Jackson Sun Article - Paul Ward 11/27/07

This was the original article that was published in the Jackson Sun shortly after Coach Ward passed away, courtesy of Johnny Pitts.
smp (Scott M Portis)

Article published Nov 27, 2007

Huntingdon's Ward was true legend

By DAN MORRIS

dmorris@jacksonsun.com

They gathered Monday in Huntingdon to pay final respects to Paul Ward, one of West Tennessee's true football coaching legends.

He died Saturday at age 81 and was buried in his native soil. One of the great thrills of his life was being hired to coach his alma mater - the Huntingdon Mustangs.

When he showed up for his first practice as a head coach in 1953, the 24-year-old Ward was stunned to find only nine boys on the field. He had to recruit students out of the halls and physical-education classes to corral his first herd of Mustangs.

When he retired 23 years later following the 1975 season to become superintendent of Huntingdon schools, Ward had achieved fame across the state. With 169 wins, 62 losses and six ties, he had a .726 winning percentage.

He added eight undefeated seasons, nine Volunteer Conference championships and was The Jackson Sun's Coach of the Year twice.

His last team in 1975 was 10-0 in the regular season and ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press Class AA poll before losing to Bishop Byrne in the state playoffs.

There was nothing fancy about Ward. He was a hard-nosed disciplinarian who stressed fundamentals. If you could block and tackle better than the opponent, he figured the odds were on his side.

Passing was rarely in his game plan, especially during the early years. There were wagers among the Mustang faithful over the odds of Ward making it through a season without throwing a pass.

"The word got around that Coach Ward won't even let his wife 'pass the salt' at the breakfast table," Ward once told me. "I began passing some after that," he said.

A 1944 graduate of Huntingdon High, where he was a standout fullback, Ward served in the Navy from 1944-46. Then he went to Murray State on a football scholarship and started three years at tackle. He played on the 1948 team that won the Ohio Valley Conference title and played in the Tangerine Bowl against Sul Ross College of Alpine, Texas. Years later Ward learned that he had played against Dan Blocker, alias Hoss Cartwright of Bonanza fame, in that game.

After graduation, Ward was an assistant coach at Bruceton three years before getting the Huntingdon job. His third season with the Mustangs, the team's record was 0-9-1.

"I was lucky I didn't get fired after the third season," Ward once said.

But things changed quickly the next year when Larry Stewart, the son of a Baptist preacher, moved to town.

"He probably did more to build Huntingdon's program than anybody else," Ward said.

Running out of a "sidesaddle T," Stewart was the state's leading scorer and led the Mustangs to a 10-0 record. From 1956 to 1966, Huntingdon teams put together an incredible string of 102 wins, 7 losses and 1 tie for a .932 winning percentage.

In 1966 Tim Priest was Huntingdon's star, leading the Mustangs to an 11-0 season. He became a standout defensive back for the Tennessee Volunteers and is still heard each week as the color commentator during the UT football radio broadcasts.

Priest and Stewart were among those attending the funeral Monday, along with another former Mustang and UT lineman Warren Blankenship. Emotions ran high. The man who had helped shape their character and work ethic was gone to his reward.

Roy Dill was there, too. Dill played for Ward in 1961-64 and has kept statistics for Huntingdon football the past 32 seasons.

"You respected Coach Ward so much," Dill said. "He could get all over you one minute and be patting you on the back the next. You knew he was for you all the way, and he treated everybody the same."

A die-hard respect usually follows the great coaches to their grave. Such was the case for Paul Ward.

Dan Morris is The Jackson Sun's interim sports editor. Reach him at 425-9756 or (800) 372-3922, ext. 259756 or by e-mail at dmorris@jacksonsun.com.

