THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Lynn: The Doc that did it all for you

I swear, one of these days we’ll get back to the sports part in this space eventually.

In fact, I’ll try today; albeit, it’s going to take some help.

So if at some point during the next few minutes, if I break into the lyrics for ‘On Wisconsin,’ you’ll understand later.

GROWING UP, I was fortunate to have some role models in my life.

Uncles for their wit and sense of humor.

Teachers for inspiring me daily.

Fathers of my friends who treated me like a son, even though they didn’t have to.

Then, there was my dentist.

Dr. James (Jim) "Doc" Lynn was a lot more than that to me.

He was more to me really.

Doc, when he needed some help with an event at the Wallace Elks, he’d call.

Doc, when he needed a few fill-in sons for a father-son event, he’d call.

If he was holding a banquet, and needed someone capable of helping clean up, set up chairs, fill water or whatever, he’d find me.

Sure, he’d cause me some pain as well.

As my dentist, there’s only so much time in that chair a person can handle.

Keep in mind, he’d stop, sing a little bit as he did with all of his patients, and give me a laugh.

Maybe the best part of all the help I gave him was that, eventually, he’d take my brother and I to the Wallace Corner to get a hamburger and pop to show his appreciation for whatever help we’d give him.

AS I grew into my role as a sports writer at the Shoshone News-Press in Kellogg, Doc called and asked to meet me at The Press office in Coeur d’Alene as he was putting together a Wallace Hall of Fame banquet, and he wanted to give me some bios for all those inductees.

To be honest, I think that meeting lasted two minutes.

Once he handed me the folder, we left to grab a hamburger at Hudson’s down the street, one of Doc’s favorite places to eat.

During the Hall of Fame event in Wallace, if Doc ever felt like the event was dragging a little bit, he’d have everyone stand up and start singing the words to the Wallace High fight song, “On Wisconsin.”

Of course, the words were changed to “On for Wallace,” but it always got the energy going.

That was the thing about Doc, you’d never be down around him.

He’d smile and laugh.

You’d smile and laugh.

For that moment, you knew you were around someone special.

Doc eventually took over the North Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame event in Coeur d’Alene, and was even inducted into that group in 2014.

A FEW YEARS ago, when Doc celebrated his 90th birthday, they had a get-together at the Wallace Elks for him.

Sure, we had a lot of stuff going on in the office that day. But, I wasn’t going to miss it.

As I sat in my car, I saw him walking across the street with his family.

There he was, a big smile on his face, laughing through whatever was going on and wearing that pink sports coat that he was so well known for.

Had I known then what I know now, I might have stayed a bit longer.

("On for Wallace, On for Wallace, fight fight for your fame … Pass the ball around the center, touchdowns win this game … ")

Doc passed away on Aug. 22 at age 94 after battling a recent illness. A celebration of life will be held at the Wallace Elks on Oct. 17 at 2 p.m.

To be honest, I can’t recall a time when I saw Doc while covering a game in Coeur d’Alene where I didn’t say 'Hi,' or at least find some time to chat with him for a few minutes.

He’d always be quick to ask how the family was doing, ask me to tell them hello and I’d say it was good to see him.

And it really was.

Fortunately, the next time I look for him, Doc won’t be hard to find.

I’ll just look for the guy in the pink coat putting a smile on everyone’s face.

Shoot, I need a hamburger.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1206 or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress. 

    

Doc Lynn coordinates the North Idaho Sports Banquet.