Jerry Fine Ward

EVENSVILLE — Jerry Fine Ward, 82, died on July 13, 2017. He is survived by Betty Sue “Bobbie” Gothard Ward; his beloved wife of nearly 63 years; and his daughters, Jerri Sue Ward Marshall and Candias Rynell Ward. Jerry’s parents, Carl Samuel Ward and Maude Elizabeth Fine Ward preceded him in death as did Jerry’s brother, Samuel L. “Dooley” Ward. Jerry was born on July 27, 1934, in a small house on Illinois Avenue in Dayton. The family soon moved to Cleveland, Tenn., where he attended Arnold Memorial School. When his father resigned from TVA to buy a farm and start a small business, the family again moved to Roane County, and Jerry joined the midget football team to begin a progression of playing competitively and soon win his first awards, seven blue ribbons, which still hang in his now filled trophy room. In 1948 Jerry began to play varsity football and basketball at Roane County High School and was regarded as the outstanding player for each team prior to the family moving back to Rhea County where Jerry excelled at football and basketball as a Rhea Central High School Yellow Jacket from 1949 to 1952. Jerry and his teammates enjoyed winning seasons on the gridiron and an abundance of publicity as he led the state in football scoring and achieved All State status, prompting several SEC and small college football scouts to offer scholarships. So that his parents could see him play, Jerry chose The University of Chattanooga where head coach, A.C. “Scrappy” Moore offered both the versatile Jerry Ward and his friend, quarterback Dean Thomas full athletic scholarships to attend there. Referred to as “the greatest halfback in a 10-year period" by the legendary "Scrappy" Moore, Jerry Ward had an outstanding football career during his prep and college years. He quipped, "I realized early in my life I had athletic talent; I could play most sports very well.” A two-way player, Ward was often described by the press as "The Total Player". Ward helped the Mocs win 21 games during his 4-year career. As a college senior in1955 he married his sweetheart, Betty, earned All-American recognition, was the recipient of the Edwards Memorial Award as Most Valuable Player, and led the UC team in rushing, receiving, scoring, interceptions, punting, and kick returns. Jerry joined the U.S. Army in 1957 to serve in the Counter Intelligence Corps at Fort Polk, La. Upon his completion of service, he began working with Kayser-Roth Corporation in Dayton, became active in local civic groups and helped to revive the local Junior Chamber and thereby achieved Dayton’s Young Man of the Year. He served as President of Dayton Golf and Country Club. In 1985 Jerry began as Operations Manager at Robinson Manufacturing Company working for his friend T. Jack Robinson where Jerry managed the company’s production facilities with the same excellence of leadership in business that he had demonstrated on the playing field. He retired in 1999 to enjoy his home on the 12th green and 13th tee and to relish a competitive day on the golf course with buddies or quiet days on the deck with family and friends. Jerry was a prolific writer and spent much time penning both inspiring contemplations and witty observations. Jerry’s wit and good humor were always evident, and in early December 2003, upon receiving a phone call from then UTC Athletic Director Steve Sloan, he jokingly exclaimed, "I thought Sloan was calling to tell me I had one year of eligibility left and he wanted me to come back and play another year!" In February 2010 this well-known retired businessman was inducted into the UTC Hall of Fame. At the ceremony he humbly attributed his personal accomplishments to talented teammates and "very good coaches," particularly to long-time Rhea Central coaches Huland Draper and Howard Taylor, as well as his high school and college teammates, and he gratefully acknowledged his friends and family, particularly his wife, exclaiming, "I dedicate this wonderful honor to my teammates of 1955." Jerry was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church where he served on the church council. Jerry’s memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 23, 2017, at First United Methodist Church, Dayton, Tenn., with The Rev. Kenneth Pierce officiating, and a reception will follow at the Robinson Guest House. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 993 Market Street, Dayton, Tennessee 37321. The family is being served by Coulter-Garrison Funeral Home.