SOUTH WAYNE — The motto “Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior” certainly rings true in the Black Hawk School District when it comes to honoring past staff members. Both Roger Jackson and Richard Meske were valued members of the school district and the community and were honored for their contributions.

In September, the Black Hawk School District honored former bus driver Roger Jackson, who died in August, both with a visitation and funeral at the school on Sept. 2-3, as well as driving his bus to his home on Aug. 6 to see him, and made a post about it on their Facebook page. Jackson worked in the school district for 49 years as a bus driver, coach, and an outstanding member of the community.

“The Black Hawk School District is celebrating Roger Jackson for his years of dedication and service to the district. Roger has been a vital member of our district for many years and a staple at many athletic events… members of the Black Hawk School Board recognized Roger for his dedication to the district by driving his bus (#64) to his home with a special banner showing that Warrior Nation is fighting with him as ‘No One Fights Alone’,” the post stated.

There were so many wonderful things to love and admire about Roger Jackson, officials said.

“Roger was a simple man with a heart of gold — someone you could always rely on and who never failed to bring a smile or a laugh,” said Rachel Wolff, a teacher and coach at Black Hawk High School.

Adding to that, Jackson was very involved with the Black Hawk schools.

“He announced the football games, drove bus for us for 49 years. He was very involved in driving co-curriculars as well; he coached softball for many years while he was here. Obviously, he was very good at promoting the students and the school,” said Superintendent Willy Chambers.

From voices within the community, it was clear that he cared about the people in his community and those he met.

“Roger was a very caring person and very involved in support of all the kids. He obviously has his own kids and grandkids that you can tell he cared very greatly about. He cared about the activities and the kids,” Chambers added. “He made a positive contribution to the school district and the community. He was just a great guy all-around.”

Many people within the community and school knew him when growing up, and as an adult, working at the school or through their children with sports.

“I first met Roger when I was in elementary school at Black Hawk, where he was my bus driver,” Wolff said. “For more than 45 years, he has been hauling me around — first as a student, and later as a teacher and coach when he drove my teams to games for the past 25 years.”

Roger was a very valued member of the community, especially when it came to sporting events.

“But Roger was so much more than a bus driver. He genuinely cared for the students and athletes of Black Hawk,” Wolff said. “He was always there with a fist bump or an ‘atta girl’ after a great game or match, and he knew just what to say to lift someone up after a tough night. He had a rare gift for making everyone he spoke to — young or old — feel seen, valued, and special.”

It wasn’t just the students at Black Hawk that he admired either. He was proud of, and kind, to all.

“His kindness extended beyond our own athletes,” Wolff said. “He often went out of his way to recognize and compliment student-athletes from other schools, celebrating their achievements as well. He was well known beyond our community because of this.”

He was the type of person who could make friends with anyone wherever he went, as he was someone people remembered and wanted to be around.

“Roger gave so much to our school and community. Whether it was coaching, announcing football games, or taking extra bus trips, he rarely said no when asked to help,” Wolff said. “We could always count on him — and we will deeply miss him, not only as a coach, a bus driver, and a community member, but for me most of all, as a friend.”

Black Hawk High School has also honored and recognized former Agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor Richard “Dick” Meske, who died in Oct. 2023. They named their Agriculture and Technology Education building in 2009, The Meske Center, and then connected it to the main building via an addition in 2024. 

Meske spent 33 years in the Black Hawk School District teaching agriculture and as the FFA Advisor. He stepped into a program that had only been founded four years prior but then dedicated himself to building and strengthening it into one of Wisconsin’s most respected agricultural education programs. 

Even after his retirement, he continued to help out at the school with substitute teaching, attending sporting and other district events, as well as going to school board meetings and remaining active in the local and state FFA community.

Meske was respectable and hard-working, striving to help people do their best, but also able to joke around when the time was right.

“Graduating from Black Hawk, I had the privilege of knowing Mr. Meske first as my teacher and later as a coworker,” Wolff said. “In both roles, he commanded respect and expected nothing less than our best. He set the bar high. He was quick with a joke to lighten the mood — but only after the work was done.”

Meske was able to help many students throughout his years as a teacher and the FFA Advisor, making their time there better and more meaningful.

“I have tremendous respect for this man. Coming from a family without much financial stability, I’m grateful I chose to join FFA in high school. It opened doors to opportunities I otherwise would never have had,” Wolff said. “But more than the organization itself, it was the man behind Black Hawk FFA who made the experience so meaningful. He held me accountable and taught me to appreciate what I did have in life.”

Along with giving students meaningful experiences, he helped push them to reach their full potential.

“Students under Mr. Meske’s guidance earned hundreds of awards, including State FFA Degrees, Proficiency Awards, and American FFA Degrees,” said Dusty Williams, the Agribusiness and Farm Management Instructor at Black Hawk Technical College. “One of the program’s most remarkable achievements was the election of 17 state FFA officers during Mr. Meske’s 33-year tenure — a rare accomplishment for any high school program.”

Williams said that visitors to the Black Hawk Ag building are often struck by the impressive billboard display of past state officers, awards, and trophies that line the walls of the agriculture classroom; a lasting tribute to the excellence the program has achieved.

Meske held many roles throughout his time and helped shape those around him into the successful people they became.

“Throughout his career, Mr. Meske was far more than an instructor,” Williams said. “He was a father, husband, mentor, role model, and friend to many. He guided numerous students, student teachers, and young educators, always prioritizing the success of others above his own. He embodied the principles of servant leadership and often reminded his students that ‘there are three ways to lead: example, example, and example.’” 

Meske also established the Black Hawk FFA Alumni Association and helped it grow into a very successful organization.

“Inspired by his belief in giving back, the Black Hawk FFA Alumni Association was established and quickly became one of the most successful in the state. Today, the organization boasts over 150 lifetime members and continues to uphold the same values of dedication, service, and excellence that Mr. Meske instilled,” Williams said.

His spirit and the principles he stood for are still rooted in the facility, even years after he’s been gone.

“Though time has brought new instructors and the original facility has aged, the spirit of Mr. Meske’s leadership and the traditions he began remain deeply rooted in the Meske Center. The sense of pride, achievement, and community that he fostered continues to inspire each new generation of Black Hawk FFA students,” Williams said.