Recognition Reception Honoree
Samuel "Sam" W. Rines, Jr.

Mr. Samuel "Sam" W. Rines, Jr., is currently a 4th grade teacher at Rydal East Elementary School and has taught in the Abington School District for the past 34 years. He is also known as a local basketball icon in the Philadelphia area.

After graduating from Abington Senior High School, Sam received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Cheyney State College (Cheyney University of Pennsylvania) as well as a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Beaver College (Arcadia University). In 1974, Sam was the assistant boys' basketball coach at Abington Senior High School when his team won the PIAA state title. He went on to serve as assistant men's basketball coach under Dave "Lefty" Ervin and Bill "Speedy" Morris at LaSalle University for 11 years.

Aside from his teaching role in various schools in Abington, Sam has devoted a major portion of his life to serving young people in the Abington community through his leadership as director of the James Fox Memorial Basketball League since 1975. He spends endless hours coaching boys and girls from ages 6 on up to the college level. Sam "runs the show" in the James Fox League. There are no coaches. He handles the substitutions, making sure each child receives adequate amounts of playing time. Good sportsmanship is a "must" when you play for Sam. The children learn quickly what Sam expects, thus creating a positive atmosphere in the league.

At any given time, Sam is involved with some 200 young people through his basketball efforts. He takes his more advanced players and coaches them in the highly competitive Sonny Hill League in Philadelphia. Former players flock to Sam for advice, and many have gone on to secure coaching positions in the area. Sam's motto, "To Achieve, You Must Believe," has been carried over into the lives of countless young people in Abington through his teaching and basketball efforts.

Sam has received many awards that recognize his commitment to education and youth. He was named "Outstanding Teacher of the Year" by the Black Women's Educational Alliance in 2000. Citizens for Progress, the Willow Grove Optimist Club, the Willow Grove Chapter of the NAACP, and the Progressive Alliance for Youth have all honored Sam for his outstanding work with youth in the Abington community.

Sam's vision for Abington Township is to have a community that provides all children the opportunity to succeed in any endeavor they choose. This vision motivated Sam to provide an atmosphere in the James Fox League that enabled children from all backgrounds to succeed and become better basketball players and, more importantly, better individuals.

Sam is very loyal to the Abington community and feels its strengths are due to the good schools, strong neighborhoods, and unique diversity. He hopes the Abington School District is successful in getting the new stadium built and feels this would harvest school spirit as well as community enthusiasm. Sam is proud to note that three of his grandchildren attend Copper Beech Elementary School in Abington.

Sam lives in North Hills with his wife, Fannie. They have three children: Charleszetta, Donna, and Sam III. In his spare time, Sam enjoys watching all kinds of sporting events and thrives on spending time with his four grandchildren who, of course, can be seen participating in the James Fox Memorial Basketball League on a regular basis!

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