Tonight, the Guthrie Public Schools Board of Education formally approved naming of the Guthrie High School Track and Field Facility for former Track and Cross Country Coach Clay Tarter. This was a recommendation presented to the board by Superintendent, Dr. Mike Simpson. Coach Tarter passed away on June 5th following over 40 years of service to GHS students as a teacher and coach. A 1972 Guthrie graduate, he was GHS Teacher of the Year three times (1983, 2005 and 2007) and inducted into the GHS Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. He earned numerous state and national honors for his service to students while coaching Bluejay athletes to nine state titles and fourteen state runner up finishes in his career.
Plans are underway to provide an appropriate badging through an archway and ornamental fencing along the west boundary of the complex. Additional plans call for an appropriate biography of Coach Tarter along with his contributions to GPS. The donors will also be listed. The initial goal to fund phase 1 of the project is $100,000. This will provide the archway, memorial and ornamental fencing along the west boundary of the facility. Donors are asked to contribute to the Guthrie Educational Foundation and direct the donation to the Clay Tarter Complex. All donations to the foundation are tax deductible.
If you would like to donate, you may send your contribution to: Guthrie Educational Foundation 802 E. Vilas Guthrie, OK 73044 Please note Clay Tarter Complex in the memo line of the check Quotes from Cheryl Tarter wife of Clay Tarter: “Clay would be surprised and honored at this gesture, but would most certainly defer any attention from himself. My daughter Linh and I are so grateful for such a wonderful tribute to Clay. He couldn’t imagine himself doing anything but working with student athletes. It was what he was called to do. He spent many hours of his life at that track and field area. He loved seeing kids grow and succeed, not only in sport but especially in life. He was and will always be known as a Guthrie Bluejay!”
Quotes from Guthrie Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mike Simpson: “I miss Clay on so many levels. He was a grounding influence for our entire athletic department. His ability to ignore the rhetoric and find the important in any issue were gifts few have. With this ability, he was the coach many followed. The number of students he impacted is astonishing at best. He was a true Bluejay!”