Coach Jim Lofton
James Curtis "Coach" Lofton was a well-known and beloved winning high school football coach in Gainesville, Georgia. His record was 255 wins in a fifty year coaching career in Georgia and Alabama. Lofton is fondly remembered by his former assistant coaches, players and friends, including his lifelong friend and former Auburn roommate and teammate, Vince Dooley as 'the ideal high school coach those life has influenced thousands'.
Lofton was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Vonnie Cassie Moore and James Euless Lofton. He was an outstanding student and football player at Whitehaven High School in Memphis under Coach Harry Seabold, who would drive Lofton and several other players home from practices because they didn't have a ride. "He gave us something other than football," Lofton said, "he cared for us and inspired us."
Lofton was offered several scholarships. But born and reared during the depression, he could not afford to attend college. He enlisted in the Army's Airborne Division following high school and served two years as a paratrooper. While he was playing a football game at Fort Benning, Georgia, an Auburn University recruiter saw him play and offered him a scholarship. In addition to playing football Lofton earned a degree in English at Auburn. He influenced many not only through his role as a coach but also as an English teacher. He was passionate about the importance of education in general, and in particular English and teaching young people how to write.
At Dooley's request Lofton talked with the Jefferson High School administration in North Georgia about their football coach vacancy and accepted their coaching position. After a fifty year coaching career Lofton retired and shared his coaching philosophy and experiences with other coaches by writing the book 'So You Think You Want To Coach', emphasizing how more important it is for a coach to motivate and inspire, to build confidence and character in young men than to win games - but he also won many games! His friend, Vince Dooley, wrote the foreword to the book.
It has been said by many that Lofton's legacy will be the difference he made in the lives of the thousands of young people he mentored... boys and girls, as a coach and as a teacher and all those who knew him as a man who put faith and family first.
Coach Lofton died New Years Day, Jan 1, 2015. He was 85. He leaves his wife, five sons, twenty-four grandchildren, two brothers, one sister and scores of friends.
(This memorial was made by a family member).
James Curtis "Coach" Lofton was a well-known and beloved winning high school football coach in Gainesville, Georgia. His record was 255 wins in a fifty year coaching career in Georgia and Alabama. Lofton is fondly remembered by his former assistant coaches, players and friends, including his lifelong friend and former Auburn roommate and teammate, Vince Dooley as 'the ideal high school coach those life has influenced thousands'.
Lofton was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Vonnie Cassie Moore and James Euless Lofton. He was an outstanding student and football player at Whitehaven High School in Memphis under Coach Harry Seabold, who would drive Lofton and several other players home from practices because they didn't have a ride. "He gave us something other than football," Lofton said, "he cared for us and inspired us."
Lofton was offered several scholarships. But born and reared during the depression, he could not afford to attend college. He enlisted in the Army's Airborne Division following high school and served two years as a paratrooper. While he was playing a football game at Fort Benning, Georgia, an Auburn University recruiter saw him play and offered him a scholarship. In addition to playing football Lofton earned a degree in English at Auburn. He influenced many not only through his role as a coach but also as an English teacher. He was passionate about the importance of education in general, and in particular English and teaching young people how to write.
At Dooley's request Lofton talked with the Jefferson High School administration in North Georgia about their football coach vacancy and accepted their coaching position. After a fifty year coaching career Lofton retired and shared his coaching philosophy and experiences with other coaches by writing the book 'So You Think You Want To Coach', emphasizing how more important it is for a coach to motivate and inspire, to build confidence and character in young men than to win games - but he also won many games! His friend, Vince Dooley, wrote the foreword to the book.
It has been said by many that Lofton's legacy will be the difference he made in the lives of the thousands of young people he mentored... boys and girls, as a coach and as a teacher and all those who knew him as a man who put faith and family first.
Coach Lofton died New Years Day, Jan 1, 2015. He was 85. He leaves his wife, five sons, twenty-four grandchildren, two brothers, one sister and scores of friends.
(This memorial was made by a family member).
