Longtime New Ken-Arnold School District public servant honored for 'lifetime of service' to the community

The Rev. Kent Commodore of Second Baptist Church in Ford City had to remind his older brother Hank several times it’s OK to be appreciated.

That everything is as it should be when more than 100 people pack the dining hall of MJ’s Bar & Grille in Arnold on a Saturday afternoon to honor and commend your decades of community service.

“He’s very humble,” the reverend said of his brother. “You should be able to feel good about what God is doing for you. That blessing is something. That’s God saying, ‘I want you to know you are appreciated for what I’m doing through you.’ ”

It was a simple reminder from a sibling to enjoy the moment shortly before the longtime New Ken-Arnold School District basketball coach, guidance counselor and teacher was handed a Lifetime of Service Award in front of many friends and relatives.

Hank Commodore, 75, sat next to his fiancée, Rosalind Massey, at a table just below center stage facing the crowd. He wore a light-green, striped suit and she a black ensemble.

Speaker after speaker talked about the impact he made on their lives and community, both directly and indirectly.

They included former student Tauna Williams, who talked about how Commodore would resolve situations after she and another student would play pranks on teachers.

“He was intimidating because of his height and deep voice, but also a teddy bear at times,” she said. “He always looked out for the kids. Especially those of us who were troubled kids like myself. I was always in his office getting ‘the Hank lecture.’ I would think to myself, ‘I’d rather get paddled.’ He always read me. He always knew when I was lying or telling the truth, or just trying get out of trouble.”

At Valley High School, Hank Commodore was a guidance counselor before becoming dean of students. He retired in 2002.

He is a 1967 graduate of Ford City High School, where he was a basketball star.

Commodore went on Northwest Oklahoma University, where he led the nation in scoring at 29 points per game in 1970 and set school records that still stand.

He was drafted in 1971 by the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and the ABA’s Carolina Cougars before ultimately being drafted to serve in the Army. He later pursued a degree in education with an emphasis on counseling.

New Ken-Arnold alum Clifford Guy played for coach Commodore and eventually would play at the same university.

“He used to run us to death,” Guy said. “He got us ready. We didn’t know who we had coaching. … He stands for two things: God and education.

“You didn’t play if you didn’t have the grades. You didn’t come to school, you didn’t play, you didn’t practice. He put into us that we can’t be as good as (another) team. You had to be better.

“God put him into my life. I don’t know where I’d be without him.”

Both Guy and Commodore are in the NOU Hall of Fame for basketball.

Helping the needy

Beyond his deeds at work, Commodore has helped children as a foster parent and by donating hundreds of stuffed animals he won at amusement parks. He founded Help the Needy, Not the Greedy, a charity that continues to help families.

“I’d like to give God all the praise and the glory,” Commodore said in his acceptance speech. “It’s not about me. I can only tell my story.”

He talked about injuries sustained as a child, including when he burned his hand at age 2 and when his appendix burst while in second grade. He said he relied on family and friends and holy support.

“Somebody prayed for me,” Commodore said. “That’s what it’s about. … Faith overcomes fear.”

Commodore went on to emphasize respect for police officers and teachers, how all lives are important, and encouraged people to get involved in their local government and school district.

The ceremony also included a performance by family friend Maria Adams of New Kensington.

She sung Yolanda Adams’ “Open Your Heart” while wearing a denim outfit accented with white flowers and a sparkling belt. Her voice and look was a fitting tribute to the American gospel singer, bringing Commodore to tears.

There was a buffet served with a plethora of soul foods and chocolate and vanilla cake. Oakmont Bakery donated several dozen donuts.

Emcee Cheryl King said the event committee put everything together in about two weeks.

“It shows when you want to get something done you get it done,” King said, “and we got it done by the grace of God.”