BATH—A total of 37 former high school football players converged on their old head coach’s home here over a recent weekend to renew friendships and express their thanks, according to a story in the Washington Daily News.

       Jim Henderson, now 83 years old and living in Bath, had coached the Indian River (Va.) High School football team early in his career.  The school opened in 1967 with just ninth graders, with the first graduates in the class of 1970. He built the program from its initial victories in junior varsity games to its first winning record in 1971 and then an 8-2 mark in ’72.

       A total of 37 former players and 14 cheerleaders made the treks from all over the East Coast to visit their former coach and mentor.

      Henderson spent most of his career in North Carolina, moving to Beaufort County in 1974 and become head coach at Bath.  He then went to Chocowinity and spent the next 25 years, including a stint from 1993 to ’97 on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association when he was serving as principal at the old Chocowinity High School.

      This is just one of many examples of the lasting relationships that can be developed by participation in high school athletics, and our thanks to the Washington Daily News for writing about it.