The new Wayne Underwood Museum was dedicated Saturday during the CCHS Alumni gathering, a tribute to "one of the greatest football coaches"
The highlight of the occasion was the ribbon cutting by the Ox Johnson family, whose vision and funds inspired its creation. Johnson passed away before the project was completed.
Besides housing Underwood memorabilia, the building will have thirty or more box seats on the heated and air-conditioned second floor which will be rented to the public as a fund-raiser for the school's athletic programs.
Wayne Underwood was "Among the greatest high school football coaches of all time," said MC Don Weaver of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
"If he were alive today he would be pleased that his 'boys' brought about this memorial," he said.
Weaver was a former player for Underwood and followed him as coach at CCHS after Underwood's death.
Underwood was "among the great high school football coaches"
"The boys who played for him thought the world of him. I never saw him angry, always unassuming and dignified. Having lost my father early in life, I sorta adopted him as my dad. I wanted to be just like him, and become a football coach. He was my role model," Weaver said.
"Lots of people, and we're grateful to them all, have come forward with their money and time to make this happen," mentioning the Johnson Family, Junior Smith, Duane Wolverton, Deon Stump, Donnie Pitts, Connie Roberts and Loyd Wright, including Bruce Hardman who donated the heat and air conditioning.
Underwood started his career at CCHS in 1945, collapsing and passing away from a heart attack in 1967 at age 53.
Famous for his sticking to the single-wing defense when most coaches went to a T-formation, his coaching career ended with 125 wins, 33 losses and seven ties over 17 seasons.
Donald F. Weaver, CCHS Class of 1948, played for Underwood,
later coached with him until his death, and went on to coach
and retire in Virginia Beach VA, shown above (left) at graduation
and (right) at Saturday's dedication
An Underwood team in the late 50s or early 60s
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