RIP: Coach Bob Light

[firemoose]

Have to make this short with the storm we're having but Coach Light passed away this morning. Thoughts and Prayers for his entire family. May he Rest In Peace.

[asutrnr81]

Great Man.....Today Heaven is a little brighter!

[scatman77]

Very sad news. Coach was one of a kind and so much fun to be around. Prayers and God speed to his family.

[JTApps1]

I was introduced to Coach Light when I was around 10 years old on the way to see us play UNCC in what was then called Independence Arena. My dad and I met him and a friend of ours in Statesville (I believe) then we all rode together from there down to Charlotte. After the game we all went to eat before heading home way past my bedtime. I just remember everyone sharing stories and a lot of laughs that evening. I'm still not sure how my dad got my mom to sign off on that trip!

The App Family lost a good man today.

[asu66]

Very sad news. Coach was one of a kind and so much fun to be around. Prayers and God speed to his family.

This hurts--a lot! One of the finest men I've ever known. A prince of a guy and an away-from-home father figure to all of his former players and students. This news wasn't unexpected; but I still wasn't prepared to face it. RIP, Coach.

[hapapp]

What a gentleman he was! Coach Light ushered App State into the SoCon and D1 basketball. He was the head man for three of my four years at App. I remember talking with Coach Light after App's first SoCon tourney game in Greenville and how down to earth and decent he was. It is indeed a sad day for Appalachian family.

[AppinATL]

I had the great pleasure of working with Coach in the early days of my broadcasting career. He was my color man on App State basketball broadcasts on WATA in the days before we had a network. We worked three years together and I have so many fond memories of him. One of my favorite Bob Light moments was one night we were doing a game with Marshall and he referred to them as the "Hundering Turd." I was incapacitated for several moments. And man, could he tell some stories! Rest in peace, coach!

[Rekdiver]

Real sorry to hear this. He was a good man.

[proasu89]

Have to make this short with the storm we're having but Coach Light passed away this morning. Thoughts and Prayers for his entire family. May he Rest In Peace.

We have certainly missed him here at Hound Ears since his retirement many years ago. He made a heckuva Santa Claus every year at our Christmas Party Peace and Blessings to the Light Family.

[asu66]

Have to make this short with the storm we're having but Coach Light passed away this morning. Thoughts and Prayers for his entire family. May he Rest In Peace.

We have certainly missed him here at Hound Ears since his retirement many years ago. He made a heckuva Santa Claus every year at our Christmas Party Peace and Blessings to the Light Family.

Coach Light was always good for a few funny stories. OK, OK...maybe a lot of funny stories. I don't know anyone better able to remember the really good stories or to mimic Coach Light's distinctive midwestern nasal twang than former Mountaineer player and former Director of University Housing--Bill Sposato. G-e-e-z Bill, where are you, anyway?

[eggers76]

Coach Light was one of my favorites from my time at App. He coached Tennis when I was there. I had him for both of my PE classes. He would crack us all up with his great wit. He always took the time to speak when I saw him at games and he really seemed to appreciate folks that would stop and speak to him.
God bless and comfort his family. RIP Coach.

[YesAppCan]

http://www.wataugademocrat.com/sports/f ... 50190.html

[scatman77]

Terry Coffey and Coach Light.....the voices of Mountaineer Basketball and WATA. I'd sit on the bench near the score table where they sat. Coach was a hoot to listen to!!!

One of my favorite stories was when Kevin Cantwell took the team to GaTech to scrimmage. Cremins met the bus. Coach and the team got off, Cremins exclaimed, "Coach Light!! I didn't know you were coming too!" Coach replied, "Neither did Pat (his wife). Got a phone???"

The young 'uns who never got to meet the legends who took us from NAIA to NCAA and the SoCon will never know who or what they missed: Jim Brakefield, Bob Pollock, Bob Light, Roger Thomas, Jim Morris, Jim Jones. They were some heavy hitters in their day.

[proasu89]

Terry Coffey and Coach Light.....the voices of Mountaineer Basketball and WATA. I'd sit on the bench near the score table where they sat. Coach was a hoot to listen to!!!

