When I was a junior, the University of Dubuque ROTC sponsored a race one Saturday -- and Coach Hefel had some of us participate. After winning, I received a prize that would be the envy of any carbo loader: A gift certificate good for a bunch of meals at the Dubuque Ponderosa. Rather than leaving me to my own devices, coach outlined a different plan. He 'encouraged' me to take my teammates out to Ponderosa. Initally, I felt the way any callow 17 year-old loner would feel: cheated and resentful. After lunch, I felt something different: part of an amazing group that teased, laughed, argued, dreamed, questioned, and ultimately accepted and supported each other. Even coach dropped his guard (a little). That one meal together brought more joy and connection than the ones I would've had otherwise. I thought about this lesson over Christmas, when I was busy buying gifts and picking up people's checks. When you enjoy good fortune, you need to look beyond yourself, share it, and build community. These days, they call it "paying it forward." And that's something Mr. Hefel lived by in his teaching, coaching, family, and faith life. Thank you for the perspective, coach (and thank you for those rides up to Wahlert when it was cold).