Kudos to Dave Gray

Dear Editor,

While looking through old files, Diane Cartwright came across this letter to the Spokesman Review from Nona Kaye Clark.

The letter is a tribute, so to speak, to Dave Gray who is now a retired high school teacher. Dave delivered doughnuts on payday to the district office until his retirement in 2005.

I called Nona Kaye and she gave me permission to send this to you if you would like to put it in the paper or part of it or use it somehow, to let Dave know we have not forgotten his kindness.?

As you probably know, Nona Kaye was the payroll clerk at the time when he started bringing doughnuts.

Sue Winey

Administration Secretary

Boundary County School District No. 101

Here we are the end of January! I wonder how many 2001 New Year’s resolutions have already been broken. If there was a contest for the “Best Kept New Year’s Resolution,” I would have to nominate Dave Gray, a teacher at Bonners Ferry High School.

Jan. 22, 1989, Dave delivered doughnuts to the School District Administration Office. He said his New Year’s resolution was to send doughnuts to the “ladies at the district office every payday.” I thought it was a really nice gesture, but wondered how long it would last. Well, the doughnuts arrived every payday during the remainder of the school year. I was sure that summer break would mark the end of the treats, but they continued every month throughout the summer.

When January 1990, rolled around, I thought, congratulations to Dave — he kept his New Year’s resolution . . . but I’ll miss the doughnuts! To my surprise, payday came with the doughnuts at the door!

It is now Jan. 22, 2001, and I’m enjoying my 144th maple bar. Dave has missed ONE payday. That was June 1991, when he and his wife, Dottie, left on vacation as soon as school was out for the summer to renew their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary. When he got home, he said in his excitement, he completely forgot us!

If he has to be gone, he arranges for someone else to deliver the goods. Even when we were without a bakery in town, Dave brought us fruit or muffins.

Now, when someone new is hired in the district office, they are told, “Don’t eat breakfast on payday because Dave brings us doughnuts!”

Thank you, Dave, for bringing a little extra sunshine to the district office on payday!

Nona Kay Clark, Payroll Clerk

Boundary County School District No. 101

Bonners Ferry, Idaho

Please send letters to the Bonners Ferry Herald, P.O. Box 539, Bonners, Idaho 83864, or drop them off at 7183 Main St. You may also e-mail to ssilva@bonnersferryherald.com