Coyle Man, 69, Returns To Teach At Alma Mater For Free

For a 69-year-old Coyle man, his bucket list was not as much about retirement, as it was about returning home. 

Jim Dobson graduated from Coyle High School in 1965. Dobson earned degrees in Math and Business from Oklahoma State, before joining the Air Force and flying B-52 bombers during the tail end of the Vietnam War.  

Dobson credits OSU Basketball legend Henry Iba with giving him a job as an assistant academic counselor during college, which allowed Jim to help pay for his education. 

After Vietnam, Dobson worked for Kerr McGee Oil in Oklahoma City for two decades, before eventually joining a multi-billion-dollar pipeline company in Tulsa, where he retired as Chief Financial Officer a few years ago. Dobson and his wife then moved back to Coyle, where they live in the same farm house he grew up in. 

Several months ago, Coyle Public Schools learned budget cuts would eliminate a math teaching position at the high school. Dobson happily volunteered to become a teacher. He teaches three classes a day, absolutely for free.

“It’s been 50 years since I had high school mathematics, so I’m having to work to keep up with the kids,” he grinned Friday afternoon. “And so I think it’s keeping me young, so hopefully I’m helping the school and the kids and the community.” 

Coyle Principal Patrick Smith says he was stunned when Dobson made his offer to help.

“That speaks volumes to where he is,” Smith said. 

Coyle Superintendent Josh Sumrall calls Dobson a “Godsend.”

“No one is in the classroom teaching for free, doesn’t want a penny,” he said. 

Dobson teaches Algebra, Geometry and a College Algebra Preparation class. He says it’s really no big deal.

“They let me teach the first three hours, so I’m home by 11:30,” he said. 

And for the record, Dobson wasn’t looking for this attention. A tipster told News 9 about him, because they thought people should know.