Ask any of George Cyr’s former runners what they consider to be his trademark characteristic and the answer comes swiftly: his smile. A man of high expectations, deep integrity, and blunt honesty, Cyr was a force to reckon with for coaches and athletes alike. Competitive and laser-focused on the personal growth of all of his student-athletes, Cyr’s no-nonsense approach to training and racing commanded respect and awe. And yet, for all of his quiet fierceness and intensity, it was his smile that said the most. A flip through newspaper clippings and yearbook photos tracks the flashes of his grin, ageless and beaming. His runners poured themselves into miles, plowed up muddy hills, and barreled down 100m stretches, anything and everything that might spark the slow, wide spread of that coveted Cyr smile. One glimpse of that expression meant more than any hardware or time on a watch ever could.The effect of Cyr’s smile speaks to the true beauty of Cyr’s legacy as a teacher and coach. His tremendous heart, unwavering devotion to his teams, and deep belief in each and every student he encountered is unparalleled. As former Athletic Director and fellow Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Marty Bee once noted, “The thing I learned is how much he cares about his kids. He’s very competitive, and it’s a lot nicer to be with him than against him. I respected him a lot when I was [head cross country coach] at [Naperville] North, but now I respect him as the total package. He’s great with kids and is extremely knowledgeable. He’s got his system and it works.” And work it did. Powerfully.Cyr was named the head track coach in 1975 and earned the head cross country role in 1976, following in the footsteps of the estimable Bud Berger, a 2013 inductee into the Redhawk Athletic Hall of Fame. In his almost thirty year career, Cyr’s teams won 10 DuPage Valley cross-country titles and three track titles. His cross country teams featured 11 individual state medalists and eight top 10 Class AA finishes, including a second place trophy in 1987. His track teams boasted four sectional titles and 37 state medalists in every event save the 200 meters. Matt Nolan was the 1980 state 3,200-meter champion; brother Dan repeated his accomplishment in 1989. Cyr celebrates these wins not for the glow of achievement but rather for the stories behind the statistics. He shared, “Rather than focusing on winning championships, my goal was to field consistently good teams. If the talent or potential of a particular team was high, then the season’s goals reflected that. I am very pleased that my teams usually did perform at a high level […] It was amazing to see the confidence in their eyes and how they proudly carried themselves.” Cyr’s confidence in and commitment to bringing out the best in each of his athletes served as both the backbone and lifeblood of that pride.Coaching running is an art, and Cyr was a craftsman. So much of the work is invisible, a behind-the- scenes narrative that plays out in the head and heart of each runner after the race gun goes off. A coach can only watch, offer encouragement and direction, and trust that the miles that have come before will lead that runner successfully home. That complex internal mix of fear, fatigue and fire a runner faces is something Cyr understands well. Though he entered North Central College as a basketball player fresh off a successful high school career at Kankakee Senior High School, Cyr soon found himself under the inspiring tutelage of legendary cross country and track coach, Al Carius. Basketball players at North Central were required to be two-sport athletes, and track seemed to be a natural fit. That choice proved to be life-altering, transforming Cyr’s personal and professional trajectory. Cyr was the fifth man on the conference championship cross country team as a junior and ran to All-Conference cross country honors in his senior year. Most importantly, he had started a lifelong love for running.Post-college, Cyr continued to set personal bests, recording a 19:36 4-mile, a 9:12 2-mile, and a 2:36 marathon. With his own teams, Cyr worked to incorporate Carius’ philosophy of “run for fun and personal bests.” As Cyr noted in a 2001 interview with Chicago Tribune writer Reid Hanley, “You never forget that feeling of being in really good shape, giving your best. It’s something that never goes away. It’s real easy to relate to the kids. It’s a developmental sport. A kid can have great talent, but he has to work at it. You can’t just sit around and do nothing. It’s 6:30 in the morning, it’s dark and you’re out there with the kids and you’re one of them. You’re just a runner. You talk, go back and forth and develop a relationship. I do a lot of my coaching on those runs.” Those runs with his athletes would prove to be one of the many forces at work behind the individual and team successes. Channeling the models and teaching of his parents, Warren and Frances , and uncle, Kenny Grubb, also a teacher and a coach, Cyr gave his all in the science classroom and “on his feet” in cross country and track & field. He studied, experimented, and constantly evolved his practice, never satisfied with less than his best. Independently driven, Cyr also found tremendous energy from his collaboration with others: “I really enjoyed the daily interaction with my unbelievably dedicated and talented colleagues and the desire exhibited by the students to excel in the classroom. All of the assistant coaches and athletes with whom I worked inspired me with their work ethic and commitment to excellence.” Blending logic and careful planning with intuitive passion, Cyr created a culture of success and warm belonging. Teams became family, and while tough love meant accountability and honest self-evaluation, unconditional support was a constant in every equation. That winning combination earned him well-deserved recognition as a 2001 inductee into the Illinois Track and Field and Cross Country Hall of Fame.In the midst of all of the miles, meters and achievements, Cyr’s greatest joy remains his 46 year marriage to Mary Ann, who supported and inspired him throughout his coaching and teaching years and continually helped to develop his interests beyond sports. Happily retired, they now call Missouri home, where Cyr finally made a hole-in-one in September of 2015, an accomplishment he is especially excited about. His advice for Redhawks: “Enjoy the daily interaction with [your] team and teammates and savor the journey of each season.”Cyr savored the journey and taught his athletes to do the same. Even now, years removed from their high school races, they continue their runs, perpetually inspired by the memory of that signature flash of white across a beloved coach’s face and the echo of that firm but knowing voice saying, “You’ve got this.”