Soccer Shoes

Scotty:

Some weeks ago I sent in a memory of Coach Ward, but I do not see it posted below so I may have wrongly addressed it. I’ll try again with some rambling memories. Please let me say how much I have enjoyed reading the stories of others and reminiscing about growing up in Huntingdon. A couple of things come to mind. In the fall of ’64 when guys like Danny Woodard, Dale Strickland, Donnie Hall, Jerry Morris, Mud Brown and Jerry “Pee Wee” Robison were some of the really good seniors on the team Coach Ward reluctantly agreed to let the backs on the team wear “soccer shoes”- low cut, light weight shoes with a molded, soft rubber sole having short molded cleats. As I recall only the seniors and a few others who might get in a game(like up and coming sophomore, Steve Barnett) got the shoes. As we all thought the shoes looked “fast” and we thought we ran faster in them everyone was excited to have “soccer shoes”. As I and other sophomores played little we mostly looked forward to wearing soccer shoes in our junior and senior seasons.

The ’64 team went undefeated in the regular season and beat Bolivar handily in the Volunteer Conference championship game. We then went to play mighty Brownsville of the Big Ten in the Little Cotton Bowl in Brownsville. On an early possession Huntingdon drove inside the Brownsville 10 yard line. Our star tailback, Jerry Robison, took a handoff as a hole was opened off tackle. It appeared Pee Wee would score but he slipped as he cut into the hole. When he fell he broke his arm or his shoulder or something knocking him out of the game. Huntingdon failed to score and ended up losing to the Big Ten champion Tomcats by a score of 14-0 as I recall. After the game Coach Ward pronounced that “those darn soccer shoes” were the reason Jerry slipped and was injured. He thereafter banned anyone from wearing soccer shoes with the result that the guys in my class like Steve Barnett, Johnny Carter, Wool Townsend and I never got to wear them in a game where we were playing enough to affect the outcome. He was probably right. I don’t think we ever lost a game where soccer shoes would have been the winning edge.

In the fall of ’65 we lost to Camden and Jackson Northside and tied Paris. I remember that we were pretty much considered failures in the wake of the great team of ’64 and the teams of the late 50’s and of the teams led by the guy I believe to have been the best Huntingdon athlete of our era Bobby Hayes. I have always thought if Bobby had turned down Johnny Vaught’s scholarship offer to Ole Miss and chosen professional baseball we would have seen him pitching in the major leagues. In ‘65 Camden won the Volunteer Conference champion in a great game over Don McLeary led Northside. Everyone picked Camden to be the best team in West Tenn in ’66. They were led by QB Cliff Sturdivant(later a star at UT Martin and Huntingdon’s coach), bruising tailback, Dale Woodard and guard-linebacker, David Dulin, both of whom later starred at Tenn Tech. All spring and summer Coach Ward and all the players worked for one thing, beating Camden. The second game of the year we traveled to Camden. I don’t think I ever played on a team in high school or college that was as well prepared and motivated as our team was that night. Coach Ward had sort of gigged us all year about “those big ole boys at Camden” were looking down there collective noses at us. In the game that is still the most fun I ever had playing we beat Camden 28-0. The sense of accomplishment and satisfaction was immeasurable. We all gained a great sense of pride and the understanding(if we did not already have it) that if we would just listen to Coach Ward and Coach Welch we could accomplish all our football goals.

As many have already posted we all feel a great sense of loss with Coach Ward’s death. However, remembering his contributions to all our lives at an age when we were very impressionable gives us warm memories of the an individual who left us all a little better than he found us.

I look forward to reading future posts.

Tim

Tim Priest

---

From: Roberts, Benny
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 2:36 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: Coach Ward

tim,

being one of the youngest "posters" to this blog i will continue on your story. as you know my dad and mom were great fans. and with judy there we managed to go to every game. i remember cutting up newspapers so i could throw up confetti at brownsville. after pee wee broke his arm, my dad told me to just throw it up on first downs because he didn't think we would score. he turned out to be right. the night of the camden game you were speaking of, i rode with my dad and gene wilkes, gerry and barbara to camden. i remember all the way over there their conversation (strange how that kind of stuff comes back). they came to the conclusion that the only way we would win was for us to receive the opening kickoff and you return it for a touchdown. i can't remember if you did that or not but that thought just entered my mind as i was reading your story.

benny

---

From: Tim Priest

To:

Sent: Friday, January 18, 2008 8:29 AM

Subject: RE: Coach Ward

Benny:

No such luck for me on the opening kickoff. Certainly it was an all around team effort.

