Jack Myers: A legendary, larger than life figure

Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame - Class of 2023

  • Jack Myers and Roscoe Nash work together as East Fannin Coaches in 1965.
    Jack Myers and Roscoe Nash work together as East Fannin Coaches in 1965.
  • Jack Myers is pictured as principal of East Fannin High School, 1966-1967.
    Jack Myers is pictured as principal of East Fannin High School, 1966-1967.
  • Jack Myers, left, is pictured with Mike Ballew, center, and T.J. Thompson, right, at West Fannin Middle School.
    Jack Myers, left, is pictured with Mike Ballew, center, and T.J. Thompson, right, at West Fannin Middle School.
  • Jack Myers, right, pictured in the Navy with a basketball in hand, mid 1940’s.
    Jack Myers, right, pictured in the Navy with a basketball in hand, mid 1940’s.
  • Jack Myers, far right kneeling, is pictured with the 1965-1966 East Fannin State Tournament team.
    Jack Myers, far right kneeling, is pictured with the 1965-1966 East Fannin State Tournament team.
  • Jack Myers, #22 back row, smiles in a team photo at Maryland, 1949.
    Jack Myers, #22 back row, smiles in a team photo at Maryland, 1949.

    By Mike Harper

    One of the most popular features in the history of Readers’ Digest magazine is a series written by various guest writers titled ‘The Most Unforgettable Character I Have Ever Met.’ Had anyone involved in athletics in Fannin County from the mid-1960s through the 1980s been asked to contribute to the series, a popular subject would undoubtedly have been Coach Jack Myers.

    Myers was a legendary figure with a larger-than-life persona that complemented his 6’ 6” physical presence. He filled any room with both his personality and physical stature. Everyone who worked with or played for Myers has stories to tell about him.

    Myers was born in 1923, in the sleepy village of Townsend, Tennessee (2020 population 550). Townsend is one of three towns that provide major entry points to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Located about 25 miles Southwest of the bustling tourist haven of Gatlinburg, Townsend city leaders proudly refer to their town and surrounding area as the ‘peaceful side of the Smokies.’ Following World War II, the movers and shakers in Gatlinburg and Cherokee, North Carolina across the mountains, made conscious decisions to shape the personalities of their towns around the tourist trade that today attracts millions of visitors to the Smokies and environs each year. Conversely, Townsend remains low-key with only a handful of moderately priced motels and restaurants.

    Jack was a sports-minded young man who finished high school just in time to join the Navy for a few years as World War II raged in Europe and Asia. He competed for several softball and basketball during his military stay. The contacts that he made in the Navy would provide several educational and coaching opportunities following the war.

    After helping his Uncle Sam subdue the enemy, Jack enrolled at the University of Maryland. He was a reserve center for the Terrapin basketball team in 1947-48 and 1948-49. As a sophomore in 1948-49, he saw action in 11 games. Injuries curtailed Jack’s career as a participant in college athletics and he moved on to East Tennessee State University where he graduated with a B.S. degree in physical education in 1951.

    Jack landed a coaching job at Dan River High School in Danville, Virginia in 1951 and remained there coaching baseball and boys basketball until the spring of 1962. He then coached basketball and baseball and served as Athletic Director at Sequatchie County High School in Dunlap, Tennessee from 1962 through the spring of 1965.

    At the age of 42, Jack Myers came to East Fannin High School in the autumn of 1965 as head basketball coach and assistant football coach. He coached the East Fannin boys basketball team in 1965-66 leading his team to a runner-up finish in the region, and then moving on to the State Class B Tournament in Macon, Georgia. They were the only boys team in East Fannin High School history to advance to the state tournament.

    Jack went on to serve as a teacher and coach in Fannin County until his retirement in 1989. His career was highlighted when his Epworth Elementary School boys basketball teams won three successive county championships from 1967-1970. Following county-wide school consolidation in 1976, Jack coached various teams at West Fannin Middle School from 1976-1989. Overall he coached and taught at various schools for 37 years, 23 years in Fannin County Schools.

    The impact that Jack Myers had upon those who played for him is perhaps best expressed by Glenn Patterson, who played for Jack at Epworth Elementary before going on to star as a running back/defensive back at West Fannin High School and Lees-McRae College: “Coach Myers was one my first coaches in organized football and basketball at Epworth Elementary School. Coach Myers was a very kind, friendly individual overall as I had him for Physical Education class as well. He was all business, however, when it came to extracurricular sports. He was a furious competitor who demanded his players to work hard and do their very best. Even though he pushed us hard to excel, we all knew we could always talk to him about any difficulties we might have. I truly believe that his coaching prepared me well to take the next progressive step in playing sports at the high school level. I will forever be grateful for his strong contribution in helping me to a successful and enjoyable career in my future endeavors in sports. His overall accomplishments and helping young athletes in Fannin County make him very deserving of being inducted into the Fannin County Sports Hall of Fame.”