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Mark wanted very much to leave his love of Mehlville Football to the future players of Panther football. He loved
all of his teammates...those that came before him, and those that followed. He was very pleased that an award would
be presented yearly in his name and memory. "Don't let it turn into a slap award," was the comment
he made to his brother, John. He wanted very much that players understand the importance of being a team and staying
a team forever. He wanted his future brothers to understand the importance of knowing one's body. He wanted his
future brothers to understand that what they learn as Panther football players...they will be able to use throughout their
lives and in what ever battles they may face. Hehoped the recipients would be players admired not just by the coaches....but
by the administration of Mehlville and most importantly, their fellow teammates. He wanted the recipient to be the player
that others would call in future years. He wanted the recipients to be the one that players from that year would remember
with honor.  Head Coach Eric Meyer, Coach Mike Ghormley, 2010 Mark DeWalle Courageous Heart Award recipient
Tyler Flachs, and Coach Dale Gegg.
Tyler Flachs and Coach Harlan Futrell This is a very special picture. Coach Futrell, long before he was a coach,
was a teammate of Mark's. They considered themselves brothers. After many games, they had their picture taken
together. Having Tyler posing with Harlan.....is just so appropriate.
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Mark DeWalle Courageous Heart Award
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| Designed by fellow Panther, Scott Pope #64 , 1997 |
Award Recipients 2010: Tyler Flachs 2009: Brian
Foppe 2008: David Rose 2007: Tyler Krueger (Photo for David Rose not available)
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2010 Tyler Krueger
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| John presenting Tyler his award. |
"I want to thank you and you family again for awarding me with
the Courageous Heart Medal. Ever since I received the award I know you had been in contact with my mom and she told me about
this website. Ever since I heard about it I've found myself on the site almost every day reading your posts and learning about
the great young man that Mark was. I never got the pleasure to meet Mark, but I find myself to be alot like him. I will always
cherish the bond that I will always have with your family through this very special award. Ive received many trophies and
awards in my life, but never have I been more honored then at the banquet when I received that medal. I will remember that
moment for the rest of my life. Thank you again and I want you to know my thoughts and prayers are still with the Dewalle
family everyday." -Tyler Krueger-
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2009 Brian Foppe
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| 2009 recipient Brian Foppe with John. |
I am the very
proud father of Brian Foppe. I want to thank you for Courageous Heart Award given to Brian at the MHS football banquet last
night. It is an incredible honor for us to have Brian forever associated with Mark, the Dewalle Family, and past winners.
(Tyler & Dave) This award will always hold a special place in our hearts. I have spent most of the morning on Mark’s
website. What an awesome tribute to an obvious awesome man. Thank you again, our thoughts and prayers will be with you always.
--Brian Foppe-- I can't express
enough to you and your family how much this award means to us. I am so proud, humbled and honored that Brian was chosen for
this special award in honor of your son/brother. It is by far the proudest moment as a parent that I have ever had, and means
more than any other award that Brian has ever received. Barb I feel blessed that Brian will always hold a special place in
your hearts as well as Mark in ours. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you always. -–Lynn Foppe--
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| Head Coach Eric Meyer with 2010 recipient Tyler Flachs. |
I am very honored to receive this award at the MHS Varsity
Football Banquet. This award by far triumphs over any award that I have received in my life. I will always know what this
award means and will hold it close to my heart.
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John's speech in presenting the first Courageous
Heart Medal (For future presentation speeches, see archives
for December of year presented)
I have always been
proud to have been a Mehlville football player. It is one of the things that I have always held close to my heart.
It is truly a brotherhood.
Many of you know of my brother, Mark. My brother loved Panther football more than
anyone I have ever known. When he was in grade school and junior high, he used wait under the goal post to catch the
PATs. In little league, he wore the number of his favorite Mehlville Football player. From the time he was 11 years
old, Mark never missed a Panther football game.