Tim

Tim Priest

---

From: Joe Fortner

Sent: Thu, 1/17/2008

To:
Subject: Fw: Coach Ward

Tim, Great memories of the 64 team, When talking about the shoes, Danny Woodard was given three pairs of shoes. The soccer shoes, a pair for playing on a dry field and a pair playing on a wet field.

Freddie Holiday. enjoyed your post. I have a question, I have always been told the story of the coach of Milan High School football team who at the time was playing Somerville in football each year. He dropped Sommerville from their schedule because of Larry Stewart and stated he would not play them again until Larry Stewart graduated from high school. Instead of playing Somerville he picked up Huntingdon for the next football season and then Bro. Jonas Stewart moved to Huntingdon to pastor the First Baptist Church and Larry played for the Mustangs against Milan High School that fall.

Joe Fortner

---

From: Scott Portis

Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:47 AM
To: '

Subject: Re: Coach Ward

Tim, I remember this game very well. I arrived late (after the kickoff-having driven all the way from Indianapolis, Indiana, where I lived at the time just to see this game) and went from 6th deep in the end zone closest to town to the front row (still in the end zone). You could not stir the people with a stick. Anyway, on your first touchdown run, as you came through the end zone the crowd was so close to the field that you ran right by me and I swiped you on the butt and screamed, "way to go Tim Priest". What a great game and probably the best team the Mustangs ever fielded (most points scored and fewest allowed). Perhaps the more modern teams have topped these records but that '66 team was one of the best in my memory. Geno Dill could tell us more.

While your brother and I were in medical school in Memphis, all medical treatment at the old "John Gaston Hospital" came to a grinding halt on Saturday afternoon when you and the likes of "Jumping Joe Thompson" and the rest of the Vols took the field.

Great memories.

Scotty

PS Johnny Radford, the greatest Mustang fan of all time, continues to "grow" the list of former Mustangs. Welcome to all.

Anyone else with a great story line such as Tim's, we would like to hear from you. It could by about a season, a team, a game, or a single play. Coach Ward would have loved these stories.

Losing to Jackson in 1957

Scott Portis Tue, Jan 15, 2008 at 11:11 PM

To: Johnny Radford

Cc: "Scott M. Portis" , "Paul Ward Jr." , "Paul Ward Jr." , Tim Priest , Bobby Ward

JR, you have tremendous "institutional knowledge" of HHS football and Coach Ward. I only hope that we will be able to put all these "blogs" in a book eventually so not only the players and students but future generations will be able to remember our Coach and what he stood for. I am sending each and everyone of these to Scott my son (he was an end for MBA in Nashville). Scott and his son McClain have gotten a big bang watching Daddy and Granddaddy playing in the two Exchange Bowls (Parsons in 1957 and Jackson High in 1958). Jeff Carter converted the 1957 game to DVD and Jimmy Wallace a defensive back for Jackson High converted the 1958 game to DVD. Jimmy called me from Jackson one day and said "Scotty, if you will come down and eat supper with me I will give you a copy of the game." I said, "Jimmy, I'll be glad to come but is there any way you can change the score for me (Golden Bears 28-Mustangs 12)?" As I said earlier in an email, we were in this game to the end and were even ahead at one point 6-0. They scored to go ahead 7-6 and we drove to their 10 on the next series but a 15 yard penalty pushed us back and we were unable to get it in. I scored on a screen pass in the 4th quarter but two late interceptions clinched it for them. The only game I ever played in to lose. Coaches Paul Ward and Luke Welch had tremendous football knowledge for their time and stayed of the cutting edge of new formations and ways to win games. Luke could punt the ball a mile and he stressed the kicking game. Ronnie Rice (end and punter 1957) and Luke taught me to punt. I'll call Paula and get Jerry's email address and send the blogs to him. I witnessed the 1966 season first hand as a spectator. I was standing with the rest of the crowd (6 deep) in the end zone at the Camden game (in Camden) when Tim scored his first touchdown. He came so close to me I swatted him on the butt as he came by me. You have forgotten this (I can barely remember it) but I helped Ewell Boldin coach the junior high each year before I went back to UT (I remember Tim and Tommy Portis on these teams). Keep up the good work on recruiting former Mustangs. Feel free to send the blogs on to them. Just let me know their addresses so I can send future emails to them. Feel free to expand our knowledge of the 1966 season as this was probably the most famous of all the HHS teams. The two most exciting games I ever witnessed was the 1975 game against Trenton won by a field goal 22-13 (Huntingdon scored a late defensive TD for the additional 7 points. Trenton had been ahead 13 to 12 when the field goal put the Mustangs ahead 15-13). Then there was the Bishop-Byrne game in Memphis, won by them on the chin strap violation. SP

