Track coach, daughter-in-law of Nike co-founder, fired for taking senior to prom

Yahoo! ^ | May 24, 2012 | Cameron Smith

[Loyalist]

The daughter-in-law of Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman, who has served as a volunteer high school track and field coach in Oregon, was fired on Monday after an investigation proved that she escorted a 17-year-old member of her boys track squad to the school's prom.

As reported by the Associated Press, 41-year-old Melissa Bowerman, the daughter-in-law of waffle-sole inventor Bill Bowerman, escorted an unnamed 17-year-old on the Condon (Ore.) High track team to the school's prom after the runner told her he lacked a date for the prom. Bowerman, who is married to 73-year-old co-coach Jon Bowerman and also has a son on the same team, told the AP that she offered to take the student to prom in part to motivate him to improve his grades in his English class.

[servo1969]

Maybe the school decided that they didn't like her very much. Just speculating here but it's possible that she, as a woman of 41 married to a 71 year-old wealthy man, is a crazy-eyed gold-digging wh*re. Maybe she acted inappropriately and since they were already tired of her crap they got rid of her.

Maybe they were jealous of her money.

Maybe they're a bunch of good little administrative robots following their zero tolerance policy.

Or maybe they're a bunch of idiots.

Some combination of the above.

[servo1969]

73 year-old.

[gunsequalfreedom]

She’s married to a 71 year old and dating 17 year olds. Talk about playing the field.

That kind of comment is really bad to make. My guess is this is all completely innocent. In today's world it was a dumb thing for her to do but I doubt she had any designs on the lad.

I will believe the story is as was reported, that he did not have a date to the prom and she was being nice and said okay. Innocent, respectable person having no idea people's minds were so in the gutter.

[txrangerette]

Above board it may have been.

Well intentioned, etc.

It wasn’t WISE.

Just because she thought and her husband thought etc. etc. doesn’t make her choice appropriate.

Like it or not, actions by someone occupying this role are subject to scrutiny by school authorities and the community.

These days the teacher-student thing is totally out of control, adding to the “appearance” problem.

[gunsequalfreedom]

The prom is suppose to be for the Junior and Senior students at the school and their dates. I am thinking the key word is “dates”.

At our school prom there were lots of kids that did not come with dates. The school set up a dance card system for them. I think I even remember a couple of the teachers dancing with some of the students that were having a difficult time finding someone to dance with.

Yes, it was better to go with a date but it was not a "key" to attendance and those without a date were not locked out. Maybe they don't let kids in without a date any more.

[exit82]

she offered to take the student to prom in part to motivate him to improve his grades in his English class.

I was so deprived--none of my high school teachers ever motivated me.

[dfwgator]

“Into the mud, Scum Queen.”

[momtothree]

“Innocent, respectable person having no idea people’s minds were so in the gutter”.

Unfortunately, society is making adult-child sexual behavior legitimate. The teacher unions have helped make this possible, of course. How many times do you read about a teacher involved in a sexual relationship with a student? Ten years ago, it was teacher with a high school student. Now it is not uncommon to read teacher with a middle school student. Eventually, you know we will see cases involving a teacher with a elementary school student. Unlike when I was a kid, the lines between the behavior of adults and kids is getting blurred. It isn’t any wonder that the administration and some of the parents didn’t condone this behavior... whether it was done with good intentions or not. I hope she gets her job back but I don’t judge the adults in this situation that felt it was not a good idea. IMHO.

[gunsequalfreedom]

I agree with you.

[Bigh4u2]

Don’t some of you people on here READ the article before commenting?

Sheese...

[momtothree]

“Maybe they don’t let kids in without a date any more”.

Unless this school is very different than ours, they still do. In fact, I have a good friend and her daughter just went to the Prom with her friends. They had an absolutely wonderful time. The parents all chipped in for a limo, they went to dinner together, danced till their feet were hurting and slept over at one house. Two of the girls have boyfriends that were away at college and couldn’t get back for the Prom. Three of the girls don’t have beau’s but wanted to have a good time with their friends. From what I heard... it was a wonderful time for them.

[trailhkr1]

first all schools and “proms” should be separated, they should not be associated with each other. these days prom=sex, ask any high schooler.

Well, I went to three proms and zero sex at 2 and yes on the third but that was with a steady gf and I was getting it from her before the prom. I am in my mid 20's so it was not that long ago.

Geron, they are going to have sex whether they go tot he prom or not. Trust me most are not getting sex at the prom and tbh the rate of sex in HS today is near the 1970's level. There is not as much going ion as you would be lead to believe.

Did you ever go to the prom?

[dfwgator]

GLEE is a show from the deepest pits of Hell.