Editor’s note: Today, The DAILYLEADER concludes a series of stories compiled by University ofMississippi journalism students during a field trip to LincolnCounty in late October. Today’s feature is on the Brister family,who volunteer in a variety of ways at Loyd Star AttendanceCenter.

   

    With seven kids, you might think the Bristers would spendtheir spare time curled up on a couch somewhere, exhausted, and letothers coach soccer teams, feed a bunch of hungry football playersand run the parent-teacher organization.

 

    You would be wrong.

    The nine-person Brister family takes the concept of familyinfluence to the next level. Dale, Gwen and their childrencontribute greatly to both their community and their school.

    Dale Brister coaches Loyd Star’s varsity soccer team and ispresident of the Touchdown Club, a booster club for the footballteam.

    “Being a small county school, they don’t have the funds to pay fora coach,” Dale says. “This way, I’m able to help the school and thekids.”

    Their seven children – all but one school age – have given Dale andhis wife a strong connection to both Loyd Star’s students andfaculty.

    “I had quintuplets and when they started school, I wanted to be uphere with them,” says Gwen Brister, a major volunteer in her ownright as president of the Parent-Teacher Association and secretaryof the Touchdown Club.

    Gwen’s volunteer work is non-stop, year-round.  Take football, forexample. 

    Even before the season starts, Gwen makes sure that the school hasthe funds and support necessary to supply an atmosphere full ofspirit.

    “In the summer I go around and get businesses to renewadvertisements for signs for the football games,” she says. “We getout and raise the money, then we feed the football players beforeeach game.”

    However, she still doesn’t forget to involve her kids.

     “I get them to help mewith the flowerbeds” at school,” she says.

    Gwen and Dale’s generous devotion to the school is not lost ontheir children. Their oldest son, Brendyn, has followed in hisparents’ footsteps.

    “If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be concerned withcommunity service, ” Brendyn says.

    Like his parents, Brendyn is a bit of a workaholic.

    As a recipient of the HOBY scholarship, he is required to work 100hours of community service per year. HOBY stands for Hugh O’BrianYouth scholarship and promotes youth leadership throughout thecountry.

    “That’s what started me off,” Brendyn says. “I tried the contestand happened to get it.”

    But that’s not all. He volunteers to help his school and theelderly and doesn’t plan on quitting any time soon.

    “I’ve helped at the homeless shelter and worked at the FoodNetwork. Not everybody is as lucky and it’s just good to helpothers,” he says.

    Somehow, despite all this volunteering, Brendyn plays on LoydStar’s varsity soccer team and keeps his grades up, too. Thiseffective use of time management is another thing that seems to runin the family.

    Besides their intensive work with Loyd Star Attendance Center, DaleBrister works as a physical therapist, and Gwen has a job as aradiation therapist.

    When asked how they do it, Dale replies, “You just run,” while Gwensays, “You just take things as they come.”

    When he volunteers, Dale gets no pay. However, he receives paymentin other ways.

    “My teams have given me plaques and pictures, but the main thing isjust a ‘thank you,’ like when somebody sends you a letter and tellsyou how much you affected them and appreciate your help,” hesays.

    Still, there is a part of Dale that feels sometimes people “don’trespect the fact that you are doing it all volunteer.”

    “It really means a lot to us,” varsity soccer player Garrett Holdensays. “It kind of helps motivate us. If he can work a job and coachus, we should do our best.”

    Meanwhile, Dale continues to work and volunteer.

    “You just can’t stop,” he says. “Once I’ve made the commitment, Ifeel obligated to fulfill it.”

    This will be his fourth year with Loyd Star’s soccer team, and heexpects the upcoming season to be a winner – probably in many moreways than just the obvious one.