Appy Legendary Coach Passes Away

It was awesome.

Pictures of Tom's youth to the last few days.

A true memorial to him. You seen pictures of all parts of his life.

From his youth with his family, to his days as a player, to the days he played at Appy and VA Tech. It then continued to his playing days and his coaching days.

Written articles to actual items. The jackets we wore our first year we won the LPD. Coach Turner's first year as head coach.

All the trophies were on display, from the state trophies to the runner up trophies.
All the Region D Pins.

Then there was Tom and the Turner family.

After that was a miraculous amount of former coaches, and presnt coaches, and friends.

Even the legendary Coach Riggs, whom our stadium is named after.
Totally mind blowing. Awesome. And something that was very special.

I must say it was awesome, yet humbling, to know one man impacted so many.

I have had the privledge of being at a few funerals of people who touched a lot of lifes. It is truthfully amazing to see and makes you feel very small, very insignificant. I am proud to know that so many appreciate him and his memory.

I can honestly say that I have never been more proud of the forum either.

I won't be able to make it tomorrow but I hope that each and every person on the forum at least takes pause and appreciates everything they have in their life, and try to make 1/5th the impact that a simple person, a simple coach in a small little town made. If we can all do that, this world would be a much better place.

Even if you aren't a religious person, at least throw up some good thoughts for the family, if you are religious, prayers. I am sure that tomorrow will be tough on them, not just the immediate family but the extended family as well.

I have not posted on this yet because i like most was torn up about this. Tom was one of the greatest person's i ever had the privielge to meet and know. I am not really good at putting what i have to say in persective at times. But i know I have never meet a person whom i greatly admired more. I have many memories of tom thoughout the years. From a past player in the lpd to having the honor of coaching against him. No matter where i seen tom he had that smile on his face and always would look you in the eye and shake your hand. I remember once when i played we had a player on our team take a really hard hit. The trainers on our staff and even the coaches to not really seem to want to go and help the young man. I remember tom being the first person to go and see if the young man was ok. Other memories was even in defeat or with the win tom would always make a point to great each and every player and coaching staff member. I also remember once when i was coaching we could not get film on a team we was going up against. tom made apoint to let us have all the films he had on the team we was going up against. This just showed class and i mean class. Tom will always be in my thoughts and his family and the whole community will be in my prayers. God bless you Tom Turner.

Maybe I can cover it. The pastor said, "Tom Turner coached life," that is a pretty simple statment, but you would be surprised how many didn't really grasp that. I felt honored to have counted him as a friend.

I can only echo what Rocketer said.

Prayers will be much needed today.
Mrs. Turner, Tom's mother, is burying her second son. Terry passed away also in his sleep a few years ago, during his battle with cancer. And she lost her husband several years ago. And now her second son goes home to be with God.

So prayers are much needed for all the Turner family, and as was said Coach Turner's extended family. Today will be a hard day for all.

I want to also extend my thanks and gratitude, to Rocketer and all who are on this forum and who visit it. Or have visited it. And those that continue to visit it.
You have showed a great deal of respect and class. Something that also will not be forgotten.

For that i say thank you and God Bless you all.

I wanted to go and pay my respects as a fellow coach in the LPD but I had a cousin to die that evening the same day and she was out on saturday and I went to hers instead.

Good bye coach R.I.P. my friend.

Some times good friends are hard to make. I mean the type of friends you can disagree with and their still there. Their friends through thick and thin.

As i read what Quincy wrote about Toby. I think it settled in some, what we all lose in a good person and a great friend.

Im not sure how many this has effected. The passing of two good people, who both echoed the same things.

Toby's phrase paralled a lot of what Coach Turner was all about. Take' em one at a time and everything else will take care of it'self.

18-19 years apart in age. But both had the same philosphy. Work hard and be good to folks. Do what you need to do and always take care of family.

I guess in a way i am paying tribute to both.

Today, this evening, as i watched an old tape, of when my own son played for coach Turner. I had to set and reflect on what a friendship we did have.

We didn't always agree. But it never stood in the way of our friendship.
I remember once in 04 as we fell behind to Cloudland in a game, that could of went either way, there was a pass in front of the line of scrimmage that hit the ground.

The kid from Cloudland picks up the ball and takes off. Well i am thinking ok. Incomplete pass.

Where the kid gets tackled is where the ball is marked.
I get totally pissed off and ask the ref. What? completion? What? Are you kidding me.

Tom ask me to step back. I was your gonna let that go? He said step back. I did and walked off. Later at halftime he comes up and says are we ok. I said yeah, were ok thanks, you see, what i didn't think about.

I was pushing so hard wanting a game for a win, to get into the playoffs. We knew going into the year in 04 just getting there was the plan.

I forgot the plan. And a man who didn't care to step on a friends toes reminded him, at a time i could of hurt the team and players even worse.

I know to some that is hard to understand, but some times it takes a real friend to tell you when your messing up. And then care enough to let you know their true reasons, was to see you didn't mess up. But also you didn't let your emotions cause you problems and others problems.

One i knew many years the other. Toby i got to know for seveal years. Both paralled each other in many ways.

To both i say Godspeed. And keep the rest of us ole Dawgs and Devils, and others from the forum and LPD a place. See you guys later.

LPDFTBL