One of my favorite stories was when Kevin Cantwell took the team to GaTech to scrimmage. Cremins met the bus. Coach and the team got off, Cremins exclaimed, "Coach Light!! I didn't know you were coming too!" Coach replied, "Neither did Pat (his wife). Got a phone???"

The young 'uns who never got to meet the legends who took us from NAIA to NCAA and the SoCon will never know who or what they missed: Jim Brakefield, Bob Pollock, Bob Light, Roger Thomas, Jim Morris, Jim Jones. They were some heavy hitters in their day.

Thanks for posting that photo of TC & Bob.

[App74]

Coach sat next to me in the 111. It was always a treat to see he and Pat make their way in. We did our share of high fives. What a gentleman. I've lost a friend.

[Budman2154]

I had Coach Light for several classes while at App. I imagine his first words wehn he arrived at the Gates of Heaven were "Its a great day today class"! One of hte very best of AppNAtion! Rest in Peace Sir!

[WataugaMan]

Know his younger son Bobby, he was two years behind me at Watauga High. Run into him occasionally from time to time, good fella. His older brother (an older son), don't remember his name (he is a friend of my older brother) was at my niece's wedding a couple years back. Talk about a character, he was one, a hoot!!

[pkasu]

The App Nation is morning a good man, coach, teacher and true Mountaineer. I had the privilege of taking Coaching and Leadership from Coach Light – what a wonderful man. He will truly be missed.

[asu66]

Robert George Light, known to many as "Coach Bob Light", age 88, of Horseshoe Drive, Boone, passed away Monday morning, May 11, 2015, at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care in Lenoir.

Bob was born April 27, 1927, in St. Louis, Missouri, a son of the late Walter Marion Light and Joy George Light. He was a Member of the First Presbyterian Church of Boone.

Light served a total of 29 years as a head coach at Appalachian State, first leading the Mountaineers’ men’s basketball program for 15 seasons (1957-72), followed by 14 seasons at the helm of the school’s men’s tennis program (1974-88). He remains the winningest coach in school history for both sports (211 wins in basketball, 255 in tennis).

“Unfortunately, in my short time here at Appalachian State, I never had the privilege of meeting Coach Light personally,” Appalachian State director of athletics Doug Gillin said. “However, I certainly know that Coach Light is an Appalachian legend and that he will be missed greatly by our campus and athletics communities. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and all of the student-athletes that he meant so much to.”

In addition to his 211 wins as men’s basketball coach, he also holds program records for seasons (15), games (389) and conference victories (94) at Appalachian State and his .542 winning percentage (211-178) ranks fourth in school history among coaches that served for at least three seasons, behind only Buzz Peterson (.665 - 1996-2000, 2009-10), Flucie Stewart (.641 - 1935-40, 1946-47) and Bobby Cremins (.588 - 1975-81).

The Mountaineers compiled 11 winning seasons in Light’s 15 seasons at the helm, including a 21-8 campaign in 1966-67 that saw Appalachian win the Carolinas Conference championship, its first conference title in 17 years. The Mountaineers routed Guilford, 91-67, in the 1967 Carolinas Conference championship game and beat Lynchburg, 100-84, in the opening round of the NAIA district playoffs. In all, Light guided Appalachian to four district playoff appearances.

A two-time Carolinas Conference and NAIA District Coach of the Year (1964 and 1967), Light mentored eight all-conference and five all-district performers (who earned the respective honors a total of 17 and six times). His teams also claimed seven North State/Carolinas Conference sportsmanship awards in 15 seasons.

“In my brief time here at Appalachian State, I had the great privilege to get to know Coach Light and his wife, Pat,” Appalachian State men’s basketball head coach Jim Fox said. “He was always very supportive of me and willing to help the program in any way. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

After stepping down as men’s basketball head coach in 1972, Light took over as Appalachian State’s men’s tennis coach in 1974 and led the Mountaineers to a gaudy 255-120 overall record in 14 seasons. In addition to his school-record 255 wins, he is also atop Appalachian’s men’s tennis lists for winning percentage (.680) and matches coached (375). He led the Mountaineers to Southern Conference championships in 1974 and ‘75 and was named the SoCon Coach of the Year in 1978 and 1981.

