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cavalier sports 8 CAVALIER CORNER D r. Colin Steele (Educ. '56) has a sto- ried history as a Virginia wrestling student-athlete alumnus, educator and VAF donor. His experiences developed his pas- sions to make a difference in his commu- nity by coaching and teaching, while also giving back to support future generations of Virginia student-athletes. As a teenager, Dr. Steele was encour- aged to try out for wrestling and made the team, changing his life. His high school wrestling champion- ships were held at the University of Virginia and he felt it was almost ordained for him to at- tend Virginia following graduation. The first on his father's side to go to college, he loved school, especially math, and knew he wanted to study physics and later become an educator. Wrestling at UVA provided Dr. Steele with some unique experiences and new perspectives. He was a proud wrestling student-athlete and his college experience was highlighted by earning the first-ever individual ACC title. He didn't know the significance of the accomplishment at the time. As the only 123-pounder for four years, if he missed a match, the team would have to forfeit. And, at the time, there weren't many spectators or home matches. During his first-year season, one month before the first-ever ACC Tournament, he sprained his ankle playing pickup football at his Theta Chi fraternity house. Coach Frank Finger's solution was to teach him how to wrestle on one knee. He practiced for three weeks on one knee and went on to win the ACC title in his weight class. Dr. Steele cherishes the coaches, team- mates and memories. "Disaster and defeat sometimes, with wrestling, when you win, it's all you; when you lose, it's all you," he reflected. "You can't blame the coach. I liked that part of it. I don't think I knew then that [the ACC title] meant something." Following college, Dr. Steele was in the Navy for three and a half years. Given his background in cryptography, he was sta- tioned at the Pentagon where his skills as a statistician were also useful. When Dr. Steele returned to civilian life, he accepted a position teaching math- ematics at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School which had been on the cover of Life magazine as one of five most outstanding schools in America. It was a bonus that the school was just starting a wrestling team. Dr. Steele wanted to coach for a new program over one with an established his- tory and accomplish- ments. With his hire at Bethesda-Chevy Chase, he accom- plished his goals of being a physics teacher and a wrestling coach. Dr. Steele's life changed again in 1996 when he was asked to take over AP Physics classes when another teacher retired. He spent the summer selecting 32 students who were all very bright and would be studying magnetic force in America. The students in his first AP class were very special to Dr. Steele and later they asked him to host a reunion event. Of the 32, 26 returned for the reunion and had an amazing time highlighted by physics cha- rades. This was the beginning of a special re- union tradition over the years, and Dr. Steele is especially proud that 16 former students earned their PhD, four of those in physics. The plan for their 2017 reunion was to watch the August eclipse in Jackson Hole, Wyo., together. The prior December, Dr. Steele's son, a financial adviser in Chi- cago, met a producer of a news show for CBS who was intrigued by his dad's story. They loved the concept, "Dr. Steele's class goes on a field trip." His son and class surprised him with the news that summer and everyone was excited to be on national television. The film crew produced a story, came to Bethesda for interviews and then went to the Wyoming eclipse re- union as part of the show. Part of the show is still available online, including Dr. Steele leading his class and their families in singing "You are My Sunshine" and telling the producer, "The reason we bonded so much, they were all above me intellectually and I was going to keep them entertained." This special reunion experience is a cherished memory with his son and class. As Dr. Steele said, "Things happen and you don't know why." Dr. Steele cared for all of his students over the years as if they were his own kids or team members. "I knew intuitively, then, now and in the future, kids don't automatically like going to school," he said. "I knew the first time I went, but I realize that wasn't everyone's experience. If you can relate the class in some way to the rest of the world, then do it and see what happens. "No one taught me that; maybe I learned it somewhere." Throughout the years, Dr. Steele and his wife have financially supported educa- tion. His wife received her master's degree in education so they both shared a great love for education and made it one of their longtime philanthropies. Due to his love for the wrestling pro- gram, he has been supporting Virginia Athletics since the 1980s and has given to the Coach Frank Finger Endowment for Wrestling because Coach Finger was so influential in his life. Dr. Steele stays well connected with the program by touching base with current head coach Steve Garland often to talk wrestling. When he visits Charlottesville, he attends wrestling practices and shows them how his team used to wrestle by get- ting on the mat with the student-athletes. His longtime giving and support have led to a larger purpose. The passing of his wife seven years ago significantly changed his life. She included intentions of starting a scholarship in Dr. Steele's name in her will. His son asked if he wanted to set up an endowed scholarship before he passes and Dr. Steele liked the idea of being remem- bered. He decided to set up a scholarship in his name and created the "Dr. Colin G. Steele Bicentennial Scholars Fund" for the wrestling program with a significant con- tribution in his trust. Dr. Steele recognized that making such a substantial gift allowed him to give back to the program that gave him so much and he continued to support his University and higher education. He has been inspired by Virginia wrestling coaches stating, "Frank Finger was a living testimony to the sport of wrestling and someday Coach Garland will be, too." — Jess Armistead Dr. Colin Steele WAHOO NATION Dr. Steele holds the distinction of win- ning the first-ever individual ACC title in wrestling. PHOTO COURTESY DR. COLIN STEELE