Richard Imhoff retired from education in the spring of 1990. The career of this man, known as Coacher to his students, spanned 39 years. His influence will long live in the lives of the young people who came in contact with him in the classroom and on the athletic field. He firmly believed that participation in athletics under the guidance of a good coach could set a youngster on a positive path. Richard believed that every youngster or young adult should have the opportunity to achieve his/her goals. He set high standards for achievement by induction into the Arizona Coaches Hall of Fame. Coacher was tough and carried a big stick but was always ready for a joke and laugh with students. His stories and songs will always be remembered.

Post secondary training for high school graduates was a priority of his. He knew that the experiences young people had in high school would be the foundation for future achievement. Richard encouraged each and every student to further their education and believed that every student should be given the opportunity to succeed if they wanted to pursue their educational goals.

After his death in 1996, a memorial golf tournament was organized to honor this man and provide a scholarship for a graduate of Salome High School. The committee determined that the scholarship would be awarded to a graduate who had completed one year of post secondary education. The award would be based on a letter to be sent to Mrs. Richard Imhoff setting forth his/her goals, their plan for achieving those goals, and an explanation of what they were doing with their life (working, volunteering, et.) A committee composed of two educators and one business person review the applications and make a decision. The scholarship is awarded during graduation at Salome High School each spring.