Five Gallon Bucket

<p><span style=color: rgba(5 5 5 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>When Jack was the basketball coach in Elk City during his second year (1966-67) he received the Coach of the Year award in Western Oklahoma. Jack loved basketball but he wasn't always good at it. In fourth grade he made his first attempt at a free throw and failed. For his birthday he asked for a basketball. He realized he didn't have a basket when he shot outside.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(5 5 5 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Out in the garage was an old rusty 5-gallon bucket-back then they were made of metal short and wide. Jack quickly cut out the bottom with a chisel and hammer creating a basket and the rest is history.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(5 5 5 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>Basketball was in his bones and his dreams. He played in college at Pittsburg State University. At 5'11 3/4 tall Jack was told he had the skills but not the height to play pro basketball. Instead he pursued coaching and became a high school basketball coach.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(5 5 5 1); background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1)>In his short story Five Gallon Bucket Jack shares his experiences and thoughts on the sport particularly from the lens of a basketball coach. His endearing musings give basketball lovers a glimpse into this retired coach's story of how the five-gallon bucket gave him purpose.</span></p>