Jim Erker says he’s happily retired, and is enjoying the relaxing life after some four decades of teaching and administration. The former Walpole High cross country and track coach still keeps his feet dipped in those waters, serving as a race official for Rebel cross country and track meets, something he thoroughly enjoys. “It’s great to keep my hand in it. I still enjoy seeing the kids run, and keeps me in touch with this generation of kids,” said Erker on Tuesday morning. For his work coaching generations of kids since he began coaching in 1970, and for the enormous amount of success he enjoyed, Erker was inducted into the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Hall of Fame back in June in a ceremony at Lantana’s in Randolph. Erker was inducted along with Tim Foley from Newburyport, Norwell’s Chuck Martin and Chris Woods of Fitchburg. “Lou Tozzi, the awards night chairperson, called me back in March to let me know,” said Erker, who turns 70 in November. “The ceremony was a wonderful night. It was wonderful to see all the new young coaches. And the three other (Hall of Fame) inductees, we each had time to speak, and while the stories were all different, they were all the same – about how much fun they had, and about how special it was to make a difference with kids.” Erker is Walpole born and bred, and came back to his hometown to work and coach in 1970 at Walpole East Junior High School (now the Bird Middle School), and led the track programs for 12 years. In 1983, he moved to the high school and coached for 16 years, mainly as the Rebels cross country coach – including starting the girls program in 1991. The move proved to be beneficial for Erker, as he won back-to-back All-State team titles in 1991-92, mainly thanks to All-State individual winner Claire Kelley. He also had a pair of individual Class champions in Meghan and Ellen Dwyer in the mid-1990s, and won four EMass Div. 3 titles in his tenure. “I really enjoyed starting the girls cross country program,” he said. “The girls are now a very strong program, and it’s been fun to see that develop. It makes you proud to see the kids over the 30 years do well in life and running. And I ended up teaching a lot of their children, and that was a thrill too.” Erker retired from coaching in 1999 to take over as athletic director when John Lee retired, and served through 2006. He also came back to the post on an interim basis for the 2008-09 season, as well as a few months in 2013 for an ailing Bill Tompkins. “How lucky I was to work with so many outstanding coaches in Walpole and learn from them, starting with Jim Burke, my first athletic director back in 1970,” said Erker. “And then you think about the likes of Bill Tompkins, Sue Brainard, Tom Morris, Penny Calf and John Lee, great coaches I coached with and worked with every day. They were great role models and terrific teachers. I learned so much from them.” He rose up the teaching ranks to become the history department chair at Walpole High, where he continued to teach courses in U.S. history while he served as athletic director. He continues to serve as a substitute social studies and history teacher in Walpole schools. The longtime East Walpole resident retired from full-time duties in 2006, and has thoroughly enjoyed retirement. “Yeah, it was time to retire,” he said. “And now I work as much and little as I want, but I’m still able to work in the field that I love – coaching and teaching. I consider myself very lucky.” And working as a meet official, he gets to see the continued success of the Rebel runners. “The Walpole coaching staff now are terrific coaches who develop a great camaraderie in the team, something I always strove for as well,” he said. “The program is strong in every way – in achievements, in sportsmanship and camaraderie, all things important. I’m very proud to have been a part of that.”
Inducted: 2017