Mark was a varsity starter from his sophomore year on. He
holds the record for the most consecutive varisty starts in Mehlville football history. He unselfishly switched positions
many times to help make the team better: he played Quarterback, Fullback, Tight End, Center, Outside LB, Inside LB and
Guard. Mark understood that a committment to something bigger than oneself is more rewarding than personal accolades.
He was a member of the 1999 State Championship team. He was a team captain. He was awarded the Most Valuable Offensive
Lineman and the Most Valuable Linebacker award at his varsity banquet.
I remember when he had an interception at a freshman Lindbergh
game. I remember his first varsity start. I remember him as a sophomore intercepting a pass at a Parkway West
varsity game. I also remember him intercepting cancer just four years ago.
During the course of his illness, he fought hard. He was quiet about his
fight but never quiet about where he learned to fight. He repeatedly said that it was what he learned as a Panther football
player that gave him the strength and the skills to fight his biggest game.
Mark believed that anyone who played
Panther football was his brother. Mark loved his teammates. He knew that future Panthers would be part of his
destiny. He wanted others that followed him to appreciate what Panther football really has to offer: life skills
to meet any challenge. When you walk off of the field for that last time in
a Mehlville uniform...win or lose...with tears in your eyes...you are men. You have the knowledge, the tools and the
know how to meet any challenge head on, unafraid. You understand committment and dedication not just to yourself, but
to others.
Mark wanted his future brothers to undersand the importance of knowing one's body. He wanted his
future brothers to remember that they will always be a team. When you walk out of here tonight, you are still connected
to one another. Mark wanted that connection to be forever.
You will always be teammates. Remember to
be there for each other. Remember your connections do not end here. When one of you goes into any kind of battle..know
in your hearts that your Panther football brothers are with you. Seek them out...they will be there for you.
Juniors, your season is not over. Your senior season is just starting. Keep each other safe, keep each other
close to your heart. Know when you see each other in the halls...that the brotherhood of Panther football spirit is
there. It is unspoken..yet you will feel it. Nurture it. Stay a team. Work out together. Set
goals for one another. But most of all, be there for one another. That's what builds a team. That's what
strengthens brotherhood. That's what makes us Panthers. It is something you won't find at Oakville, Kirkwood,
Lindbergh or anywhere else. It is what makes us unique...and that is something Mark always knew.
Hours before
Mark died, he requested that Coach Heyde come to see him. I know he wanted to hear from Coach that he had done all he
could, had fought the good fight, had played his hardest and that he left it on the field. I think too, Mark wanted
Coach to know how much he respected him...and how much he loved him. And Coach, at 11:30 at night, was there for one
of his players at the very end.
Mark died June 13th with his State Championship Medal on him. He wanted this
medal placed on him because I believe, he felt it represented his coaches, his teammates.....and this program. Some
of his very last thoughts were of Mehlville football. He wanted his teammates and coaches with him at the end.
He also requested that he have on the FCA Courageous Heart Medal he had been awarded several years ago.
Mark's
greatest fear was that people, especially his coaches and teammates, would think he was a quitter. This has never been
the case. With the support of Coach Heyde, the Boosters, our family wishes to award a very special medal starting this
year. It is a medal to honor that player who best exemplifies the understanding that what you take from the Panther
Football program are not just district titles, team and personal stats....but the understanding that you now have the tools
to meet any challenge that comes your way throughout your life.
Mark was without a doubt the most courageous person
I have ever met. When he was awarded the FCA Courageous Heart Medal, it meant a lot to him, a lot to my family.
On his medal, it says "Strong to the Finish." This was an appropriate term for my brother's life. It
is an appropriate term for the first recipient of this award.
This year's recipient is the first to receive this
award. Through discussions with players, teachers, parents and coaches, I am honored and pleased that this player is
the first recipient. Continue to develop, continue to grow strong, continue to use the skills and the loyalty you learned
as a Panther. Continue to be there for your brothers. Keep yourself safe and healthy.
On behalf of
the coaches, the Boosters and my family, I wish to present this year's Mark DeWalle Courageous Heart Award to a player who
best exemplifies the spirit of this award....Tyler Krueger
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