Cox calls it a career
Don Cox’s drive down Summit Street from his Wilson Avenue home was much different Thursday than from any other he’s taken over the past 31 years.
For more than three decades he knew that when he arrived at work there would be plenty to do. For half his time in the city schools system, he was the head football coach and athletic director was well as the high school’s assistant principal.
For five years, he went to work each day as the school’s principal. For the past 11 years, he’s headed to the board of education building as administrative assistant or superintendent, knowing that decisions that he would make that day would affect the lives of hundreds of children and their families.
But when he made that same fateful trip to work Thursday, it was much different.
It would be a time for farewells and goodbyes, not a time for worrying about tight budgets and the latest test scores.
Cox completed a 40-year career in education Thursday, with the final two and a half spent as Russellville’s schools superintendent.
“It’s a bittersweet time,” said Cox, who stepped down as Russellville’s football coach in 1995 to become the school’s principal. He left with 132 victories, which is the most in school history.
“I am not sad about retiring, but 40 years is a long time to do something, so it is bittersweet to leave. I feel that school has been my passion and I have poured so much in to it.”
Cox worked in the central office for 11 years and worked on many projects, including overseeing several building projects. But the final two years were filled with economic uncertainty that made the job as superintendent even more daunting.
“These were tough times because of the financial crush,” said Cox, who grew up in nearby Hamilton.
“It made me have to draw a line in the sand a few times, particularly with the city, that really made me uncomfortable. My goals were to really move the system forward by adding new programs but because of finances, we really had to stay put. I think we accomplished a lot and everyone here has done a very good job keeping us at the level that the people of Russellville expect.”
As a 30-year old head coach first on the job in Russellville, Cox said he never imagined that he would one day be superintendent.
“That was never one of my aspirations,” said Cox, who is a member of the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame.
“I never really thought that I would do anything but coach. Coaching was never really a job to me because I loved everything about it so much. But, when the opportunity to become principal came along, I felt that was the right time for me to make a change.
“It gave me an opportunity to touch more students. As a principal, and then as superintendent, the decisions you make affect a lot more people.”
Cox leaves at a time when schools across the state are facing tough economic times and being forced to change the way they do things. But, he said he believes that his replacement, Rex Mayfield, is more than prepared for the job.
“Rex will do a great job,” he said. “As long as the people of Russellville support the schools and support people who support the schools, the system will be able to continue the tradition of excellence we have here.”
Cox, meanwhile, will spend time with his five grandchildren and out on the lake.
“I hope to do some competitive fishing and over the next five years, my wife and I hope to see every inch of the United States.”