Coach Jim Lofton
James Curtis "Coach" Lofton was a well-known and beloved winning high school football coach in Gainesville, Georgia. His record was 255 wins in a fifty year coaching career in Georgia and Alabama. Lofton is fondly remembered by his former assistant coaches, players and friends, including his lifelong friend and former Auburn roommate and teammate, Vince Dooley as 'the ideal high school coach those life has influenced thousands'.
Lofton was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Vonnie Cassie Moore and James Euless Lofton. He was an outstanding student and football player at Whitehaven High School in Memphis under Coach Harry Seabold, who would drive Lofton and several other players home from practices because they didn't have a ride. "He gave us something other than football," Lofton said, "he cared for us and inspired us."
Lofton was offered several scholarships. But born and reared during the depression, he could not afford to attend college. He enlisted in the Army's Airborne Division following high school and served two years as a paratrooper. While he was playing a football game at Fort Benning, Georgia, an Auburn University recruiter saw him play and offered him a scholarship. In addition to playing football Lofton earned a degree in English at Auburn. He influenced many not only through his role as a coach but also as an English teacher. He was passionate about the importance of education in general, and in particular English and teaching young people how to write.
At Dooley's request Lofton talked with the Jefferson High School administration in North Georgia about their football coach vacancy and accepted their coaching position. After a fifty year coaching career Lofton retired and shared his coaching philosophy and experiences with other coaches by writing the book 'So You Think You Want To Coach', emphasizing how more important it is for a coach to motivate and inspire, to build confidence and character in young men than to win games - but he also won many games! His friend, Vince Dooley, wrote the foreword to the book.
It has been said by many that Lofton's legacy will be the difference he made in the lives of the thousands of young people he mentored... boys and girls, as a coach and as a teacher and all those who knew him as a man who put faith and family first.
Coach Lofton died New Years Day, Jan 1, 2015. He was 85. He leaves his wife, five sons, twenty-four grandchildren, two brothers, one sister and scores of friends.
(This memorial was made by a family member).
James Curtis "Coach" Lofton was a well-known and beloved winning high school football coach in Gainesville, Georgia. His record was 255 wins in a fifty year coaching career in Georgia and Alabama. Lofton is fondly remembered by his former assistant coaches, players and friends, including his lifelong friend and former Auburn roommate and teammate, Vince Dooley as 'the ideal high school coach those life has influenced thousands'.
Lofton was born in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Vonnie Cassie Moore and James Euless Lofton. He was an outstanding student and football player at Whitehaven High School in Memphis under Coach Harry Seabold, who would drive Lofton and several other players home from practices because they didn't have a ride. "He gave us something other than football," Lofton said, "he cared for us and inspired us."
Lofton was offered several scholarships. But born and reared during the depression, he could not afford to attend college. He enlisted in the Army's Airborne Division following high school and served two years as a paratrooper. While he was playing a football game at Fort Benning, Georgia, an Auburn University recruiter saw him play and offered him a scholarship. In addition to playing football Lofton earned a degree in English at Auburn. He influenced many not only through his role as a coach but also as an English teacher. He was passionate about the importance of education in general, and in particular English and teaching young people how to write.
At Dooley's request Lofton talked with the Jefferson High School administration in North Georgia about their football coach vacancy and accepted their coaching position. After a fifty year coaching career Lofton retired and shared his coaching philosophy and experiences with other coaches by writing the book 'So You Think You Want To Coach', emphasizing how more important it is for a coach to motivate and inspire, to build confidence and character in young men than to win games - but he also won many games! His friend, Vince Dooley, wrote the foreword to the book.
It has been said by many that Lofton's legacy will be the difference he made in the lives of the thousands of young people he mentored... boys and girls, as a coach and as a teacher and all those who knew him as a man who put faith and family first.
Coach Lofton died New Years Day, Jan 1, 2015. He was 85. He leaves his wife, five sons, twenty-four grandchildren, two brothers, one sister and scores of friends.
(This memorial was made by a family member).
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