"Smelling Sauce"

From: tom portis
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2007 12:30 AM
To:
Subject: FW: Coach Ward

There have been some great stories of Coach Ward that I have truly enjoyed reading. The ones from some of the older guys about his early coaching days are notable because there were things that I had not known about him. It brings back memories of a great time growing up in Huntingdon and the lessons learned living in a small town and playing football for Paul Ward.

Someone mentioned that he and Johnny Compton are together again probably reminiscing about those days, when I am sure, Coach Ward was challenged having to deal with Johnny.

Ned Priest and others remind me of two stories relating to Compton and the influence on his life by Coach Ward. If you will indulge my limited writing skills……………

For those of you who did not know him or play with him, Johnny Compton was a rough around the edges kind of guy, a tough, mean football player and sometimes just a callous and unkind person. I had not seen Johnny Compton probably since high school but learned that he was living in Southaven, MS just across the Mississippi line from Memphis and was going to church with a UT alumni I worked with at the Bank. I also learned Johnny had changed his life and had become a Christian. This was wonderful to hear and I had to remind myself that yes, God does move in mysterious ways. And yes it was true.

Tim Priest had just been selected to be the color analyst for the Vol Football network and was going to be in Memphis to speak to the Shelby County Big Orange Club. The guy I worked with and I had plans to attend the meeting and he asked if I cared if Johnny Compton joined us. Johnny wanted to see and hear Tim speak since they played together on that great 1966 Mustang team. I was delighted and yet apprehensive at the same time remembering Johnny’s past.

The day arrived and we all met at the Bank to ride over to the Big Orange Club meeting. Johnny Compton was truly a changed man. He was humble, polite and almost apologetic for his past. He expressed to me what an influence Coach Ward was on his life and the lessons in discipline he learned from football and Paul Ward. I thought that was a real tribute not only to Compton’s changed life but to Coach Ward as well. It was somewhat the same way Charles Rhodes related how Coach had influenced Ray Chandler’s life. I think he taught a lot of life lessons to us. Probably more than we really knew at the time.

A funny side to this story was when we arrived at the restaurant where the meeting was being held, I spotted Tim’s Mom who lived in Memphis at the time and went over to speak with her. As I finished, Johnny Compton stepped in front of Mrs. Priest and said, “Mrs. Priest, you probably don’t remember me but I am Johnny Compton”. The expression on Mrs. Priest’s face, as they say, was priceless. Probably not having seen Johnny since he and Tim graduated, she looked up at Compton almost in a state of disbelief and slowly extended her hand to shake his and I heard her utter these words, “My God, JOHNNY COMPTON? How could I ever forget you?”

