Posted 12:22 am Thursday, February 09, 2012
Whitehouse Teacher Proposes During Basketball Halftime
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Whitehouse High School teacher David McKain planned on proposing to his girlfriend, but he didn't think it would be in front of a crowd of spectators.
That is until his students intervened and helped him pull it off Tuesday night during halftime of the home boys basketball game.
Cheerleaders were doing a routine when Taylor Swift's "Love Story" came across the speakers. The mascot danced with the cheerleaders, and the routine ended with a heart-shaped ring formation and students holding up signs that read, "Will You Marry Me?" McKain escorted his girlfriend, Whitehouse physical education teacher Marilyn Jones, onto the gym floor, and she said yes. Her daughter was even on hand to bring hugs and roses, and students swarmed McKain to congratulate him.
"I really did not anticipate the outpour of love and well wishes from so many," McKain said Wednesday night. "I just wanted to do a little something to surprise Marilyn."
The planning for that surprise began about two weeks ago when McKain's math students asked how things were going with Ms. Jones, and he responded with, "I think she's going to say yes."
"I had over 20 ways to propose brought to me by my students, and I agreed (on the game)," McKain said.
Perhaps that was a perfect location, since the couple, who are both in their 50s, initially met at a Whitehouse softball game last spring and reconnected at a volleyball game in September.
McKain attended the volleyball game to support his students and had papers to grade. He said he ended up sitting next to Ms. Jones, who is the sister-in-law of Whitehouse head football coach and athletic director Randy McFarlin, while she was keeping the clock.
That's when they realized they had a lot in common. She had been a pastor's wife, and McKain had been a pastor. She sings and he travels on the weekends with a gospel choir. She has four kids and he has three.
So the next week, he said they went to see a movie together. During their courtship, he said people would sometimes see them together and think he was with Ms. Jones' identical twin sister, who also lives in Whitehouse.
McKain said neither of them was looking for someone, but God orchestrated the relationship.
"We share a passion for the Lord and helping point young people in the right direction," he said.
McKain's daughter, Jill Ramos, said she considers it a blessing that her father, who divorced when she was in high school, has found someone to share his life with.
"I've met her (Ms. Jones), and she wants to get to know me and I get to know her. She's a very sweet woman -- pretty and healthy -- and they seem to have really hit it off," she said.
Since meeting Ms. Jones, she said her father has been happy, and he now hums every morning. He also has tried walking for exercise since he's been with Ms. Jones. McKain admitted with a laugh that she is the better athlete.
"God is the one that completes him, but he's found somebody to live his life with and hopefully share wonderful memories," Ms. Ramos said.
The couple has not set an exact date, but they are looking at a possible June wedding.
A video of the proposal is posted on YouTube and can be found using the search phrase, "teacher proposes at basketball game."
