I first met John Yager at Jefferson High School, where we were both teachers. This was around 1966; John arrived to teach shop shortly after I had started as a math teacher and track coach. We hit it off easily; he was as humble and honest as you could find, someone you wanted to be around. I think everyone liked him.
John was a talented and skilled guy; I think he could do anything with wood! And he loved to be around the kids. He would set them off on projects — a cutting board for mom, say, or a bench for dad — and then he would be there to guide them through the details. If you needed help, he’d be there. I think the kids responded to that; if they had a question, they felt comfortable going to him. He not only wanted to help them, but to make them feel at ease.
But John also had a sense of humor, always coming up with jokes and funny things. You had to be on your toes at all times when he was around — which suited me well. One day, I was walking towards the gym for track practice. A number of kids were by the gym doors of the gym. John happened to be walking toward me, and as he got closer, I took a starter’s pistol out of my pocket. I shot at him twice, and he got the joke instantly — grabbed his chest, spun around, fell to the ground and curled up in a ball.
The kids screamed, “What did Mr. Connole do to Mr. Yager?!” John got up and we laughed and hugged! We probably couldn’t have gotten away with that today, but at the time, it was such fun.
After retiring from teaching, John moved to East Helena, where he did a lot of renovation projects for folks. He had a great shop in his home with all kinds of tools. He also had many, many model trains. He had an entire basement room with nothing but trains — on tracks, on shelves, some in unopened boxes. He created an entire city, built on multiple levels; trains would run up hills, around the corner, back down, around the room. What a room!
John was one of the great men I have known. I miss him.