“I’ve known Coach Light and his family for over 30 years and am deeply saddened to hear about his passing,” Appalachian State men’s tennis head coach Bob Lake said. “Coach Light was always a great help to me in my career. He was a legend at Appalachian State and will be deeply missed by both the App State family and the tennis community as a whole.”

In recognition of his achievements in both sports, Light was inducted to the Appalachian State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991. The campus tennis courts on Rivers Street have bore his name since 2004 and an endowed scholarship — the Coach Bob Light Endowment for Basketball Scholarships — was established in his honor in 2013.

Other achievements include induction into Hall of Fame at Washington University in St. Louis in 1996. At that school he was a two-sport athlete. He was named Washington U's Athlete of the year in 1949-50. At time of graduation he ranked first in scoring with 739 points. Also the Bears top tennis player, he boasted a 54-2 singles.record while helping the Bears win a school record 38 straight matches during his tenure. He was also Saint Louis Mens City Champion in 1949 and 1950.

His biggest tournament title might have been capturing the Florida State Open Doubles Title in 1950. Before there was the current ATP World Tour, this tournament was a circuit event for the top players in the country. He also had wins over notable players of that era including Buth Buchholz and Hal Surface, a former Davis Cup player and other national champions.

He was also inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997. His many achiements in North Carolina are numerous. As a player he captured the 1965 NC Men's State Doubles Title, and in 1972 won the NC State Senior Doubles Championship, as well as the North Carolina State 70 and over division in 1997.

In 1963 he formed the Boone Junior Tennis Team which led to the North Carolina Western Jr. Tennis League. The most famous player to come out of this league might be Tim Wilkison who was a quarter finalist at the US Open and captured several ATP World Tour events. Many of the players who started in the league from Boone went onto gain college scholarships in including Mike Owen, Earnet Alonso, Greg Robison and others.

In 1964 he helped form the Horn in the West tournament and in 1966, which was renamed the Mountaineer Open where he was either director or co-director for over 30 years with another NC Hall of Famer, Jim Jones. As a top spot on the Southern Junior swing, past notable players who enjoyed success in college and on the ATP World Tour who played this event were Keith Richardson, John Sadri, Pender Murphy, John Lucas, Andy Andrews, Matt McDonald and others.

As a mentor to young men who also attended Appalachin State University just a few who went on to achieve national prominence in tennis, include Ronnie Smarr, who finished his career at Rice University as the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history, J.W. Isenhour who coached NC State to several ACC titles, Jim Boykin who won titles at UNC Charlotte and National titles at Anderson College, and Randy Bernard, who was Georgia and SC teaching pro of the year.

Many of his players he coached at Appalachian State have had continued success on the tennis court after graduation including Keith Richardson, ATP ranking #70, Laneal Vaughn, numerous National Titles, and title holder of pro circuit events, John Geraghty NCAA All-America, Davis Babb, past North Carolina State Champion, Daniel Weant, former North Carolina State Champion, Bob Allsbrook, National Gold Ball winner and Bobby Light former Georgia State Champion.

He also served on various committes as President or chairman including the North Carolina Tennis Association, chairman of the NC ranking committe, President of the North Carolina Association of Tennis Professionals, Secretary of the Southern Conference Coaches Association, and NCAA Region Tennis Committee. And in 1975 wrote a script for BOB LIGHT on TENNIS and videos were directed by John Wray who directed the Ed Sullivan Show for 13 years. These videos were for educational purposes and can still be viewed at the Appalachian State library. He also co-authored a text book with Bill Steinbrecher that text parallels the TV tapes that were adapted by the Physical Education Department at App State.

Other accolades are inclusion into the International Who's Who of tennis in 1984, and in 1994 a book entitled Appalachian Faculty Emerti was dedicated in Bob Light's honor. Also in 1994 he received a meritorious service for Appalachian State basketball. After his stint as the winningest coach in App State history he went on to be the color man for local radio for the basketball network for several years, and help mentor a young Bobby Cremins, who he stayed in touch with until the final days of his passing.

