Greg Erb still shakes his head at memories of the intensity John Saunders brought to football practices at Central Junior High School.

“He taught me how to be a hard worker. He taught us to never give up,” said Erb, who earned a football scholarship at Kansas University and now is in medical school at KU Medical Center.

That commitment to athletics, along with an emphasis on academics, brought hundreds of people together Friday for dedication of Central’s athletic field in honor of Saunders.

Saunders displayed the sense of humor students and faculty enjoyed during his 24 years as a teacher and coach.

“This is really an honor and privilege to be here today,” he said. “I’m glad it’s not postmortem.”

Saunders, who has been battling kidney cancer, was driven on the field between two rows of students at Central, 1400 Mass.

He leaned against the vehicle door while addressing the audience and during remarks by Ted Juneau, Central principal; Don Binns, Central social studies teacher; and Erb.

Afterward, dozens of people walked through a line to wish him well. Others added their thoughts to a videotape that will be given to Saunders.

Binns said his friend and colleague always had high expectations of students and coaches involved in sports.

John Saunders, a former Central Junior High School science teacher and coach, right, hugs former student and track athlete Alison Boydston, as they recall a track meet in 1983 when Saunders cut up a trash bag for Boydston to wear during a race in the rain. Central students, staff and alumni gathered Friday to dedicate the Central athletic field as Saunders Field.

“On game day, he was one exciting guy,” he said. If Saunders thought a football play he had called would be especially effective, he’d literally “snort” with anticipation, Binns said.

He was just as tenacious in the classroom, Binns said.

“You should have heard his biology students complain!” he said.

Saunders, who attended Central, joined the junior high’s faculty in 1975. He taught science and biology and coached football, track and wrestling.

Several years ago, he was injured while demonstrating a wrestling move. It was then that doctors discovered he had cancer.

“I can think of no more worthy person to have a field named after him than John Saunders,” Binns said.