husband — a move he says he has never regretted. Edington still works in the sport, voluntarily serving as a Rules Interpreter for the Montana High School Association.

David’s life as an educator has not always been an easy one, as the longtime Industrial Arts describes an environment in which he had an opportunity to a lot of good for kids who came from an impoverished economic background that set them at risk.

“They need people who really care about them,” Edington said. “My gosh, if we can just get them on the right track — and we can’t reach every kid — but I think we do have a lot of opportunity for positive  impact on their lives.”

Edington is also a strong advocate for community volunteerism and giving back to the community, especially when it benefits kids. His work with the Boys and Girls Club, planting trees in the community, helping to build the school district’s new Events Sign in front of the Middle School, and building numerous park benches with his own two hands are just a few ways he gave even more back to Ronan.

On top of that, each student in his shop classes are required to participate in a community service project by building something that either the school or town can use.

“If you can get people to take to investing in the community like that, it’s a win-win situation,” Edington added.

Now over 41 years into his teaching career, David says he still feels young and vibrant but realizes one of these years he’s going to have to give it up, but for now shudders and says, “I’m not looking forward to it though.” At this point, Edington says he will be back in his usual domain in the Ronan High School’s shop again next year.

“It’s been quite a ride and I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”