Cards, comments show ‘Petty’s’ impact

CINDY WOOD/independent feature writer

If you’re looking for Mike Pettijohn, check Cloud 9. He’s been living there for about a month now.

According to his mother, Alice, he just might stay there awhile. “He’s definitely been on Cloud 9, and I don’t think he’s coming down anytime soon,” she said with a laugh.

“Petty,” arguably one of Van Wert’s biggest boosters and much-beloved treasures, has amassed a legion of friends and fans during a decades-long coaching career. He’s rarely seen without a genuine smile on his face, and these days, he’s got plenty to smile about.

Over the past several weeks, nearly 400 of Pettijohn’s friends and family from all over the country have sent cards and well wishes in honor of his recent 65th birthday. Cards, mementoes, gift cards and touching letters arrived daily, with as many as 86 cards arriving in one day leading up to his birthday. Petty was also recognized at a recent Van Wert High School basketball game, which led to a surprise “Happy Birthday” serenade from the Cougar Cat Pack.

It’s a lot of fanfare for one man, but his friends say there’s no one who deserves it more. “Rarely do we reserve time or have motivation to reciprocate the joy certain people bring to our lives by simply being who they are,” said Sarah Stemen, a longtime friend.

About a month ago, Stemen created a Facebook page to help spread the word about Pettijohn’s milestone birthday. Utilizing the “social” in social media, Stemen’s page allowed friends from all over the country to reminisce and share their “Petty” moment.

“I lost so many shootouts to the man,” said former player Jeff Dunno, who added that he quickly learned never to challenge Pettijohn to a shootout. “He had a lethal shot, but not very good aim. But he knew that even if the ball started five feet outside the backboard, he just needed to keep his hand up and take his patent Petty hop to the side and it would curve in!”

VWHS graduate Brad Foster played for Pettijohn during his days on the Killer Bees youth basketball team. He said he couldn’t have asked for a better coach. “Mike was a part of some of my best memories from those days,” Foster said. “He’s been such a positive influence on so many people in the Van Wert community.”

Close to 1,000 people kept up daily on the “Petty Card Count,” which is now up to 384. Sitting at his kitchen table with his mother this week, Pettijohn proudly showed off his cards, offering his thoughts on each one. “This is what Frank (Minnig) sent me,” Pettijohn said, speaking of the former Van Wert High School basketball coach and longtime friend. “It’s a really nice letter.”

Somewhere in the midst of the heaping piles of cards Pettijohn has received are a few of his favorites. “I like the card I got from my nephews,” he said. “I really like all of them, but especially that one. And I got about 12 cards from the people my sister works with in the office in Cuyahoga City. That was really nice of them.”

Over the past few weeks, Pettijohn has received a signed basketball from this year’s VWHS basketball team, and personal visits from several former players. The public was invited to leave notes for Pettijohn at last week’s game, and close to 140 people did, including a young Wapakoneta cheerleader who does not know Pettijohn, but wanted to wish him a happy birthday anyway.

For Stemen, it’s been a bit overwhelming at times, but not at all surprising. “I basically wanted to give Petty a little bit of what he unknowingly gives us,” she said, adding “things like this tend to restore faith in people, when it’s very easy to lose that these days.”

Close to 300 people have left comments on Stemen’s page, sharing memories of a man whose impact they’ll never forget.

“Mike is living proof that one life can make a difference.” — Marcia Wise

“Mike is unassuming love in action, grace personified and a real blessing to know.” — Jerry Smith

“Mike always had a smile on his face and an unbelievable memory for people and events. No matter how many years between times we see Mike, he always greets us by name and a big hug.” – Bunnie (Gilliland) Stewart

Jim Clay of Van Wert has spent many years coaching alongside Pettijohn, and said there is one thing that differentiates his friend from other area coaches. “Mike is the only Cougar coach that never got a paycheck for all the hours he spent helping the kids,” Clay said. “All the rest of us were paid to be there.”

Pettijohn’s coaching career began approximately four decades ago and, during that time, he’s touched the hearts of hundreds of players and parents. Known for his gentle demeanor (unless he was screaming at referees), Pettijohn worked with the American Legion baseball team for 27 years, traveling the district extensively with Russ Fisher.

Despite the dissolution of the team years ago, Pettijohn has remained loyal to the Legion’s cause, and has served on the Sons of the American Legion for the past 40 years. Every Friday, Pettijohn can be found at the local Legion post raising the American flag. “He does it every week, and he’s been raising the flag every Friday night since his dad died in the ‘90s,” Alice Pettijohn said, adding that her son also works during the Legion meals and parades, as well as serving as District sergeant at arms.

Whether he’s waving the American flag or the Cougar flag, Pettijohn has been a friendly face known, and loved, by many in the community and those who have moved away. But when they go, they take with them the lessons they’ve learned from a man who asked for nothing, but gave everything.

“Ultimately, my motivation throughout all of this was very simplistic,” Stemen said. “We wanted to put that beautiful smile on our buddy’s face. It’s contagious and just makes you feel better. That smile is never forced and never duplicated. We all love it and wanted Petty to have a small glimmer of the bright light he’s brought to all of us.”

Shine on, Petty. Shine on.