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1974
2013
(News article) DELTA, Ohio - The principal at Delta Elementary School and a former middle school science teacher who for a decade was head coach of the Delta High School boys' basketball team, Cory L. Sprow died Thursday in University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital. He was 38.
Mr. Sprow was admitted to the hospital after being injured Dec. 26 in a collision on an icy highway in Fulton County's Swancreek Township.
After his death, flags in the district were lowered to half-staff, said Jay LeFevre, superintendent of Pike-Delta-York Local Schools.
Mr. Sprow became elementary principal at the start of the 2012-13 school year. He taught sixth-grade science and health for much of his career in the P-D-Y school district.
"He was a very heart-warming individual," Mr. LeFevre said. "He was instantly likable, a shiny-faced kind of guy who was organized and efficient and reliable.
"His personality was genuine," said Mr. LeFevre, whom Mr. Sprow replaced as elementary principal. "He would walk the talk and was a pure, kind, and sincere individual. Leadership was the key quality to his success as a building principal. In the short time he was there, he made a strong impact on the staff."
He led the boys' high school basketball team from 2002 through the start of 2012.
"He had a bit of a fiery, passionate coaching style," Mr. LeFevre said. "For sure, a class act, and [he] earned respect all over northwest Ohio."
His 100th victory as coach came in February.
"Winning was never everything to him," his wife, Tammy, said. "He expected certain things out of his kids. He expected respect and discipline. Kids want that. They respond to that."
He knew from experience. He'd been a point guard for the Edon High School basketball team.
"He remembered it like it was yesterday, what it felt to play in those games and to be in their shoes," his wife said. "He worked hard to balance winning, knowing that they had family and school obligations."
His teams didn't win a district title, but he twice was Northwest Ohio Athletic League coach of the year. He was District VII coach of the year in 2010.
"He would have given that all away to have the district championship for his kids," his wife said. "But it was an honor knowing that was voted on by fellow coaches."
Mr. Sprow early on was an assistant to Mr. LeFevre, who then was varsity baseball coach. When Mr. Sprow was varsity basketball coach, Mr. LeFevre coached junior high basketball, and they coached golf together.
"He spent his adult professional career with me. We've been very close," Mr. LeFevre said.
Mr. Sprow was hired by the district in 1998, the year he received his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Bowling Green State University.
"He loved science and the hands-on stuff he liked to do with the kids," his wife said. Students saw nature close-up during overnight field trips to Camp Palmer and Camp Storer - for some students, their first time away from home.
A favorite student project was Mr. Sprow's annual egg drop from the highest bench of the football stadium. Students were instructed to be creative in finding ways to protect their eggs, and it became a competition, middle school Principal Dennis Ford said. One student used a disposable diaper, and the egg broke.
"He really made them understand the importance of science, but he made it fun," Mr. Ford said. "If I walked into his classroom, his kids were always engaged, and that showed his delight with kids."
Mr. Sprow's wife said: "He wasn't their friend, but kids related to him. He spoke their language. He spoke at their level - to them, not at them."
He was born Oct. 11, 1974, in Bryan. He grew up in Edon, and was a graduate of Edon High, where he played basketball, was a wide receiver and tight end on the football team, and center fielder on the baseball team.
"He always knew he wanted to be a coach, so being a teacher was a natural extension of that," his wife said.
He was a coach for his daughters' soccer team.
Surviving are his wife, Tammy, whom he married Aug. 5, 2000; daughters, Ally, 9, and Kendall, 6; mother, Diane Moore, and her husband, Bill; father, Kevan Sprow, and his fiancee, Fran Stevens; brother Chris Sprow; sister, Kallie Gensler, and grandparents, Peg and George Sprow.
Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday in Trinity Lutheran Church, Delta, where he was a member. A celebration of life is to be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Delta High gymnasium. Arrangements are by the Grisier Funeral Home in Delta.
The family suggests tributes to the Delta Panther Athletic Club or Coaches vs. Cancer, a collaboration of the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Contact Blade staff writer Mark Zaborney at: [email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email protected]">[email 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10 Entries
To Cory's Family:
We cannot tell you how shocked and saddened we are about Cory's sudden death. He was such a wonderful neighbor to our mother, Pat Moss, on Hawthorne Drive. We will never forget all the help he gave her by watching out for her, putting her garbage out to the curb, shovelling snow, and keeping us posted about Mom's status. All of us lived out-of-town, and it gave us great comfort to know that Cory and his family were keeping an eye on our mother. Our family is forever grateful, and we know that he has a special place in heaven because he was an angel. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with Tammy, the girls and the rest of his family. He will be very missed.
January 11, 2013
I was so sorry to hear about Cory. Great guy. He was one of my students in education law several years ago at BGSU. One of the best. I enjoyed following him over the years with teaching, coaching, and leadership. My thoughts and prayers are with the Sprow family.
Patrick Pauken
January 10, 2013
kelly cox
January 9, 2013
My condolences go out to the Sprow Family.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Annie Miranda
January 8, 2013
Coach sprow was such a great person and i loved having him as one of my coaches. Always smiling and making everyday more enjoyable. My prayers go out to his family.
David Archibeque
January 7, 2013
I met Cory in 1993 and had the honor of knowing him and his family. My thoughts and prayers are with all of them.
Tim Murray
January 7, 2013
I am a teacher at Edon-Northwest Schools. I remember Cory well. I did not teach him, but I taught his brother Chris and his sister Kallie. My heart aches for the family, and I send hugs and prayers. He rests among the stars now. Barbara Fogel
January 7, 2013
All of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cathy Dancer - Preschool
January 6, 2013
I was born and raised in Delta and a 1967 grad. I never knew Mr Sprow, having been away from Delta for a long time, but he sounds like a wonderful guy who was much loved. I just wanted to say how terribly sorry I am for this huge loss to family and the school district.
Beth Lutton Hayes
January 6, 2013
our condolences to the family
thomas flathers
January 6, 2013
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