Area individuals whose lives were touched by Joe Paterno remember him as a man who put family, academics, and ethics above football.

"I think it's a sad day not just for the university, but for college football and humanity as a whole," said Rob Mikulski, a Panther Valley High School graduate who played for Paterno from 1984 to 1986.Mikulski, who now coaches at East Stroudsburg University, played center and defensive tackle for Paterno. The Lansford native said Paterno stressed sportsmanship and family."The x's and o's took care of themselves," Mikulski said. "He taught you life's lessons. He cared not only about you as an athlete but you as an individual. He prepared you more for life than football."Mikulski remembers one of Paterno's philosophies was to "take care of the little things because the big things will take care of themselves."As an example of his personal experience with Paterno, Mikulski said he always wore a baseball cap. Paterno stressed that he should never wear the cap inside the house. It was his way of teaching respect.Mikulski said Paterno was also always asking him about his family and about his classes."I want to express my sympathy to the family and the whole Penn State community," Mikulski said. "He was one of, if not the best, football coach and humanitarian."Gene DuffyGene Duffy of Jim Thorpe, a graduate of Jim Thorpe High School, played tight end for Penn State from 1988 to 1990."It's very sad," Duffy said of Paterno's passing. "He affected so many people. Nobody's perfect, especially with this last dilemma at Penn State."Duffy feels the Paterno legacy will endure."When people pass, you remember the great things and positive things that people did," he said.Duffy said Paterno would give you the same speech every week, but the way he delivered it, was powerful."He was a leader. He was larger than life," Duffy said.The contact Duffy had with Paterno went beyond his days playing at State College. After graduating from Penn State, the Jim Thorpe native pursued a playing career in the NFL. He played semi-pro ball in Fresno, Calif.He said there were occasions after graduation that he called on Paterno."I could call on Joe anytime something important came up," Duffy said. "He he was always willing to return my calls."Duffy recalls that in the middle of training camp, when the temperatures were very hot and he was going up against 300 pound linemen, Paterno would suddenly stop practice and allow everyone to have a Popsickle.Pat Holland of Jim Thorpe, who was a cheerleader at Penn State from 2005 through 2009, termed Paterno "a great man.""His passion for life and dedication to do things the right way was an inspiration to everyone around him," said Holland, another Jim Thorpe High School graduate. "I'm really sad to see him go, but I know that his legacy will carry on through the positive impact that he made on countless people."Holland said when he met Paterno, "it was an honor to be around such a great person."Judge WebbCarbon County Judge Richard Webb of Palmerton, a 1966 graduate of Penn State, said when he graduated, Paterno was an assistant coach at the school and then became head coach the following September."I think Penn State has lost a great icon," said Webb. "I am disturbed about the way the end came."Webb said he probably knows every one involved in the Penn State scandal except for Gary Schultz, the senior vice president of finance and business. He said he's even played golf with some of the individuals.Also in Webb's graduating class was Jerry Sandusky, who has been arrested and charged with 40 counts of sexual abuse of young boys over a 15-year period.Webb pointed out that at one point in his career, Paterno was earning a salary of $35,000, and was offered a million dollar contract to coach the New England Patriots."This is a guy who turned down millions to stay at a college," the judge remarked.Webb feels Paterno's legacy with the campus library, which was named for him, is a testament to his devotion to the student athlete."This was the one guy who followed the rules and reported the incident (alleged sexual assault) and the only one who said, 'I should have done even more,'" commented Judge Webb."He put Penn State on the map," Webb said, adding, "We won't see another man who will coach the same school for 50 years, especially in Division 1."Sean LoveSean Love, a Marian Catholic High School graduate and Tamaqua native, played for Paterno from 1986 to 1989 as an offensive lineman. He went on to play several yars in the NFL. He's currently a high school football coach in Florida."I knew everything when I was there and 18, 19, 20 years old," Love said today in mocking retrospect of his personal journey as a student-athlete. "He made me a better everything - father, husband, coach, friend. I used to say I'd run through a brick wall for Joe Paterno. That's how much I respected him. All of us are better human beings for Joe Paterno being involved in our lives."Love believes that Paterno sacrificed national football championships over the years because he always chose "going with the guys who were doing things the right way."Love said Paterno became a father figure in his life.Love recalls that he learned a hard lesson when Paterno heard that he had been skipping classes."He told me he would take something away that I love - football," he said. "I use that (tough love) with my own kids (sons, ages 12 and 9.) He always stressed that we've got to take care of first things first."Love said that unfortunately, "Jerry Sandusky and that whole (scandal) situation took advantage of him."