This story continues to generate comments from members of Facebook (where I share my stories). Two more remebrances I just saw from a Troy Facebook group:
Coach Rick Moody: "Coach Whitman was the standard for Physical Education teachers and a good man."
Anne Mitchell Whisnant: "This is so very interesting! I was in two years of PE under Coach Whitman at CHJHS - 1978-80 I think - and though I remember Coach Whitman being very strict, you are also quite right to point out the incredible variety of sports we learned! I loved archery, tennis, gymnastics, and “orienteering.” And where else would I have done the Virginia Reel or broken my finger in dodgeball the day before the dreaded piano recital!
"I had no idea it was any sort of world-class PE program. Thank you for putting this in context that was certainly not visible to us students at the time."
Editorial Comment: I think it would be very fitting if Troy City Schools named the CHMS gymnasium in honor of Coach Whitman. I think a group of former students might be very willing to make donations to install the name on the gym in the appropriate places with maybe a plaque and a few photos of his tenure. This could possibly even be a fund-raiser for the school and its PE programs.
Anyone interested in helping me make this project a reality can contact me at:
🙋🏻♂️Impacted by directly by Coach Whitman 1974-1978. He was my RA leader, church league basketball coach & physical education teacher. He also cooked the pancakes for the brother hood breakfasts that I frequented at the FBC. Before he paddled me in 7th grade, he said “this is gonna hurt you a lot more than me”. But what really hurt was when he said that he was disappointed in me (and Chuck Norris).
I fell off a ladder once and came out unscathed thanks to the “Whitey Whitman shoulder roll”.
Correction: In the caption of the two CHMS students playing table tennis, I misspelled the name of Kathy Knight, who spelled her first name with a K not a C. Tragically, Kathy has passed away. I have now corrected the error.
Scott Motes remembers the Presidential Fitness Awards.
Becky Booker: "all I could do was hang!!! No pull-ups here!"
Mike Tedder: "Do the Do-si-do”
Holly Graham Pugh: "Definitely remember middle school PE with him! He dominated in badminton."
Theresa Morris: "I remember our warm-up exercises. Exercising to "Sweet Caroline." We hated it. I am at a school where the kids don't even attempt the exercises. All they want to do is fuss, fight, cuss and complain. It shows in all of our overweight kids.
These kids would have never made it. It is so sad that we as parents and grandparents have allowed our loved ones to become like this. I am thankful for every run around that football field. (rain or shine) All those talks that we had. All the things that we were taught and all the things that we learned. Our generation was the BEST!!!"
Melissa Henley Parsons: "Joe Holbaugh and I did a mean polka. "
Melinda Boothe Curtis: "I remember when we took canoeing and my canoe turned over and that was the end of the canoeing unit for my group!"
Scott Little: "(Coach Whitman) used to do this little double-step shuffle when he was clowning around. I use to imitate him doing it. Made him laugh."
Dana McQuitty: "I loved the gymnastics team and how we would do a running, dive roll over several folks."
Thank you to everyone who responded to my Facebook post soliciting memories about Coach Whitman and the junior high PE program. Here's more of these memories:
Stacy Ellis:
When I look back at Coach Whitman and Coach Walker at CHJHS, I know that all of us students were privileged to have them. The PE activities that we got to participate in were actually pretty amazing, from canoeing at the lagoon, square dancing, running track, playing a majority of different sports, archery, gun safety, weight lifting and of course everyone's favorite physical fitness tests.
Coach Whitman and Coach Walker always had their whistles, stop watches, and clip boards ready for all of us rowdy kids. They took the time to teach us and help us if there was something we were weren't getting and looking at all the comments, they made our physical education one the best a kid could ever hope for.
Jason Floyd: Gym and field hockey.. paddle ball.. Hunter safety at the academy street school..
Fredrick Burden: During my time at the middle school while he was PE coach, I can remember him teaching us the fundamentals of every sport, and gave us a test for a grade to make sure we retained the info. My best memory about him was when the wrestling class was taught over at Academy Street gym...let's just say he was a strong guy to pin down for the count!!!!!
Geoffey Spann: I was not a student of his but as a teacher with him for 10 years, his PE program greatly contributed to the overall community and effectiveness of the school while I was there from 1977-1987. He was a great teacher, role model, and friend. He loved those kids and expected much from them.
Cara Lott Major: Our P.E. program at CHJHS was incredible. Two units of study that I remember were the archery and gymnastics units . Of course, there were a host of other units of study but those two stick in my mind! I doubt there is a public school PE program anywhere that would teach those 2 units today!
Can you imagine giving kids today a bow and arrow? Or teaching/spotting kids to do flips, handsprings, etc? Different time that was much much better. I didn't and still don't consider myself an "athlete" by any stretch but his program at CHJHS was something.
Greg Carroll: "He was one of the finest men I've ever known."
