Natalie's Everyday Heroes: A retired teacher's key to life -- keep playing

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- This week's everyday hero lives by a motto - if you play, you never grow old.

Milt Dean has stayed young at heart by playing intramural sports with 5th graders in Pleasant Prairie, teaching generations of kids the importance of sportsmanship.

Dean calls himself the forever quarterback.

"They're not allowed to tackle me," he said with a chuckle. 

He spends Tuesday afternoons calling plays at Prairie Lane Elementary School.

"Atta boy! Nice play," he called to the kids on the field.

He makes sure every kid gets a chance with the ball.

"When it's all done with, I know that they've had a great time," Dean said with confidence.

Dean knows that from experience. He's been running this intramural program for 51 years.

"Ohhh!" he exclaimed, after an impressive catch made by one student behind his back.

He makes sure to cheer the kids on to greatness.

"Brady! What a play," he said with pride.

"Milt is like everybody's grandfather, right," said Principal Camille Schroeder. 

Schroeder has known Dean for years.

"He's the guy you love to see, and you can't wait until your Tuesday rolls around," she said.

The program is simple. Fifth graders sign up and get to play all kinds of sports.

"Football to basketball to baseball to hockey," Dean said.

And back inside the gym, it's dodgeball.

"Well, I mean, I just love sports," said 5th grader Parker Olson.

Dean taught at Prairie Lane for 34 years but has long since retired.

In "2004," he said. 

He came back to keep doing this.

"I said, as long as you don't pay me and I don't have to do any paperwork," he laughed.

"He coined the slogan, 'Prairie Lane and proud of it.' And that's what he lives," Schroeder said.

A proud product of Kenosha schools himself, he was on the Bradford High School wrestling team. He served in Vietnam before coming home to teach.

"If you play, you won't grow old. For me, that's the bottom line," he said.

Staying young by teaching the rules of the game. Some lessons, though, have nothing to do with sports.

"To definitely be yourself," said Samara Winnie, when asked what Dean has taught her.

"The teachers love him. The kids love him. They're waiting for 5th grade to be in intramurals. And we just can't imagine a school without Milt Dean," Schroeder said.

And after a lifetime of playing, Dean is still teaching kids it's not about whether you win or lose. 

"Life is a game. You just gotta play it the right way," he said.

Dean said his former students do come back to see him, but he added that he gets to go see some of them play now. Gavin Lux-- who plays second base for the Los Angeles Dodgers-- played in his intramural program.

If you'd like to nominate an everyday hero, send Natalie a message at [email protected].