You've seen me on the sidelines, you've seen me in the gym's, and you've seen me at all kinds of other events in and around Pulaski County and the New River Valley. I usually have a camera in my hand, but sometimes I can be found coaching a rec league team or helping one of the other middle school or high school teams with something.

My name is David Gravely, and I was born at the old Pulaski Hospital in September 1969. I grew up in the town of Pulaski, back when taking a ride to Christiansburg to go to Hills Department Store was a big deal. We played backyard sports more than we played rec league sports, because it was cheaper and we didn't have anything else to do. I got into organized sports at Pulaski County High School my sophomore year, when one of the assistant coaches ask me if I had ever played football during gym class. While I was never a superstar, I did get my share of playing time, and more important I was introduced to the concept of "the team" and teamwork. I also learned the value of hard work and doing your best, no matter what.

I recently told former Head Coach Joel Hicks that I credit his off season workouts with the ease with which I completed basic training when I joined the Army.  We had to go through the gas chamber in the Army, but they didn’t make us run "fifths", and we sure didn't have spring agility drills. I spent eleven years of my life right after high school jumping out of airplanes and blowing stuff up for Uncle Sam. The physical conditioning I got from the Cougar Football program, along with the mental toughness, helped me again later in life when I was involved in a serious industrial accident after getting out of the Army. After my accident, I found myself having to learn to walk again and recover from a serious spinal chord injury, along with the mental stress that came along with those injuries.

This accident made me realize what was important in life, and I started living my life for those things. First and foremost, I was now able to spend more time with my kids. Then, I discovered the joys of working with other kids as well. My sincere hope is that by being involved in the lives of some of the young people in this area, and by trying to be a positive role model for them, that we can make Pulaski County a better place to live. While sports may only be a part of a students life, it should be made clear to them that sports are a "privilege" and not a "right". I am a strong supporter of having a minimum grade point average, not just for athletes, but for any and all activities other than getting on the bus and coming to school. Sports, Clubs, Drama, the band, and any other activity should be held to a standard that will force them to perform in the classroom before they are allowed to participate in these other activities.

Please get involved with our kids in Pulaski County.  You dont have to be an expert at anything, all you have to do is be willing to help out.  You can contact Anthony Akers, John Myers, or Eddie Sutphin at any time to see what they need help with.

Finally, please be a positive person around our kids.  Negative fans and negative attitudes have never accomplished anything positive.   We want the best for our kids, and if we work together we can help them acheive it.