One day in practice running the scout team offense, which I got to do a lot playing behind Tim, we huddled up and Coach Ward showed us a diagram of the next play we were to run. It was a slant pass to the split end on the right side and as I got under center, I took a look to see where Compton was and who was lined up opposite him - just for kicks I guess hoping someone might actually get a good block on him. I took the snap and dropped back. The next think I remember (or didn’t remember, someone related to me later) was Coach Ward laughing almost uncontrollably and trying to bring me around by putting smelling sauce under my nose after Compton had turned out my lights with a blind side hit. I am sure both Compton and Coach Ward enjoyed it. At least I was informed they did.

In spring practice of 1964 I tore an ACL and had to have surgery a few days later. Coach Ward could not be there the day of the surgery due to school responsibilities and football practice. My parents went home that night after the surgery and I remember waking up the next morning very early to find Coach Ward sitting in my hospital room. He had driven down very early on a Saturday morning just to check on me. We had a conversation which I am sure was limited on my part as I was a sophomore and still in awe of him. I think he cared for and respected his players for their efforts no matter what your job on the team was and he did it in his own quite un-expressive way. He was one of our Senior Class sponsors for the graduating class of 1966. It was an honor to have known him and played for him.

Tom Portis

---------------------

From: Tim Priest

To: 'tom portis'

Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 7:49 AM

Subject: RE: Coach Ward

Tommy:

Thanks for the story. You are so right in describing the influence Coach Ward had on the life of Johnnie Compton and all of us. I certainly remember seeing you Johnnie, Johnny Carter and others the night I spoke in Memphis. We very much missed seeing Johnnie at our 40 year class reunion this summer.

Tim

"Hey, Hay Seed!"

From: Scotty Portis
Sent: Thursday, December 06, 2007 4:57 PM
To: Bobby Ward; Ward, Paul - 08
Cc: Tom Portis; Tim Priest; Scott M. Portis; Ronnie&Nancy Rice; Ray Ivey; Paul Allen; Johnny Pitts; John Clement; Joe Smothers; Gloria Fortner; Fred Holladay; Duck Priest; Betty Ann Tanner; Buster Barger; Carl Holladay; Charlie Rhodes; Ned Priest
Subject: Fw: Coach Ward

Winston (Charles), great blog about your colon (glad it was ok). Every body needs a colonoscopy eventually. Also, I would encourage readers of this email to go to Winston's (his ailas) to read his side splitting humor of life at Huntingdon High School. Addresses below.

Great words also for our revered Coach. I knew Ray Chandler very well and was on the receiving end of at least one of his fights. The fight was so intense we rolled in the ditch (water included) down by the little store on Benton Street close to the old high school. I called him "Buffalo" and then preceded to pay the price. We became great friends on the football team during high school. I threw him a very important pass for a touchdown during the Paris game my senior year. The pass was not that good but Ray snaked his way through the entire Paris defense for one of the early TD's (final Mustangs 41-Paris 7). These were during Coach Wards days (years one and two after Larry Stewart) that the Huntingdon faithful thought that a successful season was not only winning every game but not letting the other team even score. Ray was an excellent football player as a blocker and pass catcher.

Coach Ward literally pulled Ray out of the scrap heap and made a solid citizen out of him. Poor Ray met an untimely death from the dreaded cancer (leukemia I think).

Phillip Barnett related a very funny story to me this morning at his gym concerning Johnny Compton. At Coach Ward's funeral someone remarked, "Poor Coach Ward, he will once more have to put up with ole Johnny Compton". I knew Johnny and have long heard of his antics on and off the football field. Tim Priest will enjoy this and probably remember this incident. Seems that the Mustangs had an open date mid season and Coach not wanting his well oiled machine to get rusty filled that date with a team from Nashville. When the team bus pulled up, one of the first players off the bus looked at Johnny and said "Hey, hay seed, we liked to have not found this hole". "We finally had to follow the 'cow shit' just to get here".

