Legacy of football coach continues thanks to former colleagues

Oct 15, 2023 | 8:00 AM

MEDICINE HAT — Rick Boksteyn cast a long shadow in Medicine Hat.

When he wasn’t working as a Fire Captain for the Medicine Hat Fire Service, he spent his spare time coaching and mentoring students on the football field for more than 36 years.

That followed his own playing career as a member of the Medicine Hat Rattler Prairie Junior Football club in the last 1970’s.

Boksteyn passed away in 2020, but his memory is being kept alive by his former colleagues and those in the high school football community.

His fellow firefighers pulled money from their social committee to make a donation to the Monsignor McCoy /Eagle Butte High School Colts football team to help cover costs for current and future players.

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In addition, sponsors have helped erect a sign commemorating the Rick Boksteyn field behind Monsignor McCoy school.

Boksteyn coached both the Colts and the Crescent Heights High School Vikings, and the Boksteyn Bowl is an annual game between the two schools in memory of their former coach.

The football club and the Medicine Hat Firefighters wish to thank Bill Lafferty from Billy Blocks Inc for creating and donating the Boksteyn sign.

They also thank Al Geib from Geib construction for the concrete work that solidified the sign.

The Scory family also made a donation towards new white jerseys for the Colts, which were unveiled at the Boksteyn bowl game on Friday evening.

by Brian Konrad

Legacy of football coach continues thanks to former colleagues

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