In 1988, Clarkston High School graduating senior Scott Poche was accused of drawing in a textbook, and told to pay for it. He denied it, and the matter was dropped due to lack of evidence.
But he did draw in the textbook, something he never let himself forget.
Now 40 years old, he sent a letter and check for $100 to Clarkston High School
“I denied that I had drawn the picture and due to there being no way to prove that I had done so, I did not end up having to pay for it,” Poche wrote in the letter, dated Dec. 23, 2010. “Since graduating, I fortunately have matured and have strengthened my sense of integrity and want to donate this money to provide restitution for the textbook.”
Clarkston High School Principal Gary Kaul appreciates the effort, and tracked Poche down through his sister, Becka, who still lives in the area. Kaul gave him a call.
“I said the money’s not important,” Kaul said. “What’s important is the lesson shared with people on being a good person and doing what’s right.”
He placed the $100 put into the high school’s book fund.
“It’s a neat thing to do, a valuable life lesson. I thank him for doing it,” Kaul said.
Recently converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, it was an important thing for him to do spiritually, Poche said.
“I came to the conclusion in my life that if I profess it, I should live it,” he said. “Looking back on it, it wasn’t that I wasn’t taught better or didn’t know better, it was more to avoid embarrasment. But I knew this happened in my past, and I wanted to take care of it. I have the means, so I decided to do it.”
He lived in Clarkston for a short time, with his parents Rodney and Betty, and sister, attending Clarkston High School for about two semesters. They moved because of his dad’s job transfer with General Motors.
Scott Poche lives in Springerville, Arizona, with his wife, Mysha, and their five children.
“We have two kids in high school ? hopefully they’re not drawing in textbooks,” he said.