After the ensuing kick off Huntingdon had the ball and Compton looked up while still in the huddle to see the same guy who would be playing across from him in the line. Compton preceded to tell Tim that there was going to be a 5 yd. penalty for "off sides" on this first play. Tim said, "Johnny, how do you know"? Comp's reply "Tim, you just call the signals". Well, if the snap count was on 3 at 2 Compton jumped in that guys face and rearranged his nose with a tremendous forearm; I believe it may still be called a "forearm shiver". That set the tone and Huntingdon won the game something like 40 to 0. Tim, feel free to jump in and correct any of this as it is second hand and you were there. I remember Johnny as being a force on both sides of the ball (God rest his soul).

Thanks again to Charles (Wintson) Rhodes for his comments and to all of you who have participated and will continue to participate. These stories have done a lot to help a broken heart (mine) and hopefully for Little Paul (sorry Paul Jr. but that is how I know you), Bobby and Ms. Kay.

God Speed.

Scott Portis (Mustang 1955-1958)

Fighting in Lexington

From: Marshall F. Priest MD, FACC
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2007 7:09 PM
To: Scott Portis; john pitts; Charlie Rhodes
Cc: Tom Portis; Scott M. Portis; Ronnie&Nancy Rice; Randy Clement; John Clement; Joe Smothers; Gloria Fortner; Betty Ann Tanner; Fred Holladay; Gary Hall; Paul Allen; Ray Ivey; Tim Priest; Wallace Pinkley
Subject: RE: Coach Ward

Scotty and All

I have enjoyed reading the stories and remembrances of Coach Ward offered by those of us who grew up in Huntingdon. I have always been grateful that I grew up in Huntingdon and as you and I have discussed many times, I have wonderful memories of those years. I think much of the success I and others have been able to achieve in our chosen professions can be directly traced to the values and discipline instilled by many of our teachers and coaches at Huntingdon High School. In that regard I often think of Mr. Pudor, Mr. Tate, Coach Ward and Mr. Guy Robert Kirk. While I never had Mr. Kirk for a teacher and never played football for Coach Ward I had tremendous respect for their ability ( including Mr. Pudor and Mr. Tate ) as role models for all of us who knew them and saw them everyday at school. It took only a few years beyond graduation to realize how fortunate I was to have known these people whose guidance and principles have helped me deal with important issues in my professional life even today.

A couple of stories to relate in that regard. I am certain that each of you remembers Dale Strickland who was a stellar defensive end at Huntingdon in the 1960s and who achieved a PhD in wild life biology at the University of Tennessee before moving to Cheyenne, Wyoming where he now lives. I was on a plane with Dale a few years ago and he told me that when he reached ninth grade at Huntingdon he signed up for the easiest freshman classes so that he could focus on extracurricular activities which included football. Early in the school year while walking down the hall Mr. Pudor invited Dale into his office where he informed Dale that with Coach Ward's approval, he ( Mr. Pudor ) rearranged Dale's schedule to include Latin, Algebra I, General Science and English. Dale felt that intervention was a sentinel event in his life and provided him with the confidence to pursue even higher and more difficult goals on the football field and in the classroom.

On a lighter note, a story related to me by my brother Tim which I think occurred during his junior year at Huntingdon. Huntingdon was playing Lexington at Lexington in a very close football game. Tim and the late Johnny Compton were thrown out of the game ( I think in the third quarter ) for fighting. Huntingdon was ahead 7 - 0 in the fourth quarter when Lexington began to sustain a drive toward the end zone. Coach Ward walked back to the bench where Tim and Johnny were seated and uttered something like " You boys better say your prayers that Lexington doesn't score ! " Fortunately for Tim and Johnny, Lexington did not score and Huntingdon won the game. Tim, please correct me if I have erred in recounting that game with Lexington.

Several classes from Huntingdon ( including mine ) will be getting together in the early fall of 2008 and I am eagerly anticipating visiting with old friends and embellishing many of the events that occurred while we were growing up and attending school in Huntingdon, a place and time that will remain very special in my thoughts.

