Page 36 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2022 - Online Magazine

2
Senior
Senior

Robert Conkin

A Tribute

to My Papa

by Aidan McDonald

My papa grew up more accommodating location in
in a small town protest.
“ natural born leader” is called Anton, TX. Following high school, my papa
a title given to many His early years were just like that
A different people today. of any other student in a small attended Texas Tech University
However, it does not always fit, school. He went to class, became where he earned his master's
but after spending my best times part of the football team, and degree in administration. He
with my papa, Robert Conkin, “a did classwork in between. But started his teaching career
natural born leader” is the perfect his high school years began to and eventually became the
description for him. differ from others of the time as superintendent of Springlake
segregation was still a very real Earth High School. During his
What qualities does a good leader practice. One Friday night before term as superintendent, many
have? A leader is a person who a game, the Anton football team teachers began to love and
can lead his peers to one common went out to eat at a restaurant. respect him. Even now, some of
goal and motivate them to work However, one team member was the teachers whom I never knew
in a positive way. That definition African American and was sent personally come up to me asking
is on the right path, but “a natural to go eat at a different part of the if I am his grandson; then, they
born leader” has even more restaurant. My papa disagreed proceed to tell me the effect he
strong qualities. He leads and can with the policy of the restaurant had on their lives. And here at my
be led; he knows when to talk owner, so, he announced that, small school, Farwell, one of the
and when to listen; he knows that since they were a team that played teachers under his administration
every voice is an important voice; together, they should eat together. often tells me how much he
he knows when to change what After arguing with the restaurant loves my papa. His leadership is
he is doing and when he is doing staff to allow his friend and evident.
the right thing; he does not let his team member to eat with them,
goal get in the way of his morals. he rounded up the team and I have had plenty of my own
My papa is all this and so much they all ate together at another, experiences with my papa. I
more. remember going to Earth every

36 Lubbock Senior Link
36
Lubbock Senior Link