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Wiedmer: Late Central coach Stan Farmer was one of a kind

A legendary coach, Stan Farmer served as an Etter assistant for decades and was a disciplinarian, recruiter and "chauffeur" for numerous Central athletes. He later served the school as its principal.
A legendary coach, Stan Farmer served as an Etter assistant for decades and was a disciplinarian, recruiter and "chauffeur" for numerous Central athletes. He later served the school as its principal. A legendary coach, Stan Farmer served as an Etter assistant for decades and was a disciplinarian, recruiter and "chauffeur" for numerous Central athletes. He later served the school as its principal.

By Mark Wiedmer 6 min read

Who writes a book about a lifelong high school football assistant coach?

That was my first thought upon receiving a copy of “Stanley J. Farmer: We Called Him Coach” by local attorney Jerry Summers.

But after reading Summers’ touching tribute to the longtime Chattanooga Central coach and administrator who died 21 years ago Saturday at the age of 83, one may have a better question: When is someone going to make a movie about Farmer, who was one of the most extraordinary men and women ever to put the “greatest” in the Greatest Generation?

“There’s not enough ink at your newspaper to print all the stories about Coach Farmer,” said WDEF general sales manager Tommy Youngblood, who starred for the Purple Pounders toward the end of Farmer’s coaching career.

“My sales staff will tell you that I use too many sports analogies, but I’m still using things every day that he taught me. I’ll say my mom and dad are 51 percent responsible for molding me into the man I am today. But I’ll credit the other 49 percent to Coach Farmer. If it wasn’t for him, I might have become a juvenile delinquent.”