Webb, who began her career at Smith Academy in 1975, retired in October.
HATFIELD – Sherry Webb.
Smith Academy.
The two go hand in hand.
Webb, whose teaching and coaching spanned five decades at the smallest high school in the state, was honored at a ceremony during halftime of the boys basketball game against Turners Falls Thursday night.
A 40-foot long sign along a wall in the gymnasium where Webb taught physical education for 37 years was unveiled, reading in all capital letter: Sherry A. Webb Gymnasium.
After Superintendent John Robert referred to Webb as a “living legend,” the tarp was removed and the sign revealed.
Webb, who keeps the official clock during the junior varsity and varsity basketball games, said the sign was “a humbling gesture” and Smith Academy was “a special place.”
“It's nice,” said Webb, who still substitute teaches at the school. “It's very humbling. It's nice to have them all here and I appreciate so much what the kids have done. It's very nice.”
Webb coached field hockey, basketball and softball for the Falcons, winning two states titles in both field hockey and softball. She became athletic director in 1982.
“Sherry Webb is the heart and soul of the school,” said Brenda Kempisty, the school's administrative assistant for 34 years. “When you say Smith Academy, the first thing you think of is Sherry Webb. And she's the best example of what any school system would want to be. Sherry's like a Madonna: Sherry. One name says is all and she's an icon.”
Jaimie Allen, a 2010 graduate, played four seasons of field hockey for Webb.
“Every day, high school field hockey was exciting and fun to go to,” Allen said. “There was never an 'oh no', it was coach Webb and she made it fun. She was very approachable. She was the most approachable, nicest . . . you could go to her for anything, and she would always understand.”
But Allen said Webb was much more than a field hockey coach.
“I think Sherry was the one person who kept everything together and made everything run smoothly and was the one person you could go to,” Allen said. “She was a coach; she was a teacher; she was a mentor. She was everything.
“She was so involved. Everyone morning she would greet you at the door, and everyone knew that.”
The sign, with white letters and a purple background, was made by students at Smith Academy.
“There were students in high school and middle school who worked on this to whatever degree they were capable, whether it was rolling on primer, moving boards, drawing letters, holding t-squares, painting letters, etc...,” said art teacher Julie Muellejans. “This is my first time seeing it all together. We had to do it in pieces in the art room.”
The sign is a piece of art, just like Sherry Webb.