Porter, who was a wrestling state champion his senior year in 1999 for the Dodgers, has just completed his first year as activities director at his alma mater.

The Dodger graduate has stood by his words. In a recent Facebook post, Fort Dodge softball coach Andi Adams applauded Porter for his efforts.

With an umpire shortage, Porter went out and got his umpire license. In one day he umpired two freshman softball games and a JV game and then announced the baseball game at night. Adding to his list of getting things done, Porter drove a bus for an athletic event.

“I obviously appreciate the recognition, but I don’t do it for that. I just hate to see opportunities taken away for kids,” Porter said. “I want to be the example and set that tone and be a leader that puts his boots to the ground. I think as a leader you have to be a role model and talk the talk and walk the walk.

“If you expect your coaches to do it, then you have to. We have a lot of events here like our cross country invitational, the Don Miller Invitational, hosting postseason wrestling and basketball. Ryan O’Leary is a great attribute to the school, as well as he helps in any way he can. A lot of people don’t see all of the extra time and work that coaches and administrators put in.”

After graduating high school, the Dodger graduate spent 15 years in Clarinda as a coach and athletic director, but after the activities director job opened at Fort Dodge, it was time to come home.

“For a long time I wanted to be back in Fort Dodge,” Porter said. “I thought if the right coaching job or administration job came along, I would come back.

“My wife isn’t from Fort Dodge, so it had to be the right opportunity. It didn’t shake out for a while, but when the AD job opened and my wife was ready — which was the most important piece — it worked.”

One of the main reasons Porter wanted to return to his old stomping grounds was the people of Fort Dodge.

“Honestly, it was more about the people than anything,” Porter said. “Once you’re from Fort Dodge and you grow up in Fort Dodge and move further away and tell people about it, you brag about it.

“Fort Dodge has received my family like a family. My old friends and the ‘guys,’ those connections are still there and it’s like you never left, even being gone for 15 years.”

The role of an athletic director has changed and switched to activities director, and Porter loves the fact that he can gain new experiences mixed with the old.

“A ways back, all you were was an athletic director and then it changed to activities director across the country,” Porter said. “It’s a tough balance, but I’m someone who has a great appreciation for those activities. I learned the most by being in Clarinda. They have such strong band and theater programs and activities; it was a great opportunity.

“Being back in Fort Dodge, I learned about the activities and to stay balanced as I can. When I went to the musical, I didn’t realize the strong tradition and I watched it in a different avenue.”

Porter, who played football and baseball and wrestled at Fort Dodge, wants to uphold the tradition of the programs.

“There is something about being from Fort Dodge and the tradition,” Porter said. “Fort Dodge has tough, hard-nosed kids, who may not always be the most athletic, but have a lot of heart. As a culture, we have accepted that and love that role.

“When I came back and saw the Fort Dodge vs. everybody shirts, I loved that. I think back to the brutal schedule against Johnston and Waukee. We have become accustomed to that and take a lot of pride in that. We have to build off of that and get better and stay.”

On his list of short-term goals, Porter wants to make sure Fort Dodge is representing itself in a positive manner.

“We really want to make sure we are representing ourselves in the best way possible,” Porter said. “People in Fort Dodge are proud of Fort Dodge. We want to be put back on the map and working hard to be the best we can. We do a lot of things well and we don’t get enough appreciation for that.”

In the long term, Porter feels that Fort Dodge can be the town that comes up in conversations.

“We want to be the town everyone talks about in a positive light like other programs are talked about,” Porter said. “We want to be the school that everyone takes in what we do. Our coaches have great programs and we want to be the models.”

When the chance to come home came up, Porter and his family made the decision to come home, and in his return, Porter knew he made the right decision.

“My family loves it here. My biggest fear was that they wouldn’t,” Porter said. “My wife (Sandy) enjoys her teaching job and my kids (Karson, 11; Knox, 9; Kruse 5) are involved in youth programs.

“I will never forget how the community, staff and kids have welcomed us.”