Does anyone know?

[greencrest1272]

How old Coach Turner was? Im sure there will be an obituary in the paper tomorrow or the next day but if someone could post some information about his life it would be much appreciated. Like when he graduated high school, where he went to college, and when he took over the Appy job and things of that nature.

Thanks...

[LPDBlueDevils]

didn't he play at Va Tech?

[Ironlung]

A fellow I work with graduated with him. I think he is in his early 50's. Tom did play at VT. I know the guy I work with said Tom was a hell of a pitcher back in the day and that he hated catching for him. He said he couldn't use his hand the next day.

[The_Sage]

I think he graduated from Appalachia High School in 1970 and went on to Tech. i guess that puts him to be around 53ish..

[retiredteach]

Since Appy won the State in Football in 1970 and won the Basketball in 71, he would have graduated in 71. I believe that is correct. He was one heck of a player.

[imported_Sportsman]

I think he was 54.

[StateChamps92]

Since Appy won the State in Football in 1970 and won the Basketball in 71, he would have graduated in 71. I believe that is correct. He was one heck of a player.

Tom and my Dad (the late Gary Summers) played on the perfect 71 team. That was Tom's senior year. But like you said, he is about 53 or 54. Still too soon to lose a man like that. Love Tom or hate him, he was a top notch guy that cared for ALL of him players. From his own son down to the kid that only came out one year and only seen 5 minutes of playing time all season. Tom made a concious effort to give each kid attention and teach them something about football that they could carry into their adult lives. Deb, Travis, Mandy, and Amber, our thoughts and prayers go out to you. We experienced this with my dad on New Years, so I understand the pain you feel. Just remember that many thoughts and prayers are en route to you and that Tom touched so many lives in so many ways. I loved him like a family member and will miss him terribly. I took my youngest son to see Tom at the Dawghouse just before he retired. He took us around and showed us pictures of when him and dad played. He was a coach, teacher, mentor, husband, and father. May Tom rest in peace and his life live on though memories. God bless you, Turner family.

[imported_Sportsman]

From what I've been told, the visitation for Coach Turner will be held at the Appalachia H.S. gym on Saturday from 4:00 to 7:00, with the funeral service at 7:00. Burial will be Saturday at PV Memorial Gardens at 2:00.

[SWVA-Football]

Tom and my Dad (the late Gary Summers) played on the perfect 71 team. That was Tom's senior year.

What position did Tom play in football?

Appy must have been pretty awesome in '71.

During his storied career as football coach at Appalachia High School, Tom Turner always liked to have the element of surprise on his side.

That was an advantage he maintained to the very end.

The 54-year-old Turner, who retired this past March due to a combination of health issues, died in his sleep early Wednesday morning of undetermined causes. He was discovered by family members about 6 a.m.

"He was pretty sick. He liked to hide injuries and pain so nobody would feel sorry for him," said son Travis Turner. "He wouldn't really tell me how badly he was feeling. Everybody in this community thought he was invincible, like he was Superman."

The news of Turner's death stunned his longtime coaching colleagues in Southwest Virginia. They didn't see it coming.

"Everybody's just heartbroken about this," Powell Valley coach Phil Robbins said. "I think Tom's toughness had hidden from all of us who knew him exactly how bad he was hurting and how sick he really was."

Turner coached in multiple Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star Games after winning his first state title in 1989. He was known and liked by coaches in all classifications from all corners of the state.

"This is a great loss for all of us," said Mike Smith, executive director of the VHSCA. "This is going to have impact all around the state. All the football coaches know Tom and have a lot of respect for him."

The epicenter of grief was Appalachia High School, where Turner coached the Bulldogs to five Group A state football championships. Appalachia Principal George Barton met with the faculty at 7:30 a.m. and put the school's crisis plan into effect. The student body was informed of Turner's death at 8:30 a.m.

"Central office personnel sent grief counselors down here ... pastors from the community," Barton said. "It's a big loss for us over here. We're all hurting. The community is in shock."

Barton and assistant coaches Roger Austin and Bobby Sanders assembled the Appalachia football players at 9:45 a.m.

"I felt like they needed some time together to reflect and release some of their emotions," Barton said. "That was a good time for them. Plus, it was a good time for me. Tom was more than a co-worker. He was my buddy."

Turner was inducted into the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame this past October alongside Gate City coach Nick Colobro.

Over 26 years at Appalachia, Turner compiled a 205-107-1 record running one of Virginia's smallest Group A programs. He led the Bulldogs to Group A, Division 1 state titles in 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996 and 1997. Under his tutelage, Appalachia garnered 11 Region D championships and three state runner-up finishes.

This past fall, Turner led the Bulldogs to an 8-4 finish that ended with a Region D title game loss to eventual state runner-up J.I. Burton.

In addition to being Appalachia's winningest coach, Turner was also one of the school's all-time best athletes. He played on Appalachia's 1971 Group A state championship football team under Jim Riggs and on the Bulldogs' 1972 Group A state championship basketball team under Gary Holloman.

Turner went on to play at Virginia Tech as a linebacker and defensive lineman. Some of the cumulative health problems that led to his early retirement originated as injuries he received during his career as an athlete.

"He had back and neck pains and knee pains, arthritis and other problems with his joints and ligaments," the younger Turner said. "I guess it all just finally caught up."

To accommodate the large turnout expected for Turner's funeral, services will be held Saturday at the Appalachia High School gymnasium. The viewing will be held from 4 until 7 p.m., with the memorial service beginning at 7 p.m. The burial will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Gardens in Big Stone Gap.