At Soto Court

Legendary is a word that is sometimes overused, but in the case of Dario Soto, Physical Education (P.E.) teacher at Medicine Bow Elementary (MBE) and Elk Mountain Elementary and Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) head coach of the the junior high basketball team, the word works well in describing him.

"He has done so much for the sporting community, but more importantly the kids," Shelly Cooper, a teacher at MBE and a former student of Soto, said. "This is an awesome thing to do."

Cooper's statement refers to HEM High School naming its gymnasium Soto Court on Saturday before the matchup between Saratoga and HEM junior high basketball teams, after the man who has coached northern Carbon County teams since arriving in 1966.

Soto has taught from kindergarten to seniors in high school and he had winning teams in basketball and football at Medicine Bow High. Adult residents who grew up in the three communities speak reverently of the P.E. teacher.

Soto retired in 1993, but after two years he found himself coming back to help the Medicine Bow elementary as a substitute. The next thing Soto knew, Elk Mountain and Medicine Bow elementary schools needed a P.E. teacher and Carbon County School District No. 2 asked him to take the position. He has been teaching at the schools since.

He grew up in Pine Bluffs, where he was born, and after graduating high school, joined the U.S. Navy. Upon leaving the navy, he went to University of Wyoming, graduated with a teaching degree for social studies and a minor in physical education. He started his teaching career at Ft. Laramie, lasting three years, before he came to Medicine Bow. He has been in the town since.

His coaching career has encompassed 56 years, over 600 games, with a nearly .500 win percentage.

"This honor is long overdue," Kevin Colman, mayor of Medicine Bow and former student, said of Soto. "He was always a man of integrity who demanded the best of whoever he worked with. He never accepted mediocrity and he really changed the way basketball was played in this area of the state. He was always that man who would stick up for you, always watch out for you and always wanted you to succeed."

"He is awesome," Kenda Colman, Medicine Bow resident and mother of Kevin, said. "He was not only an excellent coach, but an excellent teacher who really worked with every kid to make them the best that they could be."

Soto was inducted into the Wyoming Coaches Hall of Fame in 1985. At the time of his induction, he was well known for his success in basketball and track. He had six district championships, one regional championship, three state runner up titles and two state championships.

"This is well deserved," Karen Patton, school nurse for Carbon County School District No. 2 (CCSD2), said. "He teaches them not only what it is like to try and win the game, but what it is like to be a good loser. He teaches the big picture."

"I think our kids are lucky to have him as a coach," Kit Felton, Carbon County resident, said.

Joy Kennedy, another Carbon County resident who has had grandchildren coached under Soto, said the kids come away with great self esteem.

The game between the Panthers and Miners was delayed about fifteen minutes for the ceremony. As HEM principal Steve Priest gave recognition to Soto, the audience clapped and shouted boisterously. The Panther team and fans also participated enthusiastically.

"I think this recognition is just great,"

said Dean Bartow (Mr. B), a former teacher who worked with Soto and is one of his best friends. "He cares unbelievably about the kids and he is totally all about them."

In 1998 Soto was inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

"Every school should have a Mr. Soto," Courtney Priest, secretary at MBE, said. "We say that every day."

Paul Clark, CCSD2 board of education member, said when he was young, Soto would take him and friends to football games at the University of Wyoming.

"The amount of time he spent with each kid to make them think they were really worth something, I think is testament to a lot of the good people we have in this county now because of him," Clark said. "When Travis Ward brought up the idea of naming the gym after him it was unanimous by the board to give him the honor because he is what every coach should be."

Another close friend of Soto, Doug Allen, said the honoree has a heart of gold.

"He loves these kids unconditionally," Allen said. "Dario is so sincere, what you see is what you get and there isn't a phony bone in his body."

Travis Ward, who suggested the idea to the board, reiterated the honor was long overdue. Ward had been Soto's assistant coach until this year.

"When I saw Coach Reed in Baggs get the honor there, it made sense to do it here," Ward said. "It's a pretty small token of what we could do since he has been here so long."

Soto was named Wyoming Coaches Association B and C track coach of the year in 1972. He was Conference Coach of the year in 1985, 1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2004 and 2005. In 1994 he was Head Coach of the South All-Star Team and Wyoming Coaches Association Coach of the Year.

Long term Medicine Bow resident Don Mayfield said his sons were coached by Soto.

"I have known him ever since he came to Medicine Bow and he has earned and deserved this honor," Mayfield said. "He was a great coach."

Soto smiled a little as he got the recognition, but he wanted to get on with the game and dispense with the ceremony quickly.

"It's always about the kids," Medicine Bow resident Jeanette Fischer said, summing up what most everyone said concerning Soto's life.

"It is never about him."