Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 21, 1990 TAG: 9007210079
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL BRILL
DATELINE: HOT SPRINGS LENGTH: Medium
Pete Rose is going to jail. An unemployed Kevin Mackey may follow. George Steinbrenner is concerned about being suspended. Jerry Tarkanian's team is in the equivalent of the NCAA's penalty box.
The last place you would expect to find a great sports personality is here, in the cradle of the mountain range, in one of the state's smallest counties. But the great are neither required to be rich or famous.
Bath County came to say goodbye to Carl Williams on Friday. At Carl Williams Field, at the tiny high school on the other side of the road from his house, the memorial service created the first traffic jam since the undefeated football Chargers lost in the Group A playoffs to Appalachia last fall.
Carl Williams was 40 years, 3 months and 16 days old when he died Tuesday, the victim of a vicious disease, colon cancer, which previously claimed the life of his father.
Life is not fair. Carl Williams not only was too young, but his family has endured a torment few can conceive and none can understand. His wife, Charlotte, has had to travel to Charlottesville every day this week for treatment of her own cancer.
The stands at Carl Williams Field were nearly full for the service, which amounted to an emotional, touching eulogy by Covington coach John Woodzell.
In itself, that speaks volumes to the kind of man Williams was, that the person who spoke so eloquently at his memorial service was a rival coach, a man who wanted to beat him every time they met.
Woodzell, squat and controlled, talked of "the special feelings between myself and Carl."
It was Woodzell who nominated Williams and his brother, Steve, as the state's coaches of the year, an honor they received.
Bath County, a miniscule school with no track record of athletic success, went undefeated in the 1989 regular season, rolling roughshod over every opponent while using an offense from the '30s, the single wing.
But while the Williams brothers, Chris and Tim - no relation to the coaches - led the Chargers to their greatest season ever, Carl Williams was fighting for his life in a Charlottesville hospital while Steve ran the team along with Harvey Eye.
Even when Carl returned to school, he didn't take control of the team, preferring instead to be an emotional force.
That was the Carl Williams - not the championship coach - who was mourned Friday.
"Everything centered around the love of what this man had for his fellow man," Woodzell said.
It wasn't just that he won, the manner by which the average coach is remembered, but the love that his players had for him, Woodzell said.
There was no denying the authenticity of those remarks while observing the somber crowd, a group that acknowledged it had come in touch with a once-in-a-lifetime personality.
Woodzell reminded the gathering that Williams knew the end was near. "He was ready," the coach said. "He wanted it to be normal for Charlotte and the family [daughters Shawnda Jo and Marti]."
A close friend, Woodzell visited the Williams household recently. Despite the illnesses, despite the obvious conclusion to the coach's illness, "there was an electric current of love," Woodzell said.
Woodzell chose to talk about Williams the man, Williams the teacher, Williams the friend. "I could have gotten into the football business," he said, "but I think we know those things."
Because of the nature of my job, I have met Pete Rose, Kevin Mackey, George Steinbrenner and Jerry Tarkanian - and been collectively offended.
I never had the chance to meet Carl Williams. That's my regret. Everything centered around the love of what this man had for his fellow man. John Woodzell Covington football coach
by CNB