Reluctantly giving up his command Assistant principal champions vets' causes. He'll now coach ice hockey during retirement. Monday, June 18, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | After two dozen years in education, Bill Nixon is moving his classroom from the high school to the ice rink. The Phillipsburg High School assistant principal is retiring to spend more time with his family and teach hockey as Muhlenberg College's new associate coach. "I've been working a long time and I think it's just time for me to step away," Nixon said. Nixon, 60, plans to continue his work on behalf of Phillipsburg's military veterans. A Navy sailor during the Vietnam War aboard the USS Parle, Nixon is heavily involved in the town's Memorial Day ceremonies. He also organizes a veterans' trip to Washington, D.C., and runs Operation Recognition, a program that has awarded 30 diplomas to veterans who left school before graduation. During these programs, Nixon enlisted the help of high school students. "Veterans are part of every community," Nixon said. "I am one of them and I feel strongly about our kids being as closely attached to veterans as possible." Mary Jane Deutsch, Phillipsburg High School's principal, said students benefited from their involvement with veterans. "He gets the kids to flock around him and go above and beyond," Deutsch said. Nixon graduated from high school and went to work as an electrician. He left to join the Navy for four years during the Vietnam War and then returned to work for Jersey Central Power & Light. At 27, he went to college and then worked for Lehigh County Vocational-Technical School. In 1986, Nixon came to Phillipsburg as an industrial teacher. During his time in the district he's been a teacher, department supervisor, assistant middle school principal and middle school principal. He's now the senior class assistant principal at the high school. Hockey has been his pastime since he was 45 and will now be his focus with Muhlenberg where he has also applied to be a part-time teacher. He was an assistant coach on five Lehigh Valley Scholastic Cup champions with Parkland over 13 years. "When I was on my way to the rink or behind the bench, I'm not thinking of all the things that went on during the day at my job," Nixon said. "I do love teaching the game of hockey." Nixon will do some traveling, first to a USS Parle reunion in Newport, R.I., with 60-plus other sailors. Deutsch said Nixon will be greatly missed and called him her right-hand man. "Bill is clearly a man of honor and distinction; he's my greatest adviser," Deutsch said. "He has the keen ability to see the big picture." Somber mood On Wednesday afternoon, Nixon sat in his office; not a box packed to go yet. In fact, he had an abundance of boxes stuffed with T-shirts for the seniors who graduated Friday. Nixon said the queasy feeling struck him while sitting in the lifeguard chair last week during the senior picnic at the Lopatcong Park pool. "I gazed around and thought these are great kids," Nixon said. "I've spent a tremendous amount of time with them. (Graduation) will be emotional for me. "I learned through the Navy about how to be a selfless person. Being able to do things for kids; I'm going to miss that part." Nixon spoke about making daily wakeup calls for two seniors who've had a rough home life lately. "You hope when you pass your candle to someone else; you hope it doesn't go out." Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com.