Duck

Duck:

You relate the Lexington game story correctly. Compton and I had gotten into a fight and were ejected. We were much more scared of Coach Ward’s wrath in the event we lost than we were of the Lexington Tigers. Some years later Coach Ward and I laughed about this incident, but I have no doubt that he was deadly serious when he spoke with Johnnie and me on the bench.

Tim Priest

FIRST POST - 41 Wind Sprints

Hello all - this is the first communication in a chain of emails that began about Coach Ward, and his passing in November of 2007. I am attempting to put all the contents of the emails in here to archive what has been written, and provide you all a starting point from here forward.

smp (Scott M Portis)

From: Gary Hall

To: John Pitts ; Wallace Pinkley ; Scotty Portis ; Ronnie&Nancy Rice ; Fred Holladay

Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 9:34 AM

Subject: Coach Ward

Sorry to hear of the passing of Coach Ward. When I saw he was 81 it made me think how fast time has gone by. In 1953 at the age of 24 he started coaching at Huntingdon and the rest is history. He was one of the class sponsors for our graduating class of 1958. I will never forget the tears in his eyes on graduation night when we went by to say goodbye and thanks for his guidance through the years. Guess I wasn't expecting to see tears from him after observing his stern, but caring demeanor through our school years. The memory bucket just keeps on filling as time goes by.

On Nov 28, 2007, at 1:25 AM, ScottyPortis wrote:

Gary, very well put. This was the first time that I had tears in my eyes at a funeral in a long time.

Let me tell the others what you and I witnessed at the class reunion (Johnny had just left the Civic Center and missed this). Several weeks ago during the Saturday session of the "Combined Class Reunion-1940 to 1959" someone was up speaking and Coach Ward slipped in and sat in the row right behind Gary and me. I leaned back in my seat and shook hands with him and this created a small commotion and several people looked that way-when they realized it was Coach Ward, as a whole, the entire body of former students (500) rose up and gave him a standing ovation. He was visibly shaken and embarrased, but I am sure pleased (or as pleased as Coach Ward could be). A week later his medical problem started.

What a tremendous individual. Someone once said that he probably kept many of us out of prison. Gary, Johnny, Wallace, Ronnie, and Freddie, I only wish you five could have been at that funeral full of grown men crying. Larry Stewart had to be helped off the podium after he spoke. Coach John B. Tucker the famous former Milan Bulldog coach had tears in his eyes. I told Coach Welch that he was now the head coach. His reply, "Scotty, I don't think I can handle it".

Coach Ward had a blood clot to the blood supply to his intestines and had to have his entire small and large bowel removed during three different surgeries. He even had a cardiac arrest after one of the surgeries.He lived the last month on venous feedings (hyperalimentation) only. Tim Priest drove all the way from K'ville to be here (even after the very emotional Vol-Wildcat game in Lexington Sat).

I called Coach Ward two weeks ago and told him "Boy, get out of that bed". He told me no one wanted out any worse than he did. A very tough individual to the very end.

I am certainly glad that I passed his way and that he was able to help shape my life as he did. I think that he taught us all to "take a lick" get up, brush ourselves off and go again.

He was a Giant among men. God rest his soul.

Scott Portis

Number 15

Mustang Quarterback-1955-58

To: ScottyPortis

Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 5:20 AM

Subject: Re: Coach Ward

SP, do you remember the only 'paddling' I got in my thirteen school years in Huntingdon? You got one too. We were seniors at HHS, on the football team and pretty special, according to us. Coach W's habits were very familiar, so we were sure there was enough time before he finished lunch and had a cigarette to shoot a few baskets wearing our street shoes. This was strictly forbidden and the punishment was known to all. The paddle hung in the equipment room of the gym, it had holes bored into a pattern and was an ominous reminder of the serious even handed justice that has shaped us.

Why doesn't someone start a blog of Coach Ward stories?

I have gotten several from the notices I sent to family and HHS folks.

jp

On 11/29/07 Scotty Portis wrote:

Johnny, I think you have started it. I don't know if you know this or not but we have a famous "Blogger" among us. None other than Charles Rhodes "Class of 1960". Charles, can you help us out here? Charles has written several very funny stories about life at HHS and could probably pull a few out about our famous Coach.

