Family members of Bill Maskill and Kalamazoo artist Josh Diedrich and his wife gather in front of the statue Diedrich made after the unveiling ceremony September 5 at Maskill Field.
By Bruce Rolfe
A statue unveiling ceremony September 5 of long time former Galesburg-Augusta High School varsity football coach and Hall of Fame member Bill Maskill at Maskill Field drew praise and appreciation.
The impressive statue, made by Kalamazoo artist Josh Diedrich, drew praise. Having a statue of a man that was loved by many and did so much for the community at the field named after him, brought appreciation.
Known as “Coach” by most people, Maskill coached at G-A from 1957-1990. He guided four G-A football teams to four Class C state championships (1962, 1966, 1967, and 1970), and two Class C state runner up finishes in 1990 and 1959.
A statue unveiling ceremony September 5 of long time former Galesburg-Augusta High School varsity football coach and Hall of Fame member Bill Maskill at Maskill Field drew praise and appreciation.
The impressive statue, made by Kalamazoo artist Josh Diedrich, drew praise. Having a statue of a man that was loved by many and did so much for the community at the field named after him, brought appreciation.
Known as “Coach” by most people, Maskill coached at G-A from 1957-1990. He guided four G-A football teams to four Class C state championships (1962, 1966, 1967, and 1970), and two Class C state runner up finishes in 1990 and 1959.
Maskill died October 22, 2019.
A large number of players who played for Bill Maskill from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, were recognized on the track between the first and second periods September 5.
G-A Superintendent Dr. Lindsey Newton told the large audience the statue serves as a reminder today and for future generations about Maskill’s legacy.
Longtime football statistician and lifelong Galesburg resident Dale Martin talked about the inspiration behind the sculpture.
He said G-A’s 42-12 win October 15, 1982 over Paw Paw gave Maskill 213 wins and made him the winningest high school coach in Michigan at that time. A picture was taken that night of Maskill being carried off the field by his players. The sculpture shows three players lifting Maskill on their shoulders.
Martin, who was team statistician the majority of the years Maskill coached at G-A, talked about some of the legendary coach’s qualities.
Longtime G-A football statistician Dale Martin talks about Bill Maskill and the statue at the September 5 statue unveiling ceremony at Maskill Field. Also pictured from left is Kalamazoo artist Josh Diedrich’s wife, who is a G-A graduate, Diedrich, and G-A Superintendent Dr. Lindsey Newton.
“People always ask, did Coach have a favorite team? And he did. It was all of them. The first team that didn’t win a game, teams that won every game, he loved them all. He knew every guy. He could tell you the stories behind every guy,” said Martin, a 1964 graduate of G-A High School.
Diedrich said the family started talking to him in 2019 about the statue. He began the design process in October, 2023.
He reviewed the statue making process to the large gathering, noting it took 19 different drafts of the face before family members and close friends felt the face looked like the popular G-A coach.
The Bill Maskill statue is pictured above shortly after it was unveiled September 5 at a pre-game ceremony at Maskill Field.
“The love for Coach has just been overwhelming through the entire process. I’ve had the help of so many people. Memories, reminisces and knowledge of the man to help me along. The whole plan with the design was to make the heads (of the players) at about head height with the helmets, so when a crowd surrounded him, it would be like he was being lifted up on the crowd’s shoulders. It’s very gratifying to see that finally come to fruition tonight,” said Diedrich after the unveiling ceremony.
After Martin pulled a blanket off the statue for the public to see for the first time, the impressive statue Diedrich made of Coach, the words, “Oh my God” could be heard as the large gathering gave a loud applause.
The varsity football team led the audience with the school fight song.
Maskill’s son, Billy and Billy’s wife, Mary Helen, offered short speeches about the statue making process, and how Coach Maskill impacted people.
Maskill’s daughter Jayne Maskill called the statue unveiling event held before a large number of people covering a variety of age spans, “overwhelming.”
“All of these people coming together and the connections that Coach had is here. It’s part of his legacy and how he demonstrated it. He touched everybody in a different way.
The G-A Ram Jam before the Bill Maskill statue unveiling ceremony and G-A football game September 5 drew a large crowd.
And he connected people,” said the Hall of Fame coach’s daughter.
While Diedrich’s work drew praise, most appreciated having a statue in place that will remind the public how special a person Maskill was.
“I love it. It’s well deserved. It should have been here probably 10 years ago. The best coach ever. The turnout’s great. So many faces. Guys I played with, guys I trained. You can’t beat it. Best turnout ever. Coach, right now is loving it,” said Guin Brady, a 1969 graduate who played on two of Maskill’s State Championship teams in 1966 and 1967.
“It’s a great tribute to a coach that made history in Michigan and left a legacy here at G-A. This is a wonderful reminder to our students and communities that small schools can accomplish great things,” adds lifelong Galesburg resident Joyce Henson, a 1973 graduate of G-A.
While Diedrich’s work drew praise, most appreciated having a statue in place that will remind the public how special a person Maskill was.
“I love it. It’s well deserved. It should have been here probably 10 years ago. The best coach ever. The turnout’s great. So many faces. Guys I played with, guys I trained. You can’t beat it. Best turnout ever. Coach, right now is loving it,” said Guin Brady, a 1969 graduate who played on two of Maskill’s State Championship teams in 1966 and 1967.
“It’s a great tribute to a coach that made history in Michigan and left a legacy here at G-A. This is a wonderful reminder to our students and communities that small schools can accomplish great things,” adds lifelong Galesburg resident Joyce Henson, a 1973 graduate of G-A.
“It’s well deserved for Coach. He was special,” said Bob Blake of Galesburg and a 1967 G-A graduate.
Jim Hughes, a 1975 graduate of G-A who played three years at the varsity level for Maskill, said the huge turnout and large number of alumni who came to the statue unveiling event, offers a glimpse of how many lives the legendary G-A coach touched.
“I think what is so many amazing about it is, the legacy continues. Year after year after year, former players, teachers, coaches, they come back and they show up, and we’re here to honor Bill Maskill. You think about a gentleman, a coach from 1957 to 1990, in one school district, and to accomplish what he did is unheard of,” said Hughes.
“The legacy that he’s leaving for our family, my cousins, my children, my wife MaryHelen and all of their kids. All the people coming back, that is hopefully going to generate some energy and excitement. You’ve got a new practice field here, a new stadium, and it looks like they’ve got a pretty good football team,” adds Maskill’s son, Billy.
A large number of players who played for Maskill from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, were recognized on the track between the first and second periods of the September 5 game.
Maskill was named Regional Coach of the Year nine times and was recognized as Class C Coach of the Year seven times.
Coach compiled a 241-66-1 record at G-A and had a career record of 272-84-2. He retired in 1990 as the “Winningest” Coach in Michigan.
Maskill was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1983, the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2005 and the G-A High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
The plaque on the cement pedestal base the statue rests on states Maskill coached 537 players in 34 years at G-A.
––––––––––––––––––––
Subscribe to the Legal News!
https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available
