LOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. (WTXL) — Family and friends are taking time to remember former Lowndes High School head football coach Joe Wilson, who passed away early Tuesday morning.
Wilson coached the Vikings from 1976 to 1988 and was affectionately known as 'The Silver Haired Fox.'
During those 13 years, Wilson led the Vikings to a 95-49 record, with two region and one state championship.
Bill Cribb was on that 1980 State Championship team and later coached at Lowndes with Wilson.
"Playing for Coach Wilson was different than playing for anybody else, because he wasn't one of those coaches that would yell and scream and have a fit all the time," said Cribb. "He wanted it done his way and you tried to do it his way because we all believed in him. He was a great, great coach and a great human being."
Cribb says the impact Wilson had on his life is still felt today.
"The biggest thing he taught us was hard work," said Cribb. "Hard work pays off. It did for us our senior year. He wasn't very much to show his emotions, but I really think deep down inside he thought we were his kids. To this days, that's what he treated us like. He treated us like one of his own. He's calling a play up there in heaven right now. It's going to work, trust me, because he called some great plays in his time. Some great plays."
Lowndes High School plans to honor Wilson during a home football game this fall.