Gretchen Michelle McPherson: "I remember in 1979 making up a dance to Michael Jackson's 'Rock With You' like it was yesterday! Sixth grade … Good times!"
Emory Ellis: “Emory, get out there now and do the Mexican hat dance with that young lady if you don’t I am going to tell your MaMa after I paddle you.”
Becky Booker: I was on his tumble team. “Tuck and roll."
Kristy Ellis Drinkwater: "I remember Coach Whitman well. He was a very caring teacher & coach."
Cindy Warren DeLongchamp: "Do y’all remember taking gun safety in junior high PE? Coach Whitman taught it, one of my favorite classes ever .. at one point he had taught more people hunter safety than anyone else in the state of Alabama.:
Laura Holcombe: "I remember the fun units like archery, shooting at targets while lying on the gym floor, strength training and learning that lifting weights is fun! I was terrible at gymnastics and Mrs. Rape (PE teacher at the high school) would have to help me complete a cartwheel and I was also terrible at flag football. It’s true that no other school in my experience had those classes."
"I am glad that it was the last time that I had to wear the blue bubble suit, though! I also remember the overnight trip in the tents in 8th grade. That was a good time!
Yes, naming the gym after Coach Whitman would be awesome!"
Emily Green Ellis: "The blue gym uniform.. the gymnastics and square dancing! And gym dodge ball! So fun!"
Chris Amos: "Coach Whitman could literally coach anything! Flashback of orange shirt, blue shorts uniforms, line-up roll call, savage dodgeball games with legit kickballs - and not the sponge balls they use now."
Wanda Meredith Motes: "I was probably ahead of most of you who have commented. But he was the same Coach Whitey Whitman then! And the dance I remember most was The Polka!! So embarrassing for a middle schooler, but they made it fun! And also, as someone said, the SAVAGE dodgeball games!! I sometimes wondered if I would live through it! But I guess I did, because I’m still here! Who knows, those dodgeball games might have prepared me for all of the health battles I have faced!"
Lori Hussey Caudle: "I definitely didn't like the royal blue snap-up uniform, but I really enjoyed archery, dodge ball, gymnastics, running, 50 yard dash and then there was the square dancing. Boys too afraid to ask the girls. I remember him making Steve Dannelly dance with me to the cotton-eyed Joe."
Stacy Barras Bobo: "Tumbling Team!"
...More to come later. Feel free to add your own memory - Bill
This story continues to generate comments from members of Facebook (where I share my stories). Two more remebrances I just saw from a Troy Facebook group:
Coach Rick Moody: "Coach Whitman was the standard for Physical Education teachers and a good man."
Anne Mitchell Whisnant: "This is so very interesting! I was in two years of PE under Coach Whitman at CHJHS - 1978-80 I think - and though I remember Coach Whitman being very strict, you are also quite right to point out the incredible variety of sports we learned! I loved archery, tennis, gymnastics, and “orienteering.” And where else would I have done the Virginia Reel or broken my finger in dodgeball the day before the dreaded piano recital!
"I had no idea it was any sort of world-class PE program. Thank you for putting this in context that was certainly not visible to us students at the time."
Editorial Comment: I think it would be very fitting if Troy City Schools named the CHMS gymnasium in honor of Coach Whitman. I think a group of former students might be very willing to make donations to install the name on the gym in the appropriate places with maybe a plaque and a few photos of his tenure. This could possibly even be a fund-raiser for the school and its PE programs.
Anyone interested in helping me make this project a reality can contact me at:
wjricejunior@gmail.com or respond in the Comments Section.
🙋🏻♂️Impacted by directly by Coach Whitman 1974-1978. He was my RA leader, church league basketball coach & physical education teacher. He also cooked the pancakes for the brother hood breakfasts that I frequented at the FBC. Before he paddled me in 7th grade, he said “this is gonna hurt you a lot more than me”. But what really hurt was when he said that he was disappointed in me (and Chuck Norris).
I fell off a ladder once and came out unscathed thanks to the “Whitey Whitman shoulder roll”.
Lots a great memories
Thanks, Wes. These are the type Reader Comments I hope my Troy Citizen articles generate in the future.
Correction: In the caption of the two CHMS students playing table tennis, I misspelled the name of Kathy Knight, who spelled her first name with a K not a C. Tragically, Kathy has passed away. I have now corrected the error.
More comments from Facebook friends:
Scott Motes remembers the Presidential Fitness Awards.
Becky Booker: "all I could do was hang!!! No pull-ups here!"
Mike Tedder: "Do the Do-si-do”
Holly Graham Pugh: "Definitely remember middle school PE with him! He dominated in badminton."
Theresa Morris: "I remember our warm-up exercises. Exercising to "Sweet Caroline." We hated it. I am at a school where the kids don't even attempt the exercises. All they want to do is fuss, fight, cuss and complain. It shows in all of our overweight kids.
