GLENVILLE &045; In speaking at the Glenville-Emmons High School commencement exercises Friday evening, Wayne Olson shared five insights with the graduates.

He urged them to always be polite, honest, happy with themselves, not to take things for granted &045; and to realize that time goes fast.

Olson should know. He’s retiring after 36 years in the high school, a record for that building. But does it seem like 36 years?

&uot;It really doesn’t,&uot; Olson said.

A native of Spring Grove, Minn., Olson admits that he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do when he went off to college, but since he knew he liked working with kids, he settled on teaching.

Glenville was one of three places where he interviewed, and he and his wife, Carol, decided to settle there in 1967. &uot;Then we had two sons and they liked it, so we decided to stay,&uot; Olson recalled.

He’s taught U.S. history, world history, psychology, sociology, modern warfare, sports history, explorers and inventors and current events. In addition, he was student council advisor for 11 years.

Coaching has also been a big part of his teaching career. That first year he was the assistant football and boys’ junior high basketball coach.

His first head coaching position was boys’ track during the 1968-69 school year. He coached track for three years, and the team earned the Southland Conference championship for two of those years, 1969 and 1970.

Olson went on to be head coach in football, wrestling and softball, and was also the junior high boys’ basketball coach for 18 years. He coached elementary football, basketball and baseball for over 20 years.

He had the most success with softball, where he was head coach for 12 years, six of those with undefeated seasons.

He had the longest winning streak for one coach in the Gopher Conference, 49-0, from 1982-87. There were six conference championships, four district championships, three district runner-ups, one regions championship (1982), two region runner-ups and an overall record of 141-39.

He even served as the cheerleading advisor for seven years.

&uot;We had a lot of good experiences,&uot; Olson said of coaching. &uot;We’ve just had a good bunch of kids.&uot;

He’s been the athletic director for more than 20 years, a position he’ll continue with after retiring from teaching. &uot;I’ll still be subbing, though,&uot; he said.

That will keep him in touch with the kids &045; something he admits he’d miss if he’d retire completely.

&uot;It will give me more freedom to work outside,&uot; he said, adding in the summers he’s managed the city beach and ball field.

But there will also be more time for family, which brings him to his commencement point about not taking anything for granted, especially since he undergoing treatment for prostate cancer a year and a half ago.

Son Mike, who teaches at Sibley Elementary in Albert Lea, and his wife Martha live in Glenville, and son Greg, who works at Kerry Foods, and wife April live between Albert Lea and Glenville. There are also five grandchildren.

He said he’s happy they’re all close by. &uot;That’s something I never thought would happen,&uot; he added.

Olson plans to spend more time with the grandchildren, as well as visiting his mother in Prairie du Chien, Wis., and Carol’s mother in Spring Grove.

Olson affectionately refers to his wife as the &uot;secretary general.&uot;

&uot;Meeting her was the best thing that ever happened to me. We’ll be married 38 years in September, and she’s involved in everything we do. She’s the big one behind the scenes.

&uot;Without her, I wouldn’t get done half of what I do,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ve been a pretty good team.&uot;