By Anthony McConnell

Trail Editor

It seemed like any other day, but I would soon learn it wasn‘t.
I came to Northwest College to check on my financial aid and maybe talk to the folks at the University of Wyoming extension office about transferring to UW after this year. Everything was going as expected. I had signed some paper work and secured my financial aid for the year so I dropped by the UW office.
With my mind on other things, I missed some cues that might have made the news I was about to hear less shocking. As I talked to the lady in the extension office she mentioned a member of the facility had passed away.
Nothing could have prepared me for the name that would leave her lips — Doug Nelson.
As that name left her lips it was as if someone sucker punched me. I stood there speechless for what seemed like hours, though it was only a few seconds. How was the only word I could muster. She told me he had suffered a heart attack while playing basketball in Israel.
I left the office having decided what ever information I needed could wait. Then stepped outside and smoked a much needed cigarette. As I smoked, I began to wander the campus. As if drawn by some force, I ended up in front of the Moyer Building. My eyes began to water as I entered to say goodbye to a man whose impact on my life had been more than he would ever know.
I walked to the door of his office and said a silent prayer, hoping where ever he was at that moment he would hear it and know the impact he had on my life.
As I walked to my car I began to think of the first class I ever had with Doug. I remember sitting there on that first day of Intro to Archeology as he went over the syllabus and thinking, “I am way over my head, this isn’t going to be anything like Temple of Doom.” After class I shared my concerns and Doug told me to give the class a chance before I dropped it. I followed his advice. I stayed in the class, I even ended up with a B.
It was during that semester that I found myself visiting Doug’s office every so often just to chat. Sometimes about class, but more often than not our conversations would lead to politics or world events. It seemed there was nothing this man couldn’t talk about.
It is this that I will miss most about Doug Nelson. Sure I will miss his classes and all the stuff he did for the college.
But Doug was more than a teacher he was a friend and it is that friendship that will be missed most.
Good bye Doug, you will be and are missed.