These kids would have never made it. It is so sad that we as parents and grandparents have allowed our loved ones to become like this. I am thankful for every run around that football field. (rain or shine) All those talks that we had. All the things that we were taught and all the things that we learned. Our generation was the BEST!!!"
Melissa Henley Parsons: "Joe Holbaugh and I did a mean polka. "
Melinda Boothe Curtis: "I remember when we took canoeing and my canoe turned over and that was the end of the canoeing unit for my group!"
Scott Little: "(Coach Whitman) used to do this little double-step shuffle when he was clowning around. I use to imitate him doing it. Made him laugh."
Dana McQuitty: "I loved the gymnastics team and how we would do a running, dive roll over several folks."
Thank you to everyone who responded to my Facebook post soliciting memories about Coach Whitman and the junior high PE program. Here's more of these memories:
Stacy Ellis:
When I look back at Coach Whitman and Coach Walker at CHJHS, I know that all of us students were privileged to have them. The PE activities that we got to participate in were actually pretty amazing, from canoeing at the lagoon, square dancing, running track, playing a majority of different sports, archery, gun safety, weight lifting and of course everyone's favorite physical fitness tests.
Coach Whitman and Coach Walker always had their whistles, stop watches, and clip boards ready for all of us rowdy kids. They took the time to teach us and help us if there was something we were weren't getting and looking at all the comments, they made our physical education one the best a kid could ever hope for.
Jason Floyd: Gym and field hockey.. paddle ball.. Hunter safety at the academy street school..
Fredrick Burden: During my time at the middle school while he was PE coach, I can remember him teaching us the fundamentals of every sport, and gave us a test for a grade to make sure we retained the info. My best memory about him was when the wrestling class was taught over at Academy Street gym...let's just say he was a strong guy to pin down for the count!!!!!
Geoffey Spann: I was not a student of his but as a teacher with him for 10 years, his PE program greatly contributed to the overall community and effectiveness of the school while I was there from 1977-1987. He was a great teacher, role model, and friend. He loved those kids and expected much from them.
Cara Lott Major: Our P.E. program at CHJHS was incredible. Two units of study that I remember were the archery and gymnastics units . Of course, there were a host of other units of study but those two stick in my mind! I doubt there is a public school PE program anywhere that would teach those 2 units today!
Can you imagine giving kids today a bow and arrow? Or teaching/spotting kids to do flips, handsprings, etc? Different time that was much much better. I didn't and still don't consider myself an "athlete" by any stretch but his program at CHJHS was something.
Greg Carroll: "He was one of the finest men I've ever known."
Gretchen Michelle McPherson: "I remember in 1979 making up a dance to Michael Jackson's 'Rock With You' like it was yesterday! Sixth grade … Good times!"
Emory Ellis: “Emory, get out there now and do the Mexican hat dance with that young lady if you don’t I am going to tell your MaMa after I paddle you.”
Becky Booker: I was on his tumble team. “Tuck and roll."
Kristy Ellis Drinkwater: "I remember Coach Whitman well. He was a very caring teacher & coach."
Cindy Warren DeLongchamp: "Do y’all remember taking gun safety in junior high PE? Coach Whitman taught it, one of my favorite classes ever .. at one point he had taught more people hunter safety than anyone else in the state of Alabama.:
Laura Holcombe: "I remember the fun units like archery, shooting at targets while lying on the gym floor, strength training and learning that lifting weights is fun! I was terrible at gymnastics and Mrs. Rape (PE teacher at the high school) would have to help me complete a cartwheel and I was also terrible at flag football. It’s true that no other school in my experience had those classes."
"I am glad that it was the last time that I had to wear the blue bubble suit, though! I also remember the overnight trip in the tents in 8th grade. That was a good time!
Yes, naming the gym after Coach Whitman would be awesome!"
Emily Green Ellis: "The blue gym uniform.. the gymnastics and square dancing! And gym dodge ball! So fun!"
Chris Amos: "Coach Whitman could literally coach anything! Flashback of orange shirt, blue shorts uniforms, line-up roll call, savage dodgeball games with legit kickballs - and not the sponge balls they use now."
Wanda Meredith Motes: "I was probably ahead of most of you who have commented. But he was the same Coach Whitey Whitman then! And the dance I remember most was The Polka!! So embarrassing for a middle schooler, but they made it fun! And also, as someone said, the SAVAGE dodgeball games!! I sometimes wondered if I would live through it! But I guess I did, because I’m still here! Who knows, those dodgeball games might have prepared me for all of the health battles I have faced!"
Lori Hussey Caudle: "I definitely didn't like the royal blue snap-up uniform, but I really enjoyed archery, dodge ball, gymnastics, running, 50 yard dash and then there was the square dancing. Boys too afraid to ask the girls. I remember him making Steve Dannelly dance with me to the cotton-eyed Joe."
Stacy Barras Bobo: "Tumbling Team!"
...More to come later. Feel free to add your own memory - Bill