THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 30, 1994 TAG: 9409280166
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Bill Leffler
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
It was the kind of time Earl Sweet always loved. Old friends gathering, remembering the good ol' days.
But Monday they were there to say goodbye to Sweet, who was finally free from the pain of cancer that has anguished him these past few years.
Death came to the longtime high school coach at 55.
Side by side they stood at the graveside ceremony at Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens - those who played with him when he was a starting tackle on Wilson High School's state championship football team in 1954, those who played for him when he moved into the coaching ranks at his alma mater, at Manor and at Cradock, those he taught in his many years at Churchland Junior High, those who learned to drive through his instructions.
The School Board chairman. Principals. Fellow teachers. His teammates from 1954 - the quarterback, the star running back and dozens of others. Shelby West, who dug in at one tackle, while Earl, only a sophomore, worked the other side, was there.
In 1955 it was West gaining All-Tidewater honors. In 1956 it was Sweet.
Not many could keep the tears back as Robert ``Ton'' Davis, now a chaplain and one of the all-time football greats at Wilson High School, spoke of his special regard for the man who was his junior varsity coach.
Davis, who went on to set a school and state scoring record, is black. Sweet was white.
``But many of us come from a single-parent family and coach was a father figure to me,'' Davis said. ``When I was in college I can remember the many times when I needed someone to talk with, someone to provide a lift when you're feeling down. I would pick up the telephone, regardless of the hour, and call coach. And always collect. He was always there for me.''
Another incident needs to be shared that Jo Anne Sweet and son Tully have never heard.
Among the mourners was Dick Esleeck, whose late father was one of the outstanding coaches through the years at Wilson. The younger Esleeck became a star college basketball player at Furman after sparking Wilson to the state basketball championship in 1965.
Esleeck recalled his own admiration for Sweet.
``I was at Park View Elementary School and I guess I was about 8 or 9 years old. Somebody from the newspaper came over and interviewed some of the students. They asked us who we wanted to be like.
``They got a lot of answers - the president and famous people.
``I said I wanted to be like Earl Sweet.
``My hero was a guy who was just a grimy, gritty high school football tackle.
``And, you know something? I still think I made the right pick.'' ILLUSTRATION: File photo
Earl Sweet, coach and driver's education teacher, died at 55 of
cancer.
by CNB