It’s that time of year again.

For the past six years, on the day after Thanksgiving, Coupeville alumni and their families dig the old cleats out of the garage and dust off the old jersey to participate in the Tom Roehl Turkey Bowl.

Roehl was a football coach at CHS for nearly 20 years, tirelessly dedicating his time and resources to the young athletes who proudly led the Wolf Pack to many great victories and memorable seasons. For Roehl, the lessons learned on the football field were of equal importance as the lessons learned in the classroom.

Roehl organized, coordinated, and refereed the Central Whidbey Youth Athletic Association basketball league for 20 years, was a Cub Scout leader, a little league baseball coach, served on the school board, the math curriculum committee and volunteered as a History Day judge.

He unwaveringly stood for scholastic and civic excellence, sportsmanship and athletic prowess. To honor his beliefs, his family established a scholarship fund in his name that is awarded annually to a recipient who embodies these qualities.

In order to raise money for this scholarship fund, two events for alumni and community members are scheduled.

The Tom Roehl Turkey Bowl, a flag football game on Friday, Nov. 28, at Mickey Clark Field from 2 to 5 p.m., and the Tom Roehl Round Ball Classic, a basketball event scheduled for Dec. 27 from 3 to 6 p.m.

The suggested donation to play in each event is $10. In addition, donations are welcomed so the scholarship can continue to be a CHS tradition. If you are unable to make it to either event and would still like to donate to the scholarship fund, you can mail donations to:

The Community Foundation for Coupeville Public Schools (CF for CPS)

PO Box 1500

Coupeville, WA 98239

Make checks payable to CF for CPS and please note that they are for the Tom Roehl Scholarship.

For more information, call 206-774-6503 or email nroehl@tjroehl.com.