Also, such people as Ray Ivy and Duck Priest are good "yarn spinners". So any of you guys or gals who feel so inclined to tell a Coach Ward story jump in. It will be appreciated.

Here goes mine. Guys on my team (1958) will remember the famous "after practice" #41, 100yd wind sprints we ran for staying out after the 10PM Halloween curfew. As Johnny alluded to below, Coach Ward was the master of discipline with the "my way or the highway" mentality. Justice was usually swift and to the point, but sometimes could be painfully slow and agonizing. Your status on the team made no difference. After a very hard practice (for what reason we did not know at the time), Coach Ward lined us all up across the field from side line to side line. He said "anyone who was out after 10PM last nite step forward". No one did (he had our names). Then after repeating the command more forcefully the second time, Johnny Pitts, Walter Brown, Paul Allen, Marshall Darrnell, Ronnie Pritchard, Moose Smith, Wallace Pinkley, and I stepped forward-then one by one the whole team stepped forward-guilty or not. This made him very angry, so we started running 100yd wind sprints. We ran and we ran and at about the 25th sprint someone, I think it was Paul Allen or Ronnie Pritchard let out a "warwhoop" and the whole team started cheering." Oops", wrong move. I remember his face was as red as a hot poker. Anyway, we counted #41 sprints (hard sprints) that day. I think my dad had to carry me up the steps that nite to bed. Lesson learned-If Coach Ward says to be home by 10PM you had better by damn be home by 10PM.

I had spent time with Coach Ward during my years back with him in Huntingdon. Wallace Pinkley would come to town and we would call Moose over from Camden and we would take him out to lunch or cook a steak on the grill. We would watch film (usually of the 1957 Exchange Bowl Mustangs 25 vs. Parsons 7) with Wallace grilling Coach Ward on, "Coach, why didn't we pass more"? You all know the answer to that one. Johnny, will even remember the trip to K'ville to see the VOLS play in which we invited Coach Ward but his legs were bothering him so much that he could not make the trip. Wish he had. As Gary Hall says "the memory bucket just keeps on filling".

I think that Coach Ward has taught all of us more than we realize and that we will carry forward these lessons that he gave us. May be, just may be, we can impart these lessons to those we love and hold dear.

Thanks.

A Mustang to the End(1955-1958)

Scott Portis

On 11/29/07 Wallace Pinkley wrote:

Great memories. I absolutely agree with the sentiments of the budding correspondents; Scott, John, Fred, Gary and Tim. Coach Ward pulled me out of study hall one morning our freshman year after summer practice was already over, and told me he had convinced my mother that I should be on the field that afternoon all 115 lbs. It was a tough year (0-9-1), but it prepared me for the next 7 years.

I'll always be grateful for his encouragement as John Williams, Euell Bouldin and Coach Ward again rather late my senior year drove me to Sewanee to meet Coach Majors about late entry to Sewanee. Coach Ward gave a film to Coach Majors, and I squeezed in. Late registration had already closed, and I had to rush to Memphis to take an SAT test. It was so late I had to live at Coach Major's house the first semester. Quite a family. Coach Majors had many of the traits that Coach Ward had; discipline, down to earth wisdom, consistent, excellence, encouragers, leaders.

Fred's story reminded me; Coach Ward leaned down on his knees belly laughing when he looked at my front tooth that was just broken in half one afternoon at practice. After that I had a 2 bar face mask. It was the same laugh when I spun the wrong way one day as a freshman and Kenny Walker flattened me over the zero hole. It was like a freight train; I remember Kenny as being taller and faster than Warren Blankenship.

I do remember well the Halloween sprints. When I finally literally got my second wind I thought we could just keep going, but I don't believe I was the one of those who did an Indian war cry. Hope to hear more.

Go Mustangs and keep the legend alive.

Wallace [Pinkley]