Memorial High School recently celebrated retirement of five dedicated educators and coaches who have made a lasting impact, including Oyvind Zahl, Rebecca Gomez, Clifford Winter-Roach, Angelia Tigrett and Borosokie Richard.
As they begin their next chapters, Memorial thanks them for their years of service and the countless lives they have influenced along the way.
Oyvind Zahl
Zahl, the swim coach at Memorial, spent nearly 30 years helping students grow through athletics and teaching. From building swimmers with little experience into successful competitors to earning TISCA Coach of the Year honors, Zahl said the most rewarding part of his career was watching students develop confidence and skill over time
“Go the extra mile for students and build lasting relationships,” Zahl said.
Throughout his career, he helped lead the WFHS Coyote boys swim team to a fourth-place finish at the state meet and worked to grow the sport in Wichita Falls, despite many athletes starting with little experience. Zahl also shared that some of his favorite memories came from seeing students improve in not only swimming , but academically as well.
“The most memorable moments include funny moments, heartbreaking events, extraordinary accomplishments and most importantly watching students grow,” Zahl said.
In retirement, he plans to work with the YMCA as the Association Aquatic Director and remain involved in the Wichita Falls swimming community.
Richard Boroskie
Boroskie the computer programming and career/technology instructor, dedicated his career to teaching Information Technology and sharing his enthusiasm with his students. He found joy in helping students engage with hands-on learning, including Linux systems, databases and creative web development projects through CompuScholar.
He especially valued the weekly discussions where students explored new technologies and current trends in IT.
“I imagine my retirement will be spent writing IT applications and keeping my passion for IT alive by sharing it with young people,” Boroskie said.
Over the years, he focused on creating an environment where students could explore, experiment and build confidence in their skills, making IT accessible and exciting for them.
“As I was encouraged, I encourage teachers to share what they’re most passionate about with their students,” Borkoskie said.
In retirement, he plans to continue writing IT applications and stay connected to the field by sharing his knowledge with new learners. His goal is to keep his passion for technology alive in others.
Rebecca Gomez
Gomez was the receptionist for Memorial. She dedicated her career to working with teenagers, supporting them through their educational journeys. Her passion for her job came from her love for working with students and helping them stay confident in their goals.
“Watching students accomplish their goals in school is what really made me cherish my job,” Gomez said.
She enjoyed the daily interactions and conversations that allowed her to help students build confidence and maintain their motivation in school. Gomez knows that students face daily challenges.
“The biggest obstacles are when students aren’t accepted for who they are,” Gomez said. “Kids need to be accepted for who they are, not what someone else thinks they are.”
Ultimately, she believes every student deserves recognition and support. Her most rewarding experiences involved building connections with students, their parents and educators. In retirement, she plans to enjoy her time relaxing.
Clifford Winter-Roach
Winter-Roach was an Algebra II teacher at Memorial, dedicating his career to helping students work hard, overcome challenges and find confidence through learning.
He valued moments when students pushed past frustration and discovered understanding in their work. One of the most rewarding things to him is when he watched his students finally understand a concept after struggling with it.
“Find ways to make students think. Quality before quantity in assignments. In this age of AI, do hands-on testing make it fun,” Winter-Roach said.
Throughout his career, he worked to support students who were afraid of failure in math and helped them gain confidence through practice and persistence.
In retirement, Roach plans to continue volunteering, making music and exploring new interests, while also spending more time with family and friends.
