Moberly High School students will pay tribute to a late coach and community leader Friday, Nov. 22 when they take part in the fourth annual “Serve Like Sam” service day.

The event is named in honor of Sam Richardson, who was director of the Moberly Area Technical Center and head wrestling coach at the time of his death in July 2021. MHS Principal Deb Haag had joined the district months earlier and reflected on Richardson’s legacy.

Haag adds that Richardson was a pillar of the Moberly community.

Richardson was a Moberly native who graduated from Missouri Valley College and coached at the University of Central Missouri before returning to Moberly. Haag hopes that students will pick up several important civic lessons as they take part in over 30 service projects across the district.

Haag says students decided their community projects for “Serve Like Sam” by homeroom, which range from hanging Christmas decorations downtown to reading to elementary school students and packing meals for families in need.