Former longtime Nelson coach C.M.Price Jr. was honored by the Nelson County Green and Gold Athletic Club on March 6.
Price, who coached multiple sports, was unable to attend, and his son and former Gov football standout, Cleve Price, accepted the Lifetime Service Award plague from Mike Wooten. Wooten played with the younger Price on the football team.
Coach Price came to Nelson in 1962 and stayed until 1985, serving as assistant football coach and head basketball coach in two separate stints.
Price also was a head track coach, athletic director, assistant principal and science teacher.
At the banquet, some past players and coaches recalled stories about Price.
Former basketball player Jim Saunders recalled in the early 80s that Price got so excited about a close win for the Govs that while jumping up and down at midcourt, his pants fell to the floor. Afterward, Price wore suspenders, Saunders added. For those who know coach Price, he is a big man in stature.
Wooten recalled a game in which Cleve Price was flagged for several holding calls during a football game and coach Price taped his son’s hands in a fist, which eliminated future more holding calls.
Coach Price made him keep the tape on for the bus ride home.
Tim Crawford remembered that when he was fresh out of college and looking for work in 1980, at the interview at Nelson, coach Price asked him only one question: “Have you lived in Lynchburg all your life?”
When Crawford replied “yes, sir,” Price replied: “Then you have a lot to learn.”
The award was is the third special service award the club has presented.
The first went to another longtime coach and now NCHS athletic director, Billy League. In 2007, Nelson County Times photographer Lee Luther Jr. was honored.
The club had a silent auction along with a regular auction of sports items and other goods donated by area supporters.
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