Owls Joe Snodderly (left) and Carl Rutherford celebrate a win with Coach Ron Murray in 1963 as Nub Norman looks on.

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – Mayor Mike Stanfield has declared Saturday, April 10, 2021, as “Ron Murray Day” in La Follette. The old ball coach turns 91 the same day.

Murray served a couple of very successful stints as basketball coach of the La Follette Owls in the 1960s. The move for the 1949 LHS alum came after some pretty big assignments; serving as trainer for Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Earl Weaver with the Knoxville Smokies minor league baseball team, Adolph Rupp’s Kentucky Wildcat national championship basketball team and Tennessee Football under the leadership of Robert Neyland.

In addition to Murray’s many athletic accomplishments as a player and a coach, he is also a US Army veteran. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina.

Campbell County Board of Education Chairman Johnny Byrge presents Murray with a special presentation honoring him at a Campbell County High basketball game in January 2015. Former La Follette Owl Joe Snodderly (left) and CCHS Principal Jamie Wheeler (right) join Murray on his special day.

“I was a freshman at LHS in 1967 when Coach Murray gave me the keys to his new Ford Galaxy and ordered me to fetch him a couple of pool room hot dogs,” said Stanfield. “I followed his orders, but I didn’t have the courage to tell him I didn’t have a driver’s license,” added Stanfield.

The story goes that Murray’s best friend, John Baker, was about to be drafted, and Baker was fretting over it. After a few beers one night, Murray told Baker he’d enlist with him. However, the catch was that they had to join the 82nd Airborne Division if Murray was to go along. The pair enlisted on April 1, 1951, and were discharged three years later to the date.

The coach has one wish for his birthday, birthday cards. He’s asking that you drop a card in the mail to him addressed to 410 South Avenue, La Follette 37766. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/09/2021-6AM)

2 Replies to “Saturday is Ron Murray Day in La Follette”

  1. I believe that photo is from 1963 and not 1964. Also that’s Nub Norman in the background.

    1. Thank you, Mike! I knew that was Nub a few years ago and had since forgotten.
      Best,
      Jim
      WLAF

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