Coach Luther L. Welsh
Thomson High School Head Coach - Retired
THOMSON, Ga. - Coach Luther L. Welsh, 79,
died July 14, 2011, after a battle with cancer. He
was the beloved husband of the late Anne Reed
Welsh.
Coach Welsh was raised on a farm outside
Bishopville, S.C., and was the son of the late L. D. Welsh Jr. and
the late Dorothy Josey Welsh. Following graduation in 1951
from Mayesville-Riverside High School, he earned a degree at
Presbyterian College where he played baseball and football and
received the Bob Waters Coaches Award. He began his teaching
and coaching career in Warrenton in 1955 and then served in the
U. S. Army. He returned to coaching in 1958 at Mayewood High
School in South Carolina and then served as an assistant coach at
Sumter (S.C.) High School, Cordele High School, and Albany
High School. He resumed his head coaching career at Dougherty
County High School from 1968 until 1982. After serving as
an assistant coach at Warner Robins for one year, he served as
Head Coach at Thomson High School, Camden County High
School, Greene-Taliaferro High School, and Screven County
High School, before returning to Thomson in 1999. He retired
as Head Coach in Thomson after the 2010 season. Coach Welsh
finished his career with a record of 333-181-6. He won 13 region
titles, 11 of which were in Thomson. His 3 state titles in 1984,
1985, and 2002 were all in Thomson. Coach Welsh ranks fourth
all time in victories among coaches in the state of Georgia. He
received the 2010 Football Friday Night/ESPN Rise Coach of
the Year Award. Thomson Rotary Club honored he and his wife,
Anne, with the Paul Harris Fellow Award in 2011. He was a
member of First United Methodist Church, Thomson.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 16, 2011,
at the Thomson High School auditorium with Revs. John Barnes
and Bernard Grant officiating. An additional funeral service
was held at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Mount Zion
Presbyterian Church, St. Charles (Bishopville), S.C. with the
Rev. Richard Smith officiating. Burial followed in the church
cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Barnett, Ralph Starling, Bobby Thomas,
Barry Hunt, Mark Daniel and Lee Hutto. Coach Welsh's coaching
staff throughout his career served as honorary pallbearers.
Survivors include his daughters, Andrea Welsh Gay of Thomson,
and Lucia Welsh Coker of Turbeville, S.C.; grandchildren, Taylor
Gay, Tanner Gay, Reed Coker, Zac Coker; sister, Carole Welsh
Barrineau of Lake City, S.C; brothers, Josey D. Welsh and wife,
Pat of Belvedere, S.C. and Thomas S. Welsh and wife, Judy, of
Harbor Island, S.C.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church,
Thomson, Mount Zion Presbyterian Church in St. Charles, S.C.,
or to the Thomson Athletic Booster Club, Thomson.
The family would like to extend thanks and appreciation to
Dr. Mac Bowman, Dr. Hetal Thakore, Dr. Bob Lemley, Dr. Jamie
Lemley, Dr. Cranford, Dr. Johns, Dr. Mark Keaton, Dr. Watts
and to the third floor Heart and Vascular Staff: Dr. Connie Trello,
Gabriella Ibanescu, Skip Nordeen, Alma Vidal, Jennifer Alvarez
and Candy Russell.
Beggs Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Web posted on Thursday, July 21, 2011
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