By Nan Bauroth
EVERY THURSDAY Debbie Reicht gets up at the crack of dawn to arrive at Endhaven Elementary School by 7 a.m. to run the Endhaven Cougars Chess Club. That's what you call parental commitment — especially since she's been doing it for six years. Her dedication is even more impressive once you know that at 8:15 a.m. when the club is over, Reicht starts her real day running Southern Comfort Zone, a Ballantyne heating and air conditioning business she and husband Peter own. "In winter when it's cold and dark, it's hard to drag myself out of bed," Reicht admits. "But then I think of those smiling little faces, so eager to play chess. That's what makes me roll out at that hour. They'll run up and hug me telling me how they just won a game. Their fervor is contagious. I just love it."
Reicht's involvement began when the first of her three sons, ages 15, 13, and 9,
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Debbie Reicht's son (left) is a member of his school's chess club. Reicht (above, blue shirt) runs the club with other parent volunteers, including Kim Snider (above, far left) and Blessy Marin.
BALLANTYNE MAGAZINE 77