HODGDON, Maine — After six decades in education, Hodgdon’s Wayne Quint is ready for retirement.
The athletic director for SAD 70 in Hodgdon, Quint will step down from the post he has held for the past 12 years at the end of this school year. The SAD 70 board is expected to act on his resignation at its Monday meeting.
“People tell you that you will know when it is time,” Quint said. “For me, it is time.”
A Houlton native, Quint, 85, began his teaching career in 1959 in Orford, New Hampshire, a small community near the Vermont border. And while it was a good experience, the call of Aroostook County was ever present. He has coached basketball and golf and taught English, math, physical education and driver education, among other jobs in schools.
“Everyone says you have to get out of town to see life outside Houlton,” he said. “So we [with his wife Lorraine] went to New Hampshire. But we spent all of our free time coming back home.”
After a year, the Quints decided to move back to The County, and as luck would have it, a position opened at Houlton High School. He taught English and math for about five years before finding his niche as a physical education teacher.
Sports have long been a part of Quint’s background. He served as junior varsity boys basketball coach at Houlton for 19 years. He also had a brief stint as a cross country and golf coach.
“I would say I was really more of a supervisor than a coach,” he said. “Anyone who has seen me knows how I play golf.”
Quint also spent many years in the Houlton school district teaching driver education, when it was part of the school’s curriculum, alongside fellow physical education teacher Terry Spurling. He never had an accident during lessons in his 46 years of teaching driver education, he said.
Quint said the job of an athletic director has changed greatly over the years, and only those who have ever served in that role will truly understand all the work that is required. Even though working with the student athletes has helped keep him young at heart, Quint said he felt the time was right for him to step away.
“I have enjoyed the games and the kids,” he said. “Now, I want to spend more time with my wife. You never know how much time you have left, so I want more time with her.”
Quint added he hopes the Hodgdon school district will leave a chair for him so he can return next winter to watch a few basketball games, while enjoying a hot dog courtside. He also plans to keep busy playing a few rounds of golf and enjoying coffee with friends.