Northeast Tennessee lost an icon this morning .Coach Charlie Bayless ,basketball coach of the Happy Valley Warriors from 1949-2011 ,including the 1974 state champions , passed away this morning .
He personified the Greatest Generation to me . A decorated MP in WW 2 who guarded Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg . Exemplified an era in which coaches were ambassadors for the community and icons to generations of young people .
My family was blessed in that both my parents taught with him for many years . I didn’t play basketball ,but learned so much and had a so many good times just riding along to film his games in 1986 and 1987. He was a frequent source of advice and encouragement during my 10 tears as a football and track coach at Happy Valley Middle. I’m just one of thousands of lives he touched .I’m sure he and Buck Van Huss are getting ready to tee off somewhere .
RIP Coach .
He personified the Greatest Generation to me . A decorated MP in WW 2 who guarded Nazi war criminals at Nuremberg . Exemplified an era in which coaches were ambassadors for the community and icons to generations of young people .
My family was blessed in that both my parents taught with him for many years . I didn’t play basketball ,but learned so much and had a so many good times just riding along to film his games in 1986 and 1987. He was a frequent source of advice and encouragement during my 10 tears as a football and track coach at Happy Valley Middle. I’m just one of thousands of lives he touched .I’m sure he and Buck Van Huss are getting ready to tee off somewhere .
RIP Coach .
