Clarion Area And Wildcats Honors Coach Alex Arth With Tribute Prior To Clarion Area Homecoming Game

(Above image L-R) Coach Larry Wiser, Joe Beichner, Mrs. Arth, Doug Arth (Mrs. Arth holding photo of Coach Arth)

The Clarion Area High School and Central Clarion Wildcat Football Team had a stirring, emotional Tribute to longtime coach and educator Alex Arth who passed away earlier this year, in a ceremony, just prior to the Wildcats’ Clarion Area Homecoming Game at Memorial Stadium, on Friday (October 1st).

Coach Arth was the line coach for the Bobcats and the team’s Lineman of the Year Award, the “Alex Arth “Hogmeister Award” is named in his honor. He also spent years gathering stats, with the student volunteer Stat Girls, who compiled statistics at the games.

To know Coach Arth was to love him.

Among those in attendance, Friday night, were Coach Arth’s wife Mary Kay, his son Doug, good friend Joe Beichner, former Bobcat and Wildcat coach Larry Wiser and former coach Robert Murphy.

Another of Coach Arth’s fellow educators and coaches, Dave Constantino conducted the ceremony, with a reverence befitting Coach Arth’s legacy.

Following is the transcript of his very fitting comments:

“On April nineteenth, two-thousand and twenty-one, our community lost one of the great ones, Alex Joseph Arth Jr. He was an amazing man who touched thousands of lives, and thousands of students, throughout his time here at Clarion.

“He had a giving nature that carried over to his work where he taught at Clarion High School for roughly thirty-seven years and where he served as a line coach for thirty-five years, under head coaches Norm Zwald, Dave “Red” Bevevino, John Reish, Ray Austin and Larry Wiser.

“He also served as track coach and even dabbled a little bit into basketball. He was also that guy running the clock at virtually every game, match or event that took place at the high school gymnasium.

“Long after he retired from coaching, you could see him here at the stadium, along with his wife Mary Kay, good friend and fellow Clarion Area teacher Joe Beichner decked out in Bobcat Orange and Black on the left side aisle seats heading up to the press box, to cheer on his beloved Bobcats and later, the Wildcats.

“You would see the trio at various other Bobcat sporting events throughout the years, always decked out in Bobcat colors.

“He is survived by his wife, Mary Kay, his sons Brian and Doug, sisters, Judy and Linda, and his grandchildren, Kensington, Colin and Praslin.

“At this time, we would like you to stand and we’d like to take a moment of silence for this incredible, incredible father, husband, coach, teacher and human being. (Moment of Silence observed.)

“Thank you, thank you. (applause)

“We would also recognize tonight that his wife Mary Kay and his son Doug are in attendance. They are seated at the forty yard line, closest to the scoreboard. (to Mary Kay and Doug) if you could take the time to kind of wave here… (to those in attendance) and give these individuals a rousing round of applause.” (applause)

Mrs. Arth shared with Clarion Sports Zone about Coach Arth’s love for this community, his team, his students:

“My husband Alex really loved Clarion. He was just at the right place. He got his job when Mr. (Ernest) Aharrah went to the college. Al was lucky enough to get the job and he really loved Clarion and football, the students. He loved all the teachers he worked with.

“He had so many good things to say about them and Clarion.”

She expressed her gratitude for the Tribute. “Today was really nice. I was really glad I could be here for the dedication to Al. He would have loved it too. So I’m getting royal service. . . .”

Clarion was ‘Home’ to the Arth’s. Mrs. Arth said, “Clarion really meant a lot to Al. He never really wanted to live anywhere else. And he wouldn’t stay in Florida either. He got homesick for Clarion, that’s the way it was.

“He loved football and coaching football. He loved Larry (Coach Wiser). He was really crazy about Larry.

“After Al retired, I thought we would be in Florida half the year and in Clarion half the year. But Al did not like Florida and he didn’t want to stay there too long, when we went. We went to Florida a lot of times, but he never wanted to stay long.”

Mrs. Arth shares her husbands fondness for the community. “I love Clarion too. I find it to be a nice little town.”

And this community loves the Arth’s. They have made us Clarion Proud for years!!!!