Even after moving from Middle River 57 years ago, Jerry and Jan Snyder remain avid supporters and interested spectators of Middle River events.
Jerry graduated from Deer River High School in 1956 and obtained his teaching degree from Bemidji State College in 1961.
Middle River High School was Jerry’s first teaching assignment when he was hired as a math teacher in the fall of 1961, also coaching basketball and baseball. When Superintendent Robert Prickett suffered a fatal heart attack in January of 1966, Don English was elevated from principal to superintendent and Jerry was moved from the classroom to principal. “Because I lacked school administration certification, the Minnesota State Department of Education okayed the move provided that I work toward certification,” said Jerry. That spring he took classes at North Dakota State and Bemidji State College. “However, I left MR at the end of the 1966 school year so my school administration career was short lived!” he quipped.
While in Middle River he was a kind, well-liked teacher in the classroom as well as outside the classroom. I think most former Skippers will always remember his “Traveling Ranger Show” which always brought levity to the classroom. But once he hit the basketball coach’s bench, his disposition definitely turned intense and determined, with victory and the players’ performance being the ultimate goal. The spectators snickered as a game intensified, his pant legs would creep higher and higher getting closer to his knees as the score became closer! His Middle River record was 80 wins and 27 losses and the highlight of his Skipper coaching career was winning the district title in 1964.
Rick Anderson, Class of 1964, shares: “I have very fond memories of Jerry Snyder as a coach in basketball and baseball, teammate in independent baseball and as a friend when he and Jan visited us in Maryland. He coached with intensity and intelligence and really projected a winning attitude. He brought the best out in each of his players. I remember one basketball game when we were ahead by 30 points in the second half and were not serious about how we played the rest of the game. Rick Holmes threw me a showboat behind the back pass and Coach Snyder jumped off the bench and pulled us both out. As I stated, he coached with intensity!” After leaving MRHS his next teaching assignment was at Staples for 1 year where he also was assistant coach. He then spent 3 seasons at Foley, and his final teaching job, and extraordinary coaching career was spent at Lake City for 28 years. It was here that he became one of the most successful coaches in Minnesota. While at Lake City, he won Minnesota State High School League titles in 1978, 1979, and 1990; is 8th in State Tournament Winning Percentage at .833 and a 10-2 record; and was inducted into the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000. He recorded an undefeated championship in 1979 with a 26-0 record. He was inducted into the Lake City Hall of Fame in 2006, acknowledging his successful career including a home winning streak of 45 games.Also inducted to the Lake City Hall of Fame in 2006 was Randy Breuer, former basketball player for Coach Snyder, who went on to play professional basketball. For many summers Jerry visited with Randy annually when he hosted the “Randy Breuer Open” golf tournament at Zumbro Falls 20 minutes south of Lake City. Covid put the tournament on hold and then it was never revived. He still sees him occasionally at Lake City events.
He retired from the classroom in 1995 but remained a basketball coach for an additional 3 seasons. He is still an avid sports fan, following all levels - high school, college, and professional as well as amateur baseball. In the fall he enjoys playing fantasy football and still enjoys fishing as well as deer hunting. One of his favorite hobbies is horse racing and because of modern technology, he is able to play the races from home. He and his wife, Jan, have been wintering in Florida since 2003 with this being their 20th year since they did not travel in 2021 due to the Covid situation. They have spent most of their time in southwest Florida, primarily in Bonita Springs.
Throughout the years, Jerry has remained connected with all events in Middle River as a subscriber to the Honker, and stays in contact with many former students. He has returned for many class reunions and was a special guest at the 2019 Skipperpalooza. He has always taken great interest in his former MRHS students.
Jerry Snyder has left many Middle River students with a plethora of wonderful memories - as teacher, coach, and friend. He will be remembered as bringing the District 32 basketball title to the Skippers in 1964, the first since the teams of 1938 and 1939.
Rick Holmes, Class of 1964, sums up his description of Jerry Snyder: “For me personally, I thought he was the first really good basketball coach we had! I’m sure there’s people that don’t necessarily agree with me on that, but that’s how I felt about him. The one thing that he did for me, that still resonates with me today, is he always talked about having a positive mental attitude! Not just about basketball, but about everything you did. You might have heard me say on occasion, ‘every day is a good day, and some are even better!’ That would be vintage Jerry Snyder!” The same Jerry Snyder that brings smiles to Middle River faces when you mention his name.
