Zak Phol
I am so sad to have found this obituary. I was a student of Mr. Cason's at McIlvaigh Middle School in the late '80s. Mr. Cason instilled words of wisdom, discipline, and the drive for success that I carry with me to this day. I always thought that I would one day run into him around Tacoma and be able to thank him for helping shape my character and inevitably my life.
When I was in his 6th grade class in McIlvaigh, he got very upset with 1 of 2 friends for not completing his homework. He told my friend #1 that if he did not take his homework seriously he would end up working at a factory his whole life. Mr. Cason then turned to my friend #2 and told my friend #1 that he would be working at the factor for friend #2 because friend #2 would be the supervisor at the factory. Mr. Cason finally turns to me and tells friend #1 and #2 that both would be working for me because I would own the factory. Although, I do not currently own a factory, and I am far removed from being the young boy who grew up on welfare in Shack-Town (what Mr. Cason called the old Salishan). I will never forget Mr. Cason's words. Thank you for blessing me with your time and teaching me for life.