To Coach Lancaster’s Family and Friends: My name is Eric Abercrumbie and I am one of those lives that Coach Lancaster touched! I ran Cross Country for him at Holmes High School from 1964-1966. Even though, I did not want to run Cross Country and hated running it, Coach Lancaster was the reason I kept running because he always shows his athletes that he genuinely cared about them and their future. At the time I transferred from Falmouth High School to Holmes High School I resented it. I was young and black, I was lonely, afraid and felt my confidence in everything leaving. Then I met Coach Lancaster who convinced me that I could be of value doing something that I detested: running miles and miles. But now I am 74 years old and have walked and run many miles and I have to credit Cosch Lancaster for giving me the courage and endurance to run LIFE’S race! Thru his mentoring I adjusted and became one of the main competitive runners on the team and I became one of his favorites because he did something that my family or I never allowed a white man the privilege of doing: He gave me a nickname. My last name is Abercrumbie and he called me Abbey! Words can NEVER express the gratitude that I had for Coach Lancaster. As we say in the BLACK church: He was my rock in a weary land He was my bridge over troubled water He was my peace in the midst of a stor He was my way out of no way He was my lily in the valley He was my bright and shining star He was Coach Jerry Lancaster