CHILTON, Texas — Chilton ISD is mourning the loss of one of their very own, beloved math teacher and track and field coach Roger Hoelscher.
Hoelscher was killed in a car crash on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 a.m. in Robinson, TX.
"It was a big loss for our district and our community," Bennie Huitt, Chilton ISD Athletic Director and head football coach, said.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it appears to be weather-related, Tracy O'Connor, Robinson Police Lieutenant, told 6 News.
"We take for granted that we drive everywhere we go, and that's just like second nature, and we don't think about things that can happen so quickly," Billy Pitts, Hoelscher's high school best friend, said.
Hoelscher's legacy kicked off when he was just a young high school boy.
Hoelscher went to Rosebud-Lott High School and was the UIL state champion in number sense as well as the state champion in track and field in 1988. He also went to Baylor for a year before he went to the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Story continues below
Hoelscher was passionate about education, so much so that he served 30 years in the field.
Hoelscher was only with Chilton ISD for a year but made students feel at home.
"He was affectionately called Uncle H here at Chilton ISD," Chilton ISD Superintendent Dr. Brandon Hubbard said. "That one year created a lifetime of legacy here in Chilton ISD."
In his first year of coaching, Hoelscher's team won District cross country.
"It is such a big accomplishment," Huitt said.
Hoelscher did this all while supporting everyone else along the way.
"There was not a student that he was unwilling to work with," Hubbard said. "There was not an event that he was unwilling to attend. He coached cross country, he coached track, but you would also often see him at basketball games. You saw him all over. He impacted thousands of students."
Hubbard described Hoelscher as humble, easygoing and one of the kindest people he knows.
When students return on Wednesday, Jan. 10, there will be counseling support from district counselors. Counselors will be shadowing his schedule to help those students who are directly impacted.
A GoFundMe to help the family can be found here.
More from 6 News: