It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Coach Richard ‘Mac’ McIntosh. During this time, our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
The following was written by Mac for his induction into the Marshfield Hall of Fame in 2009. Those of you who knew Mac will recognize his commitment to leadership and family.
Born:
March 24, 1953 at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan. Son of an Air Force C-119 Flight Engineer flying in the Korean War and a Japanese war bride.
Education:
Marshfield High School, class of 1971
United States Air Force Academy, class of 1975
Bachelor of Science in History
Indiana University, class of 1976
Master of Arts in History
Air War College, class of 1995
My parents raised me with dual priorities – grades and sports. When dad retired from a 23-year Air Force career in 1968 and moved to Oregon, he chose Marshfield for its academic and athletic reputation. The faculty, administrators and coaching staff offered a challenging, competitive and comprehensive education that nurtured future Olympians, Ivy League graduates, and leaders in medicine, the law and business. Janet Farr and I earned co-valedictorian honors, Lois McKenna chose me as editor of the MaHi Times, and Walt McClure named me captain of the boys varsity track and field team. Most importantly, I met and fell in love with Linnea Wright in sophomore English class. After earning her undergraduate degree from Oregon State, she married me in 1975 and together, we’ve created our greatest legacy: Rex Aris McIntosh and Rachael McIntosh Taylor.
I learned lessons from four hall-of-fame coaches in their prime, Stan Solomon (hurdling), John Johnson (JV football), Pete Susick (Varsity football) and Walt McClure (track) that inspired an intercollegiate career at the Air Force Academy. As a hurdler, I anchored a world and American record setting 240-yard shuttle hurdle relay team in 1975, earned Track and Field News All-America honors, and captained the team. Head Coach Arne Arneson chose me Most Valuable Track and Field Athlete as a junior and senior. Our hurdle relay team included state champions from Oregon. Hawaii and Arkansas and won the Drake Relays, Ohio State Relays and Michigan State Relays in the 1975 season.
Fighter aviation and command provided anchors for a 30-year career as an Air Force officer. I’ve pushed F-15 Eagles through skies over Arizona, Nevada, Florida, Virginia, Saudi Arabia, and Hawaii, logging nearly 2,000 hours an hour-and-a-half at a time. Command of detachments as small as 10 and as large as 300, including an Air Staff division at the Pentagon taught lessons about leadership, accountability, and team-building. My last assignment as commander of Air Force ROTC detachments at Loyola Marymount University, the University of Southern California (USC), and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) reinforced this primary life lesson – making people you care about successful provides intense personal and professional gratification.
I’m honored to be a member of the Pirate coaching fraternity and working to enhance a legacy that includes my most influential teachers, inspiring role models, and informative mentors.
Mac’s coaching career culminated in a Boy’s State Championship Track and Field title in 2017. Mac also headed the Tribute Hall campaign to honor Marshfield and School District veterans of all eras.
Link to John Gunther’s article in The World on Sunday, August 13, 2017.