Bob is survived by his wife, Pat Parker Light of the home; four sons, Bobby Light and companion Joyce of Atlanta, Georgia; Tommy Light, Wally Light and wife Shirly, and Willy Light, all of Boone; one grandson, Logan Light of Boone; and one brother, Walter Light, of Ocala, Florida.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a sister, Marilyn Reed.

Funeral services for Robert George "Bob" Light will be conducted Saturday afternoon, May 16, at 1:30, at the First Presbyterian Church of Boone. The body will lie in state, at the church, from 12:30 until 1:30. Officiating will be Reverend Jeff Smith. Military graveside rites and burial, provided by the United States Navy and American Legion Post 130, will follow in Mount Lawn Memorial Park and Gardens.

The family will receive friends Friday evening, from 6:00 until 8:00 o'clock, at Hampton Funeral Service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Watauga Humane Society, Post Office Box 1835, Boone, North Carolina 28607, or the Robert "Bob" Light Endowment Fund for Basketball or Tennis Scholarships, in care of Appalachian State University Foundation, Gift Processing Center, ASU Box 32014, Boone, North Carolina, 28608.

Online condolences may be sent to the Light family at http://www.hamptonfuneralnc.com.

Hampton Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.

[asu66]

From the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/li ... b64c8.html

Tommy Bowman/Winston-Salem Journal

Bob Light, described by those who knew him as not only a great coach but a “great guy,” died Monday. He was 88.

Light coached men’s basketball and tennis at Appalachian State for 29 years. His basketball teams won 211 games, his tennis teams won 255. Both of those totals are program records.

His 15 seasons as basketball coach, from 1957 into 1972, mark the longest tenure of any men’s basketball coach at Appalachian. His 1967 team went 21-8 and won a Carolinas Conference championship, and he coached the Mountaineers in their first Southern Conference Tournament in 1972, his final season as coach.

Light’s record as men’s basketball coach was 212-179 (.542).

He remained in Boone after his final season as basketball coach, and coached the men’s tennis team from 1974 until his retirement in 1988. His tennis teams won two SoCon titles.
He continued to be a familiar face at Appalachian basketball games and tennis matches, and for a while did commentary for basketball radio broadcasts.

Bobby Cremins, who coached Appalachian to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1979, said that Light was a mentor.

“We were very close,” Cremins said. “When I went to Boone I was 27 years old and didn’t know a whole lot.

“I was a crazy, young guy out of New York who was coming to the mountains by way of Columbia (S.C.) – I didn’t know what the heck I was doing – and he really taught me a lot about Appalachian, the people and the culture. He took me under his wing and taught me so much.”

Cremins said that Light was a “heck of a basketball coach. I always hear that from his former players,” Cremins said. “And, he could really tell some funny stories, too. He used to tell me Al McGuire stories, when McGuire was at Belmont Abbey and played Appalachian. He was a lot of fun just to be around. “He loved the game of basketball. He was really something.”

Wayne Duncan, who played for Light for four seasons and ranks fourth on the Mountaineers’ all-time scoring list, said that Light’s legacy goes beyond basketball.

“He cared about his players, he cared about them being successful in life,” Duncan said. “His players graduated, and they graduated in four years, and they became successful in life, many as educators.
“He always put education first. I remember us coming back from Western Carolina one time, it snowed all the way back, and we got back to Boone about the time the sun was coming up. All he said was, ‘Go to class.’”

Jim Jones, a long-time athletic director at Appalachian, said that he liked Light instantly when Light arrived from his native St. Louis in 1957. He said that everybody did. “He was a very special person,” Jones said. “He was respected greatly by his players, and his opponents. He was an unusually all-around good guy. People loved him.”

Light was inducted into Appalachian’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 1991, and into the Athletics Hall of Fame at Washington University (St. Louis) in 1995. He was a four-year starter in basketball and tennis at Washington.

Light, who won several tennis championships as a youth and adult, was inducted into the North Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame in 1997.

tbowman@wsjournal.com
(336) 727-7321