MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Bethel Hall-of-Famer BJ "Red" Flanagan passed away earlier this week at his home in Stuart, Florida. The North Alabama native is a 1952 (BS) Bethel graduate. He was inducted into the Bethel Athletics Hall-of-Fame in 1996.
Flanagan began his college career at Athens State University in Alabama where he played quarterback, pitched for the baseball team, and played center on the basketball team. He then transferred to Bethel College where he met his wife, Mabel Claire (Marci) James. Mrs. Flanagan is a McKenzie High graduate and received her degree from Bethel in 1954. Marci was an outstanding basketball performer at MHS. She also played basketball at Bethel.
BJ played football and basketball as a Wildcat.
After graduating from Bethel, Flanagan coached at Lake County High School and Dresden High School before moving to Florida.
After the couple married, they moved to Florida where Flanagan started his lifelong career in education as a coach at Fort Meade High School. He then taught at Crystal Lake Middle School but spent the majority of his time at Mulberry High School. He retired in 1990 as the principal of Fort Meade Middle.
Mr. Flanagan had two sons and five grandchildren.
Bethel Senior Associate Athletic Director Brad Chappell commented, "I am truly saddened by the news out of Florida today. Lucky for me I was able to get to know Mr. Flanagan and his son Joe this fall. It is very humbling to know a man of his stature and impact walked the campus at Bethel College in the 1950's. He met his wife - Mrs. Mabel - here and they struck off into the world together and started their family. I am also struck by the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan left McKenzie 70 some odd years ago but felt compelled to make a major contribution to our athletic department, an acknowledgement of how special Bethel was to them. Our prayers are with the entire Flanagan family as they navigate this difficult time"
Flanagan began his college career at Athens State University in Alabama where he played quarterback, pitched for the baseball team, and played center on the basketball team. He then transferred to Bethel College where he met his wife, Mabel Claire (Marci) James. Mrs. Flanagan is a McKenzie High graduate and received her degree from Bethel in 1954. Marci was an outstanding basketball performer at MHS. She also played basketball at Bethel.
BJ played football and basketball as a Wildcat.
After graduating from Bethel, Flanagan coached at Lake County High School and Dresden High School before moving to Florida.
After the couple married, they moved to Florida where Flanagan started his lifelong career in education as a coach at Fort Meade High School. He then taught at Crystal Lake Middle School but spent the majority of his time at Mulberry High School. He retired in 1990 as the principal of Fort Meade Middle.
Mr. Flanagan had two sons and five grandchildren.
Bethel Senior Associate Athletic Director Brad Chappell commented, "I am truly saddened by the news out of Florida today. Lucky for me I was able to get to know Mr. Flanagan and his son Joe this fall. It is very humbling to know a man of his stature and impact walked the campus at Bethel College in the 1950's. He met his wife - Mrs. Mabel - here and they struck off into the world together and started their family. I am also struck by the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan left McKenzie 70 some odd years ago but felt compelled to make a major contribution to our athletic department, an acknowledgement of how special Bethel was to them. Our prayers are with the entire Flanagan family as they navigate this difficult time"
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – Bethel Hall-of-Famer BJ "Red" Flanagan passed away earlier this week at his home in Stuart, Florida. The North Alabama native is a 1952 (BS) Bethel graduate. He was inducted into the Bethel Athletics Hall-of-Fame in 1996.
Flanagan began his college career at Athens State University in Alabama where he played quarterback, pitched for the baseball team, and played center on the basketball team. He then transferred to Bethel College where he met his wife, Mabel Claire (Marci) James. Mrs. Flanagan is a McKenzie High graduate and received her degree from Bethel in 1954. Marci was an outstanding basketball performer at MHS. She also played basketball at Bethel.
BJ played football and basketball as a Wildcat.
After graduating from Bethel, Flanagan coached at Lake County High School and Dresden High School before moving to Florida.
After the couple married, they moved to Florida where Flanagan started his lifelong career in education as a coach at Fort Meade High School. He then taught at Crystal Lake Middle School but spent the majority of his time at Mulberry High School. He retired in 1990 as the principal of Fort Meade Middle.
Mr. Flanagan had two sons and five grandchildren.
Bethel Senior Associate Athletic Director Brad Chappell commented, "I am truly saddened by the news out of Florida today. Lucky for me I was able to get to know Mr. Flanagan and his son Joe this fall. It is very humbling to know a man of his stature and impact walked the campus at Bethel College in the 1950's. He met his wife - Mrs. Mabel - here and they struck off into the world together and started their family. I am also struck by the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan left McKenzie 70 some odd years ago but felt compelled to make a major contribution to our athletic department, an acknowledgement of how special Bethel was to them. Our prayers are with the entire Flanagan family as they navigate this difficult time"
Flanagan began his college career at Athens State University in Alabama where he played quarterback, pitched for the baseball team, and played center on the basketball team. He then transferred to Bethel College where he met his wife, Mabel Claire (Marci) James. Mrs. Flanagan is a McKenzie High graduate and received her degree from Bethel in 1954. Marci was an outstanding basketball performer at MHS. She also played basketball at Bethel.
BJ played football and basketball as a Wildcat.
After graduating from Bethel, Flanagan coached at Lake County High School and Dresden High School before moving to Florida.
After the couple married, they moved to Florida where Flanagan started his lifelong career in education as a coach at Fort Meade High School. He then taught at Crystal Lake Middle School but spent the majority of his time at Mulberry High School. He retired in 1990 as the principal of Fort Meade Middle.
Mr. Flanagan had two sons and five grandchildren.
Bethel Senior Associate Athletic Director Brad Chappell commented, "I am truly saddened by the news out of Florida today. Lucky for me I was able to get to know Mr. Flanagan and his son Joe this fall. It is very humbling to know a man of his stature and impact walked the campus at Bethel College in the 1950's. He met his wife - Mrs. Mabel - here and they struck off into the world together and started their family. I am also struck by the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Flanagan left McKenzie 70 some odd years ago but felt compelled to make a major contribution to our athletic department, an acknowledgement of how special Bethel was to them. Our prayers are with the entire Flanagan family as they navigate this difficult time"
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